Predicting the Digestible Energy of Rapeseed Meal from Its Chemical Composition in Growing-Finishing Pigs (Report‪)‬

INTRODUCTION Rapeseed meal (RSM) is the second most widely traded protein ingredient after soybean meal representing a 12.40% of the world protein meal production, reaching 207 million metric tons in 2004 and 2005 (Ash and Dohlman, 2006). Rapeseed meal is readily available and could present an alternative and economical source of dietary protein for feed. After oil extraction, rapeseed meal has a high content of crude protein (35-40%, Nasi and Siljander-Rasi, 1991; 30-40%, Roth-Maier et al., 2004) and a higher neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content than soybean meal because hulls are not eliminated and represent about 30% of the meal; this causes a lower digestible energy content than that of soybean meal (2.6 vs. 3.4 Mcal/kg; Bell, 1993).