Global demand for vegetable oil and meal to supply feed, food, and fuel is pushing oilseed processors toward expansion and improved efficiency in 2024. High prices and increasing demands are driving investments in bigger, better oilseed processing plants around the world as facilities try to keep pace with ongoing growth. Wrapping up 2023 with an…
Capitalizing on Tung Oil Extraction
Unlike most oilseed crops that produce multiple byproducts from all parts of the plant, tung oil is the only product from the tung nut tree. It can’t be grown for food or feed, since all parts of this ancient Chinese tree contain toxins that make it poisonous to consume. Its sole purpose through the centuries…
Understanding and Optimizing the Feed Conversion Ratio
The largest expense in animal production is the cost of feed, which accounts for about three-fourths of all on-farm poultry production costs. As feedstock prices continue to rise, improving your flock’s ability to convert feed into meat efficiently can be the key to profitability. By understanding and optimizing feed conversion, farmers can reduce the amount…
Maximizing Profits with More Energy Efficient Oil Mills
Pressing oil from high volumes of seeds and nuts can be highly energy-draining. Considering the multiple pieces of machinery involved in traditional oilseed processing and the steadily rising cost of operating that equipment, energy consumption is one of an oil mill’s largest operational expenses. By controlling and reducing energy use through each step of the…
Hemp Oil vs CBD Oil: The Difference Between Seed Oil and Cannabis Oil
When it comes to Cannabis sativa, the difference between a federally-scheduled drug and a valuable commodity can be as minor as a few tenths of a percentage. Although hemp seed oil and cannabidiol (CBD) oil are both derived from the same Cannabis plant and are often both referred to as “hemp oil,” they’re not the…
The Controversy Surrounding Mustard Seed Oil
The small but mighty mustard seed is perhaps best known for its namesake yellow condiment, but it’s not as widely recognized as a valuable source of oil. While mustard seed oil has a long history of use in food, medicinal, topical, and industrial applications, some of its bioactive compounds limit its popularity (and even its…
The Keys to Extracting Safflower Seed Oil
An often overlooked oilseed, safflower may not be as popular or prolific as its cousin crop, the sunflower. However, it still packs many of the same benefits into the specialty oil extracted from its seeds. In fact, safflower seed oil contains many of the same nutritional and functional properties as sunflower oil but at a…
Understanding Grape Seed Oil Extraction
Although grapes are one of the most popular fruits in the world, most grapes are grown not to supply produce stands but to produce wine. More than 60% of the global grape production is crushed every year to make vino—generating large amounts of leftover byproducts like grape seeds, skins, pulp, and other residues. Of these…
Comparing the Poultry Nutrition Needs of Broilers vs. Layers
Nutrition is critical to efficient poultry farming. Not only does feeding account for about 75% of poultry production costs, but it can directly impact bird performance and production. Whether raising chickens for commercial egg or meat production, each flock requires certain poultry nutrition considerations depending on its end use. The same diet does not suit…