what in laying pellets gives it the % of protein?

[Jim from Cincinnati]

Can anyone tell me ...or tell me where to look to find out what causes the percentage of protein in laying pellets? I have looked at the label on the bottom of the bag..but? thanks

 

[Olive Hill]

Everything in it contributes to the overall percentage of crude protein.

If you're asking what the main source of protein is however, it'll depend on the formulation of your feed. If you're feeding a commercial feed that is not specifically marketed as non-soy however, soybeans likely make up the bulk.

 

[greenriver]

Here is the % protein of common ingredients.

FOOD SOURCE %PROTEIN, BY WT


Dried fish flakes 76
Dried liver 76
Dried earthworms 76
Duckweed 50
Torula yeast 50
Brewers yeast 39
Soybeans (dry roasted) 37
Flaxseed 37
Alfalfa seed 35
Beef, lean 28
Earthworms 28
Fish 28
Sunflower seeds 26.3
Wheat germ 25
Peas & Beans, dried 24.5
Sesame seed 19.3
Soybeans (boiled) 17
Wheat bran 16.6
Oats, whole 14
Rice polish 12.8
Rye 12.5
Wheat 12.5
Barley 12.3
Oats 12
Corn 9
Millet 9
Milo 9
Rice, brown 7.5

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Plus, protein is made up of amino acids and different foods have different combinations of amino acids that make up their proteins. To get enough of the different amino acids in a large enough quantity, you need to combine certain foods or add certain foods. That's why people combine grains with legumes or add meat or fish. It's not just the amount of protein, it's the quality of the protein.

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
You have Sunflower seed at 26.3% protein and that is incorrect.
In average Sunflower seeds like BOSS is between 14 to 16 percent protein.

Chris

 

[Chris09]

Below is most common sources of protein in commercial feed.

Protein/Amino Acid Sources
A. Plant sources
1) Soybean meal - Most widely used because of its ability to provide indispensable
amino acids; high in digestibility and low in toxic or undesirable substances.
2) Cottonseed meal:
1) Generally not used for layer diets because of: a) gossypol, which can cause a
mottling and greenish cast to egg yolks, and b) cyclopropenoic fatty acids,
which can impart a pink color to egg whites.
2) May be used to replace up to 50% of the soybean meal in grower poultry diets.

3) Linseed meal - Can use a limited amount but may depress growth and cause
diarrhea. Should not exceed 3 to 5% of the poultry diet.
4) Alfalfa meal and corn gluten meal - Used extensively, both for their high content of
carotenoids. Both should be limited to not more than 10%.
B. Animal sources
1) Fish meals - Often used at 2 to 5% of the diet, but high in fat & tend to create a
fishy flavor in meat and eggs when used in larger amounts.
2) Meat products (animal by-products, poultry meal, blood meal, hydrolyzed poultry
feather) - Often economically priced, thus may replace an equal amount of soybean
meal protein up to about 10% of the diet. Excellent sources of Ca & P.

Below is a list of protein sources that can also be found in some commercial feed and some of the ingredients are common in home mixed feed.

Alfalfa Meal -------------------------- 19%
Barley Grain ------------------------- 12%
Beat Tops (sugar) ----------------- 14%
Black Oil Sunflower Seed ----------16%
Brewers Grain (wet) --------------- 27%
Brewers Grain (dry) ---------------- 25%
Carrot (top) ------------------------- 13%
Corn Grain Whole ------------------ 9%
Cotton Seed Whole (solvent) --- 48%
Cow Pea ----------------------------- 23%
Distillers Grain (wet) -------------- 28%
Distillers Grain Corn (wet) ------- 28%
Fish Meal ---------------------------- 66%
Maple Peas ------------------------- 22%
Milk Dry Skim ----------------------- 36%
Milo Grain --------------------------- 13%
Peanut Meal (solvent) ------------ 50%
Pearl Millet Grain ------------------ 13%
Rye Grain --------------------------- 13%
Tic Peas ----------------------------- 25%
Wheat Grain (hard) --------------- 14%
Wheat Grain (soft) ---------------- 12%

Chris