| By cold-pressing rape seed, we produce a press cake in pellet form. The cake is a valuable part of our system and the main by-product of the cold pressing process. |
| Uses of Oilseed Cake |
|
The pressed cake obtained from cold pressing contains more residual oil, and therefore has a higher value as animal feed, than the feed obtained by warm pressing or normal industrial extraction with solvents. The raw, fat-rich pressed cake is a valuable protein fodder, and is used widely in agriculture. Its greatest value lies in its suitablility as animal fodder. Kilkenny Cereals sees the use of self-produced press cake is a step towards self-supply, self-control and additional income for our suppliers. Press cake from cold pressing of local oil seeds can replace imported meals, including say soya. The cake can be fed to cows, pigs, chicken, sheep and horses, and is an important source of nutrients and energy for these animals. Rape press cake is an optimal cattle fodder. The cold pressed oil, especially the oil rich sediment, is used as fodder oil to improve low-energy pig fodder. Also the filter cake from plate filters with 35-50% oil-content is a valuable fodder. The pellets must be stored in a cold, dark and dry place. After pressing, the cake has a temperature of between 40 & 60 ° C. Cooling down the press cake after pressing is required for silo-storage. This cooling is achieved by transporting the cake with a conveyor belt to our storage bins. This avoids condensation and the resulting deterioration in the bins. We recover some of this heat with a heat exchanger and use it to pre-heat the incoming seed. Rape press cake is no more perishable than grain, with around < 10 % humidity in the cake. Our press supplier Strähle reports storage of the press cake for a half-year without any difficulties under the above mentioned conditions. Other reports on cake storage for about three months show no negative effects on the feed quality. Our press cake in pellety form gives the following advantages: |
|