There could soon be new demand for the oilseed crop camelina as a feed ingredient for poultry.
Camelina seed company Smart Earth Seeds is welcoming the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s approval of feeding cold-pressed non-solvent extracted camelina meal to broiler chickens at up to 12 percent inclusion.
“This is a major step forward for camelina in Canada,” said Jack Grushcow, founder and CEO of Smart Earth Seeds, in a release issued Monday. “We are now able to develop local markets for our high quality camelina meal, making the production economics even more attractive. Due to its high concentration of Omega-3 oils the meal has been shown to produce Omega meat in broiler chickens – making it a great source of high quality feed.”
Much of the research supporting the the application was completed through the University of Saskatchewan’s Department of Animal and Poultry Science and Feeds Innovation Institute, with support from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture. The university is initiating a second application for feed approval for laying hens.
Camelina is a drought tolerant oilseed that can be grown with low inputs on marginal land. It is rich in protein and Omega-3 fatty acids. Camelina oil can be used in industrial applications, including biofuels, motor oils, hydraulic fluids and lubricants.
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