Protein feed for animal production in Slovenia

Slovenia has only limited alternatives for protein supplemental feedstuff production. In 1995 about 3,000 t of oil seeds were produced (81 percent of pumpkin, 6 percent of sunflower and 13 percent of rapeseed). On average 11,500 t of meat and bone meal and 170 t of dried brewer's yeast are produced per year. The estimated amount of protein supplements used in the feed mill industry is about 90,000 t per year. Proteins from plant and marine sources and synthetic essential amino-acid are principally imported. Protein and amino acid requirements in swine and poultry nutrition are adapted from the NRC standards. The additional use of synthetic limiting essential amino acid is generally practised. Since 1997 a new system for evaluation of the protein supply in ruminants has been proposed and introduced into the practice. In Slovenia two research groups are active in animal protein nutrition: the Institute of Nutrition (University of Ljubljana, Zootechnical Department) and the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia.