Les sources de protéines pour l'alimentation animale : bilan général de l'approvisionnement et apport particulier des céréales

Stuffs a general survey of supply and the particular contribution of cereal crops - In the satisfaction of protein demand, the general survey for France shows up the preponderance of coarse, home-produced fodder. Ruminants are the main consumers of protein products and are also the main producers of animal protein. The sudden stoppage in protein imports, even if it is a nuisance, will not jeopardize animal production. A rise in the price of oil-cake (the 1973 crisis) leads to an increase in animal production costs that is much less than the anarchic variations in animal product prices. The protein supply must be examined in the overall context of the animal production policy and not only analyzed as a food problem. Cereal crops are a source of protein products for non-ruminants (54 % of the demand). The choice of one or other variety of cereal makes less oil-cake necessary. The late use of nitrogen manure might be a means of improving the protein content of wheat. For pigs, by using cereals, one third of the quantity of oil-cake can be saved without having an adverse effect on the quality of the production. The feeding of ruminants can have alternative solutions such as the use of « cereals and urea ».