Palm kernel meal (PKM) can be a useful, low-cost protein and energy feed for cattle when it is limited to a modest share of the ration and balanced with good forage and minerals. Fed too heavily, it can cause low intake, mineral imbalances, and loose manure. Here is what to know before you buy a load.
What Is Palm Kernel Meal?
PKM (also sold as palm kernel expeller or palm kernel cake) is what remains after oil is pressed from the kernel of the oil palm fruit. It is a by-product feed, most common in Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, and it is imported into other regions for livestock use.
What It Offers
- Protein. Typically moderate, in the mid-teens percent range. That is useful but well below soybean meal.
- Energy and fat. Residual oil adds energy. The amount varies a lot with how the oil was extracted (pressed meals keep more fat than solvent-extracted ones).
- Fiber. High in fiber, so it behaves partly like a forage replacement and is easier on rumen acidity than grain.
- Price. Often cheaper per unit of protein than conventional meals, which is the main reason farmers use it.
The Drawbacks
- Palatability and texture. It is gritty and dusty, and some cattle eat it slowly. Mixing it into a total mixed ration or pellet helps.
- Mineral balance. PKM is high in phosphorus relative to calcium, so the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio can drift off. See our guide on the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio in cattle.
- Copper. PKM can carry a lot of copper. Cattle tolerate more than sheep do, but copper builds up in the liver over time, so ask your nutritionist before adding copper from other sources.
- Fat and fiber digestion. Too much added fat in the total diet can interfere with fiber digestion in the rumen.
- Quality swings. Protein, fat, and contamination (shells, sand) vary by supplier, so get a feed analysis for each load.
How Much Can Cattle Eat?
There is no single safe number, because it depends on the animal, the rest of the diet, and the PKM itself. As a rule, keep PKM to a minority of the total ration, introduce it gradually over one to two weeks, and have a livestock nutritionist or your extension office balance the full diet. Dairy cows have their own concerns, covered in The Risks of Feeding Palm Kernel to Dairy Cows.
Feeding Tips
- Start with a small amount and increase slowly.
- Mix it into the ration rather than feeding it alone.
- Keep plenty of hay or pasture in the diet.
- Store it dry, since damp PKM can mold.
- Watch intake and manure consistency for the first weeks.
Other by-product feeds are worth comparing: brewers grains and beet pulp.
Bottom Line
Palm kernel meal is a workable budget feed for cattle when used in moderation with good forage, balanced minerals, and a feed analysis. Talk to your veterinarian or a livestock nutritionist before making it a regular part of the ration, especially for dairy cows, calves, or any sheep sharing your feed.
