written by: dr. jacquie jacob, university of kentucky
sesame is grown primarily for human consumption. sesame seed meal is a by-product of oil extraction. compared to soybean meal, sesame seed meal is low in lysine, isoleucine, leucine, and valine. it is, however, a good source of the sulfur-containing amino acids, including methionine. there has been research indicating that sesame seed meal can serve as a substitute for corn and soybean meal that contains synthetic methionine. according to the research, sesame seed meal can constitute up to 10% to12% of an organic broiler diet, with no adverse effects on growth performance.
sesame seed meal is not acceptable as a complete replacement for soybean meal in the diets of laying hens. further research is required to determine the maximum level of sesame seed meal that can be included in laying diets without adversely affecting egg production, egg quality, and feed efficiency.
sesame seed hulls are a by-product of the production of sesame cream. sesame hulls are rich in methionine, cystine, and calcium and are a moderate source of protein. sesame hulls should not constitute more than 8% of a broiler diet or 14% of a laying diet.