Which of the following is a protein concentrate?

Answer Details

A protein concentrate is a feedstuff that contains a high proportion of crude protein (typically above 20%) and is used in animal rations primarily to supply amino acids for growth, reproduction, and tissue repair. Fish meal is one of the most important protein concentrates in animal nutrition, containing approximately 60-72% crude protein along with essential amino acids, minerals, and vitamins.

The other options are all energy concentrates (also called carbonaceous concentrates), meaning they are rich in carbohydrates but relatively low in protein:

• Cassava flour is predominantly starch with very low protein content (about 1-3%).
• Maize meal is an energy-rich feed with roughly 8-10% crude protein.
• Wheat meal contains around 10-14% crude protein, still below the threshold for a protein concentrate.

In formulating livestock rations, protein concentrates like fish meal, groundnut cake, soybean meal, and cottonseed cake are combined with energy concentrates to achieve the desired nutrient balance for the specific class of animal being fed.