Palm kernel

{{Short description|Edible seed of the oil palm fruit}} thumb|250px|Palm kernel within a palm fruit thumb|250px|Palm kernel nuts put out to dry

The '''palm kernel''' is the edible seed of the oil palm fruit. The fruit yields two distinct oils: palm oil derived from the outer parts of the fruit, and palm kernel oil derived from the kernel.<ref>[http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/005/y4355e/y4355e03.htm Oil Palm] FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin-148, 2002, 60pg, {{ISBN|92-5-104859-2}}</ref>

The pulp left after oil is rendered from the kernel is formed into "palm kernel cake", used either as high-protein feed for dairy cattle or burned in boilers to generate electricity for palm oil mills and surrounding villages.

==Uses== thumb|250px|World War II British Empire palm kernel poster

Palm kernel cake is most commonly produced by economical screw press, less frequently via more expensive solvent extraction.<ref>[http://palmoilis.mpob.gov.my/publications/pod34-hisham.pdf Malaysian Palm Kernel Cake as Animal Feed] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060104090749/http://palmoilis.mpob.gov.my/publications/pod34-hisham.pdf |date=2006-01-04 }} Hishamuddin Mohd Aspar, 2001, Palm Oil Developments 34</ref>

thumb|right|200px|Palm kernel cake

Palm kernel cake is a high-fibre, medium-grade protein feed best suited to ruminants.<ref>[https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(06)72346-3/abstract Evaluation of Palm Kernel Meal and Corn Distillers Grains in Corn Silage-Based Diets for Lactating Dairy Cows] Carvalho, Cabrita, Dewhurst, Vicente, Lopes, and Fonseca, 2006, ''Journal of Dairy Science'' Vol. 89, No. 7</ref><ref>[http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/agpc/doc/Proceedings/manado/chap25.htm Palm Kernel Cake as a supplement for fattening and dairy cattle in Malaysia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109195906/http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Proceedings/manado/chap25.htm |date=2017-11-09 }} FY Chin, 1992, FAO, Manado, Chapter 25</ref> Among other similar fodders, palm kernel cake is ranked a little higher than copra cake and cocoa pod husk,<ref>[http://ebookshop.mardi.gov.my/pub_detail.php?id=326&type=S Nutritive value of palm kernel cake and cocoa pod husks for growing cattle] Wong Hee Kum, Wan Zahari Mohamed, 1997, ''Journal of Tropical Agriculture and Food Science'', Vol. 25, No. 1, {{ISSN|1394-9829}}</ref> but lower than fish meal and groundnut cake, especially in its protein value.

Composed of 16% fiber, palm kernel cake also has a high phosphorus-to-calcium ratio and contains such essential elements as magnesium, iron, and zinc.<ref>[http://palmoilis.mpob.gov.my/publications/POD/pod34-tang.pdf Quality and Characteristics of Malaysian Palm Kernel Cakes/Expellers] Tang Thin Sue, 2001, ''Palm Oil Developments'' 34</ref> The typical ration formulated for the feeding of dairy cattle consists of palm kernel cake (50%), molasses (5%), grass/hay (42%), limestone (1.5%), mineral premix (1%), and salt (0.5%), with trace element/vitamin premix.<ref>[http://palmoilis.mpob.gov.my/publications/pod40-wan.pdf Use of Palm Kernel Cake and Oil Palm By-Products in Compound Feed] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060104083530/http://palmoilis.mpob.gov.my/publications/pod40-wan.pdf |date=2006-01-04 }} M Wan Zahari and A R Alimon, 2004, ''Palm Oil Developments'' 40</ref>

Palm kernel shells (PKS), a byproduct of palm kernel oil production, can be used for biofuel (for example, in the form of pellets).<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 9, 2020 |title=Can power from palm oil waste replace fossil fuels in coal-loving Asia? |url=https://www.eco-business.com/news/can-power-from-palm-oil-waste-replace-fossil-fuels-in-coal-loving-asia/ |access-date=2021-04-05 |website=Eco-Business |language=en}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Palm Kernel}} Category:Oil palm Category:Palm oil