Plant proteins: culture on set-aside land of oilseeds, protein crops and fodder following the BSE crisis

The aim of the present working document is to provide background elements with a view to answering Council requests on supply and demand of protein-rich crops. The document reviews the sources of protein used in animal feed in the European Union, their origin and the needs of the different species. It also provides the first assessment of the impact of the BSE crisis on meat consumption and production. On this basis, and taking into account the ban on meat and bone meals, changes in feed demand are assessed later on. There exists several possibilities to replace the banned animal meal, and they will presumably all be used to a various degree. These include soya meal, rape and sun meal, protein crops, dehydrated fodder and cereal.�