REDUCING FEED SCARCITY WITH FRUIT PEEL POWDERS: A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION FOR LIVESTOCK
Livestock-producing farmers face the challenge of producing high-quality, healthy products to meet the growing demand for animal protein. They are dependent on animal feed for their animals to perform well and gain weight subsequently leading to increased demand for animal feed. Resource scarcity, environmental factors, and rising feed prices have significantly impacted animal feed production. To meet this high demand for animal feed, efficient use of available feed resources, enlargement of the feed resource base, and a search for novel feed resources, particularly those not competing with human food, are important for sustainable livestock farming.
The increasing processing of fruit and vegetables has led to higher quantities of agricultural by-products. According to a report by Eurostat (2020), around 57 million tonnes of agricultural by-products are produced annually. Around 10% comes from the processing and manufacturing sectors of fresh fruits and vegetables. The by-products like Peels, rinds of fruits, and pomaces contain bioactive components that can be beneficial to improve the quality of animal feed. Unfortunately, a significant portion of these by-products is often discarded, contributing to resource loss and environmental challenges associated with dumping. Therefore, new strategies are needed to utilize these agricultural by-products effectively.
One promising solution to this challenge is the reuse of agricultural by-products, particularly fruit and vegetable peel. These by-products can replace traditional feed resources in an animal’s diet, due to the presence of nutritive bioactive compounds. This can help to decrease the scarcity of animal feed resources and reduce environmental impact due to excessive by-product production.
Challenges in animal feed production and their solution
The Potential of Peel Powders
Many fruits and vegetables have been increasingly grown mainly for food and other industrial uses. Large quantities of by-products are produced from the processing of these products one of the main components of which is peels. Although a by-product, peels are rich in dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and can be used to enhance the nutritional profile of animal diets.
Citrus peel powder, rich in dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals, enhances the nutritional value of animal feed. Bioactive compounds like flavonoids and limonoids provide antioxidant and antimicrobial benefits.
Tomato peel powder is an agro-industrial by-product loaded with proteins, fats, minerals, fibers, and antioxidants like lycopene and polyphenols. The higher content of lycopene in tomato peel powder helps to reduce inflammation, acts as an antioxidant, improves fertility, and strengthens the immune system.
With its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, pomegranate peel powder is used in medicinal, nutraceutical, and food preservation applications. It acts as a natural meat preservative, extends food shelf life, and is a substrate for industrial enzymes like cellulase and pectinase.
Enhance Animal Health and Performance with Peel Powders
Peel powders offer a cost-effective solution for maintaining balanced animal nutrition while using agricultural by-products. Rich in bioactive compounds like flavonoids, lycopene, and beta carotenoids, peel powders enhance immunological health and overall well-being. Their high fiber, protein, and essential micronutrient content provide the necessary dietary components for animals that,
The benefit of peel powders in animal feed
Peel powders derived from agricultural by-products are a sustainable, cost-effective, and nutritionally beneficial solution for animal feed production. By repurposing these by-products, the livestock industry can reduce its dependency on traditional feed resources addressing the challenges of both food waste and feed resource scarcity.
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