Potential of Fruits and Vegetable By-Products as an Alternative Feed Source for Sustainable Ruminant Nutrition and Production: A Review

Hassan Jalal, Melania Giammarco (), Lydia Lanzoni (), Muhammad Zeeshan Akram, Ludovica M. E. Mammi, Giorgio Vignola, Matteo Chincarini, Andrea Formigoni and Isa Fusaro
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Hassan Jalal: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
Melania Giammarco: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
Lydia Lanzoni: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
Muhammad Zeeshan Akram: Nutrition and Animal-Microbiota Ecosystems, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
Ludovica M. E. Mammi: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, 40064 Bologna, Italy
Giorgio Vignola: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
Matteo Chincarini: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
Andrea Formigoni: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, 40064 Bologna, Italy
Isa Fusaro: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 2, 1-18

Abstract: The agro-food industry produces tons of waste at different stages in the food production process, creating a massive ecological crisis. If implemented, the use of fruit and vegetable by-products (FVBPs) in animal nutrition has the potential to lessen the environmental footprint of the food production chain, lower animal feeding costs, and improve the quality and sustainability of animal products. Recent research on the inclusion of FVBPs, naturally enriched with polyphenols, in the diets of small and large ruminants has shown some promising outcomes, which we discuss in this review. The effects of FVBPs on digestion, rumen fermentation, methane emissions, rumen liquor fatty acid profile, and milk production are examined. Due to the chemical composition and the presence of certain bioactive compounds, FVBPs are capable of influencing the ruminal and intestinal ecosystem through improved kinetics of fermentation. Several in vivo studies have demonstrated that the dietary inclusion of FVBPs resulted in improved milk production and composition without any negative effect on animal performance. Using FVBPs as an alternative to conventional feedstuffs may promote sustainable animal production and nutrition. However, it must be stressed that the efficacy of these feed supplements is conditional on the source, kind, and quantity employed.

Keywords: methane; ruminants; milk production; bioactive compounds; sustainability; nutrition; animal production (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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