A innovative study reveals that substituting 50g/kg of maize with a blend of pineapple and orange peels presents a promising sustainable feed option for poultry farmers.
Research Insights
Conducted by universities in Limpopo, South Africa, and Nigeria, researchers discovered that this fruit peel mixture not only maintained nutrient digestibility but also improved certain carcass traits and meat quality. Although there was a slight dip in growth performance, the research indicates that this fruit peel mix could serve as a viable alternative for poultry nutrition.
Objectives of the Study
The study aimed to assess the effects of replacing maize meal with pineapple and orange peels on key factors including growth indices, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics, and the sensory attributes of broiler chickens.
Methodology: Birds and Diet Treatments
In the experiment, 480 day-old unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly assigned to four different diets in a completely randomized design, with each diet consisting of six replicates of 20 birds:
- Control (0 g kg-1 peels)
- 50 g kg-1 pineapple peels (PP)
- 50 g kg-1 orange peels (OP)
- 25 g kg-1 each of pineapple and orange peels (POP)
All birds had free access to feed and fresh water during the study, which lasted for 56 days.
Results: Growth and Digestibility
Data showed that all growth parameters were influenced by the varying diets, with the control group outperforming the treated groups (P < 0.05). Nevertheless, birds on the mixed peel diet exhibited comparable nutrient digestibility to those on the control diet, showing crude protein digestibility of 71.53% against 76.22% in the control, and ash digestibility of 64.01% compared to 59.12% in the control. Furthermore, birds on the mixed peels diet had superior dry matter (83.55% vs. 83.03%) and nitrogen-free extract digestibility (95.89% vs. 93.26%) compared to control birds.
Carcass Performance Evaluation
When it came to carcass performance, the control diet achieved higher live weight (1,410.25 g). However, birds fed the pineapple/orange peel blend exhibited better dressing percentages (73.73% vs. 69%) and drumstick weights (10.01 g vs. 8.99 g) than those on the control diet. Other carcass parameters displayed no significant differences between the groups.
Meat Quality Enhancement
Notably, meat from the birds consuming the pineapple/orange mixed peels was rated higher in terms of aroma and tenderness compared to the control group. The findings suggest that replacing 50 g kg-1 of maize with an equal blend of pineapple and orange peels in broiler diets is beneficial.
The study, titled ‘Response of broiler chickens to pineapple and orange-based diets under a single-phase feeding’, is published in the Journal of Tropical Health and Animal Production.
