Utilization of fruit and vegetable waste as an alternative feed resource for sustainable and eco-friendly sheep farming

Globally, 10-20% of horticultural wastes are disposed in landfills leading to environmental pollution. Recycling these wastes as animal feedstuff will lessen food-feed competition and minimize environmental hazards. The present study was undertaken to determine the nutritional quality of fresh fruit and vegetable waste (F&VW) and their dietary inclusion on nutrient utilization, antioxidant status, greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and potable water sparing efficacy in sheep. Three dietary combinations were formulated i.e. control (C):70% Cenchrus ciliaris hay +30% concentrate mixture (CM), diet with fruit waste (FWD):70% Cenchrus ciliaris hay +20% CM +10% FW and diet with vegetable waste (VWD):70% Cenchrus ciliaris hay +20% CM +10% VW for in vitro and in vivo evaluation of these wastes as potential livestock feed. Twenty-one adult ewes were allocated into 3 groups C, FWD and VWD and fed on the above three diets. Dry matter and crude protein digestibility were significantly enhanced by 5.5 and 7.2%; 7.3 and 7.6% in F&VW supplemented groups, respectively, without affecting feed intake. Plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was improved by 32.2 and 26.3% in F&VW supplemented groups. Inclusion of F&VW biomass reduced annual methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions (kg CO(2)eq/sheep) by 3.12 and 4.55%; 15.18 and 14.92% and thus contributed to lowering of global warming potential by 4.00 and 5.27%, respectively. Furthermore, there was a net reduction of potable water consumption by 21.78 and 13.92% in F&VW supplemented groups, respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that F&VW can be a potential feedstuff for ruminants and its efficient reuse would minimize environmental impacts associated with disposal of such waste in the landfills. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study found that using fruit and vegetable waste as animal feed can improve nutrient utilization and antioxidant status in animals, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and save potable water consumption.