Assessing the Nutritional Content of Grape Pomace and its Potential Utilization as a Fruit Processing Industry Waste: A Substitute for Livestock Feed

Background: The use of unconventional feeds is being increased nowadays due to lack of feeds and fodders for livestock especially during scarcity period. Grape pomace, a leftover product from the fruit processing industry waste can be considered as an alternative to conventional feed ingredients. A study was carried out to investigate the potential of Grape pomace as an alternative feed resource for livestock. Methods: Grape pomace samples were collected and analysed for its proximate composition, fibre fractionations, calcium, phosphorus, total tannin, total gas production, in vitro dry matter degradability and methane. Result: The per cent dry matter, crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract, total ash and nitrogen free extract were found to be 79.60, 13.17, 55.28, 12.89, 2.68 and 15.98 respectively. The per cent calcium and phosphorus were 0.50 and 0.31 respectively. Fibre fractions of the per cent NDF, ADF and non-fibrous carbohydrates were 55.24, 52.88 and 16.02 respectively. The in vitro dry matter degradability, organic matter digestibility and metabolizable energy were 19.29, 56.33 per cent and 7.93 MJ/Kg respectively. The short-chain fatty acids and net energy for lactation were calculated to be 8.43 mmol and 4.25 MJ/Kg respectively. The total tannin content was found to be 4.67 per cent. The total methane production by Grape pomace was 12.42 per cent. The results reveal that Grape pomace, valuable fruit industry waste can be used as an alternative feed resource for livestock feeding.