Ensiling of food waste for subsequent inclusion in ruminant diets

There is growing global concern about food waste, leading to increased interest in using it as livestock feed. However, since most food waste is high in moisture, it spoils quickly, making it necessary to feed it immediately or preserve it for subsequent feeding. Drying can reduce the moisture content of food waste, but the combustion of fossil fuels adds to feed costs and emits greenhouse gases. As a result, ensiling of food waste may be a more desirable preservation technique. Various cull crops and by-products have been successfully ensiled to generate high quality feed for ruminants. However, the ensiling of food waste presents its own challenges due to variability in chemical composition and moisture levels that are unsuitable for ensiling. Additionally, the nutrient content of food waste is often unpredictable and high in fibre, making it more suitable as a feed for ruminants than for swine or poultry. Food waste silage has the potential to improve the sustainability of ruminant production systems while addressing the global food waste crisis.