Effect of Coating Pelleted Animal Feed with Novel Edible Coating Mixture

Abstract— This current study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of combining Aloe vera gel and African star Apple (Chrysophyllum albidum) juice on the shelf life and physical appearance of pelleted animal feed. The extracts of these two plants were prepared using standard methods and applied by spray pyrolysis method on the feed. The two extracts were proportionally mixed using the optimal design of mixture method. The optimal proportion was 4:1 (Aloe vera gel to African star apple juice). The phytochemical analysis of both extracts was carried out and found to contain kaempferol, flavanone, tannin, phylate, and aphylidine which are very effective antimicrobial and antioxidant agents. The toxicity test (LD50) shows that the blend of both extracts was non-toxic. This result was buttressed by FTIR analysis which showed no harmful functional group. The resultant effect of coating feed pellets with this novel mixture was an extension of the shelf life of pellets by 14 days and improving the physical appearance of the feed.