Fruit and vegetable discards preserved with sodium metabisulfite as a high-moisture ingredient in total mixed ration for ruminants: effect on in vitro ruminal fermentation and in vivo metabolism

Abstract

Objective: Our recent series of laboratory- and large-scale experiments confirmed that under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, sodium metabisulfite (SMB) was effective in preserving nutrients and antioxidant capacity of highly perishable fruit and vegetable discards (FVD). Hence, the purpose of this study was to examine how partial inclusion of SMB-treated FVD in total mixed ration (TMR) influences in vitro ruminal fermentation, whole-tract digestibility, nitrogen metabolism, blood metabolites, and voluntary feed intake of sheep.Methods: The FVD were mixed thoroughly with 6 g SMB/kg wet biomass and kept outdoors under aerobic conditions for 7 days. Four TMRs including four levels of SMB-treated FVD (as-fed basis) at 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% (equaling to 0%, 1.9%, 3.8%, and 5.7% on dry matter basis, respectively), were prepared as replacement for corn grain. The ruminal fermentation metabolites were studied using an in vitro gas production test. Four mature male Corriedale sheep were assigned at random to the 4 diets for two separate sub-experiments; i) digestibility trial with four 21-d periods, and ii) voluntary feed intake trial with four 28-d periods.Results: Inclusion of SMB-treated FVD in the TMR tended to quadratically increase partitioning factor. No effect was seen on total-tract digestibility of organic matter, ether extract, crude protein, and acid detergent fiber, except for neutral detergent fiber digestibility that tended to linearly increase with increasing SMB-treated FVD in the TMR. The progressive increase of FVD preserved with SMB in the diet had no effect on nitrogen metabolism. Treatment had no effect on serum antioxidant capacity and blood metabolites assayed. Voluntary feed intake was not impaired by inclusion of SMB-treated FVD in the TMR.Conclusion: It appears that FVD preserved with SMB can be safely incorporated into TMR as replacement of corn grain without impairment of nutrient metabolism and feed intake.

Effects of feeding sodium metabisulfite-treated fruit and vegetable discards to Hanwoo heifers and cows

“…During the 80-d collection period, DM, CP, and WSC contents ranged from 12.8 to 15.8%, from 6.1 to 8.9% of DM, and from 37.9 to 50.3% of DM, respectively. These values are consistent with those obtained in our laboratory over a 3-yr period, indicating that FVD biomass is high in soluble sugars and moisture but low in fiber and protein contents [3,4,6,7]. Our previous observations confirmed that these FVD biomass characteristics accelerated putrefaction by active microbial populations.…”

“…Based on the moisture and energy content similarities between FVD (an estimated average TDN of 80.2% and moisture content ranging from 85 to 88% [3,4,6,7]) and WBG, we hypothesized that FVD could be used as a replacement of WBG in the rations of Hanwoo heifers and cows.…”

“…A r t i c l e basis) [4]. Generally, the use of SMB as a silage additive improves the palatability of the resultant silage by beef or dairy cattle.…”

“…Although the Food Recovery Hierarchy has proposed several routes for the re-utilization of food wastes such as FVD, their recycling through livestock feed is the most preferable option [ 3 ]. We recently included incremental levels of sodium metabisulfite (SMB)-preserved FVD (0% to 30%, as-fed basis) in a mixed diet of sheep and found no negative effects on diet palatability or overall health [ 4 ]. Romero-Huelva et al [ 5 ] also found that replacing 35% of cereal-based concentrate with tomato and cucumber waste fruits in the diet of lactating goats had no negative effect on productivity, resulting in an improvement in the net food production index.…”

Determination of in situ degradation parameters and feeding level of pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) cannery by-product to Hanwoo steers

“…Because the pineapple by-products generally contain high water-soluble and moisture contents like other fruit by-products, they have the potential to readily decay [ 15 ]. Although there are certain procedures for decreasing the moisture content of PCB, such as sun-drying or artificial drying, sun-drying is impracticable during the rainy season and artificial drying generates additional expenses and it also requires special facilities.…”