Olive Cake in Livestock Nutrition

Abstract

Depending on species and the utilized production system, feed represents the biggest variable cost to livestock producers. For example, feed cost represents 40-50% of the production cost of intensively managed cows and up to 60-70% of the cost of extensively managed sheep and goats. In either case, its proportion is substantial to the profitability of any animal operation. Livestock producers in Jordan face great hardships and challenges related to the environmental impact, animal health, market variability, and, most importantly, feed prices due to the limited feed production stemming from low rainfall. Most of the main feed ingredients in Jordan’s livestock sector are imported making them quite expensive. This review discusses the use of alternative feed ingredients (namely olive cake (OC)) in animal nutrition as a means of reducing the cost of feeding and improving returns to producers. Olive oil is one of the healthiest oils available and represents an important part of the Mediterranean diet. The increased demand for olive oil and olive fruits accelerated the increase in planting olive trees to meet these needs. This, in turn, has led to a significant increase in olive residues, such as olive cake (OC). These residues (byproducts) can be a source of pollution if not disposed of properly. The main objective of this review is to focus on the importance of OC in animal nutrition and its impact on the economics of livestock production. Most of the studies we dealt with in this review have shown that incorporating OC (in small substitutions) into the rations of livestock has no adverse effects on animal health and productivity. Thus, utilizing low-cost, agro-industrial by-products, such as OC, can be beneficial from environmental and economic points of view.

Impacts of enzymes and probiotic in improving the utilization of sieved olive pulp meal in growing rabbit diets

“…Nonetheless, attention should be paid to potential secondary metabolites found in olives [ 2 ]. Numerous studies have demonstrated that olive oil industry waste can be used as a low-cost alternative feed for animals, improving productivity and animal health, and increasing the income of livestock breeders [ 3 ]. However, their high content of lignocellulose makes them resistant to rumen microbial enzymes, and their high content of polyphenols and tannins inhibits the growth of microorganisms in the rumen, which prevents a large portion of their nutrients from being degraded in the rumen and a large portion of their energy from being metabolized [ 2 ].…”

“…However, their high content of lignocellulose makes them resistant to rumen microbial enzymes, and their high content of polyphenols and tannins inhibits the growth of microorganisms in the rumen, which prevents a large portion of their nutrients from being degraded in the rumen and a large portion of their energy from being metabolized [ 2 ]. Therefore, its application in animal diets is still relatively limited, primarily reserved for non-intensive animal diets with low productivity and mainly during periods of scarcely available feed resources [ 3 ].…”

Bioconversion of alperujo into an alternative feed for ruminants by pretreatment with live yeasts and/or exogenous fibrolytic enzymes

“…Several studies have proved that wastes from the olive oil industry wastes can be used as a low-cost alternative feed for ruminants, improving milk and meat quality and animal health, and increasing livestock breeders’ income (Zagmutt et al 2016 ; Obeidat and Kridli 2021 ). However, their high content of lignocellulose makes them resistant to ruminal microbial enzymes, and their high content of polyphenols and tannins inhibits the growth of the ruminal microbiota, so much of their nutrients cannot be degraded in the rumen and much of their energy cannot be metabolizable by ruminants (Yáñez-Ruiz and Molina-Alcaide 2007 ; Marcos et al 2019 ).…”

“…However, their high content of lignocellulose makes them resistant to ruminal microbial enzymes, and their high content of polyphenols and tannins inhibits the growth of the ruminal microbiota, so much of their nutrients cannot be degraded in the rumen and much of their energy cannot be metabolizable by ruminants (Yáñez-Ruiz and Molina-Alcaide 2007 ; Marcos et al 2019 ). Therefore, their use in ruminant diets remains very limited and is mainly used in non-intensive ruminant systems for animals with low productivity and mainly in periods of scarce feed resources (Obeidat and Kridli 2021 ). Due to the recent global crises—the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian–Ukrainian war, and the global warming, the feed resources have become scarce, and their price has increased exponentially (Du et al 2022 ; Galanakis 2023 ).…”