Fruit peels may no longer be considered as wastes, as the result of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (Seafdec) study suggests that they can be used as additives for tilapia feed.

The result of a preliminary study showed that percentage weight gain of tilapia fingerlings fed the fishmeal-based control diet was comparable to those fed diets containing citrus pulp, okara meal, and pineapple peel.

The pesticide residue analyses also indicated that among the agricultural waste samples examined, mango peel and citrus peel had pesticide residue levels but still below the maximum residual limits set by FAO Codex Alimentarius.

Fruit wastes were also found to contain high levels of lignin, phenols and low to moderate amounts of tannin, which can be possibly reduced by processing treatments.

Pineapple waste is a by-product generated by pineapple processing plants, mostly dumped and pollutes the environment that the processing plant has to contend with managing these wastes. Converting pineapple wastes into animal feed will significantly reduce environmental problem, at the same time making use of the waste into potential feed resources.

Mango peel, on the other hand, can be fed fresh or dried for livestock, although it needs to be processed for fish. Due to the high sugar content, they are palatable and considered as energy feed.

Source: SunStar Philippines // Original Article