EXPLORING POTENTIALS OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLE WASTES AS ALTERNATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE FEED RESOURCE FOR LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION IN GAMO ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This study was conducted in the districts of Deara Malo, Arba Minch Zuria and Mirab Abaya of Gamo Zone, southern Ethiopia, with the aim of investigating the potential of fruit and vegetable by products and their utilization practices as alternative feed resources. Additionally, it explores the nutritional quality and determining the effect of combined fruit waste supplementation on nutrient utilization and economic efficiency of yearling Doyo-Gena rams and Woyito-Guji bucks. Field data were gathered through interview and focus groups discussions, and structured questionnaire-based household interview. The chemical, anti-nutritional factors and mineral profiles of fruit and vegetable wastes (FVW) sample were carried out. The body weight change and nutrient utilization efficiency of Doyo-gena rams and Woyito-Guji bucks were carried out at Arba Minch University. The cost-benefit analysis for the dietary inclusion of fruit waste mix value was analyzed following the partial budgeting principles. Among the identified fruit and vegetable wastes, mango and avocado wastes were selected to precede feeding trail works due to their physical characteristics, ease of handling, abundance of availability, and possibility of drying up and being stored in confinements. Mango and avocado seed samples were collected from farms, fruit marketing facilities and restaurants around the study area. The biomass estimation and records were carried out based on hectare of lands occupied by specific plant varieties in the area. Among the identified FVW and feed biomasses, banana wastes had the highest share, followed by mango and avocado, and sweet potatoes have the highest share, followed by cassava, potato, cabbage, and tomato fractions and their inedible parts obtained from fruit, tuber, and vegetable farms, respectively (P <0.05). Based on estimation and recorded values of feed resources generated from fruit farms, 24.14 metric tonne of banana by-products, 1.76 metric tonne of mango by-products, and 0.72 metric tonne of avocado by-products of fresh biomass were obtained from a hectare of banana, mango and avocado farms with different DM yields respectively (P<0.05). Similarly, 22.7 metric tonne of sweet potato leaf and vein, 1.41 metric tonne of cassava by-products, 1.12 metric tonne of potato peels, 0.55 metric tonne of cabbage leaf, and 0.41 metric tonne of discarded tomato fresh biomass were obtained from a hectare of land with different (P<0.05) DM yields respectively. The majority of these by-products are used as livestock feed, mainly in the dry season, during which conventional feed resources are scarce. Feed resource availability and trends varied with the agro-ecological zones, seasonal changes and land use systems of the area (P<0.05). The highest crude protein contents recorded from banana leaf (15.8±0.8 % DM), followed by avocado peel (14±0.8) among fruit wastes, and the highest values for vegetable components were obtained from Moringa s. strip (20.6±1.25) and sweet potato leaf (18.5±1.55). Relatively higher concentrations of tannin, oxalate, and phytate were recorded for banana wastes (6.4±2.5 mg/100 g), (4.3±1 mg/100 g), and (6.3±1 mg/100 g), respectively. Similarly, among determined nutrient activating factors, relatively the concentration of tannin was found to be higher in potato peel, followed by cassava and sweet potato leaf, but lower for tomato and cassava peel, respectively (P <0.05). Generally, the concentration of nutrient activating factors of all fruit and vegetable waste/by-product samples did not exceed the maximum permissible level for animal, which is less than 5% of DM (P < 0.05). The mineral profiles (for example, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, and others) of these fruit and vegetabl wastes also show encouraging results that contribute to maintaining the mineral needs of farm animals. Avocado and mango seed kernel and peel were selected for feeding trail works, mainly due to their physical properties, easily dry up and enough size being stored in confinements. In the feeding trail activity, which was conducted using 12 Woyito-Guji bucks and 12 Doyo-Gena rams employing a randomized 2×4×4 cross-over design, T1, T2, and T3 showed greater feed conversion efficiency values (P < 0.05) and comparable body weight gain than T4. However, daily nutrient intake measurements of all prepared diets in this particular study show that Doyo-Gena rams score higher values (P < 0.05) than Woyito-Guji bucks in all treatment groups. The nutrient digestibility values for organic matter (OM) and dry matter (DM) scored similarly, but those of crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and ash scored higher (P < 0.05) for Woyito-Guji bucks as compared to Doyo-Gena rams. Therefore, fruit wastes can serve as a suitable source of feed for livestock that rely solely on low-quality natural pasture and crop residues due to their valuable concentrations of CP and other nutrients. The effectiveness of these feed supplements could also be dependent on the type, source, and quantity used; this must be emphasized.