Articles
Beyond the prickle: uncovering nutritional and safety secrets of Opuntia ficus-indica cladode by-products for animal nutrition
Article number
1466_20
Pages
157 – 164
Language
English
Abstract
Agro-industrial by-products obtained from Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill cladode mucilage extraction offer potential sustainable solutions to feed shortages as feed ingredients and supplements for livestock.
These by-products, which include peels and insoluble fibre residues, contain untapped nutritional value that can benefit various feed formulations.
Thus, the aim of the present study was to conduct proximate and heavy metal profiling of freeze-dried cladode peels and insoluble fibre.
The results revealed significant variation (p<0.05) that exists between the two cladode by-products.
With proximate composition, the peel fraction exhibited significantly (p<0.05) higher levels of fat (1.9%), crude protein (4.5%), and crude fibre (12.2%) compared to the insoluble fibre fraction (1.4% fat, 3.7% CP, 9.9% CF). Heavy metal analysis indicated significant variation among the components, with aluminium identified as the most abundant contaminant.
The peel accumulated the higher concentrations of aluminium (336.6 mg kg‑1) than insoluble fibre (131.1 mg kg‑1). Other measured heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium and antimony) were found within an acceptable range of 0.009-0.07 mg kg‑1 for both cladode fractions.
The study concludes that while the O. ficus-indica peel is a valuable source of nutrients for livestock feed, careful considerations should be taken regarding high heavy metal accumulation of aluminium.
These by-products, which include peels and insoluble fibre residues, contain untapped nutritional value that can benefit various feed formulations.
Thus, the aim of the present study was to conduct proximate and heavy metal profiling of freeze-dried cladode peels and insoluble fibre.
The results revealed significant variation (p<0.05) that exists between the two cladode by-products.
With proximate composition, the peel fraction exhibited significantly (p<0.05) higher levels of fat (1.9%), crude protein (4.5%), and crude fibre (12.2%) compared to the insoluble fibre fraction (1.4% fat, 3.7% CP, 9.9% CF). Heavy metal analysis indicated significant variation among the components, with aluminium identified as the most abundant contaminant.
The peel accumulated the higher concentrations of aluminium (336.6 mg kg‑1) than insoluble fibre (131.1 mg kg‑1). Other measured heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium and antimony) were found within an acceptable range of 0.009-0.07 mg kg‑1 for both cladode fractions.
The study concludes that while the O. ficus-indica peel is a valuable source of nutrients for livestock feed, careful considerations should be taken regarding high heavy metal accumulation of aluminium.
Publication
Authors
S. Tonisi, T. Kaseke, N.A. Masondo, O.A. Fawole
Keywords
agro-industrial by-products, alternative feed ingredients, cactus cladodes, heavy metals, proximate composition, valorisation
Online Articles (74)