Nutritional evaluation of fruit and vegetable waste as feedstuff for diets of lactating Holstein cows

Organic waste from markets represents about 10–20% of the total waste of a city. A large proportion comes from the overproduction of fruit and vegetables, turning them into potential pollutant. The nutritional value found for fruit and vegetable waste (FV) from a marketplace, in a previous work, showed that this product might be considered as a potential alternative for animal feeding. This study evaluated the use of FV as feedstuff for diets of lactating Holstein cows with an emphasis on milk yield and quality. FV was included in 0, 6, 8, 12, and 18% of the concentrate. A 4 x 4 Latin squares model was used to analyze data (4 animal groups, 4 periods of evaluation, and 4 treatments). No statistical differences in milk yield per kilogram of eaten concentrate or concentrate intake were recorded between groups fed FV and the control group. There was a significant effect of the treatment on cis-9,trans-11 CLA and α-linolenic acid content in milk. These results showed that FV can be used as a dietary ingredient for high-yield lactating cows without detriment in the milk yield and with improvement in the milk quality. FV could be included at proportions of between 6% and 18% in the concentrate, as long as the animal’s dietary requirements are covered. The main impact of these results is the alternative generated for the improvement of the environment.

► Fruit and vegetable waste (FV) was evaluated for diets of lactating cows.
► FV increased α-linolenic and cis-9,trans-11 CLA in milk.
► FV did not affect intake nor milk yield per kg of eaten concentrate.
► It is possible to include FV in the concentrate between 6 and 18% of dry matter.
► These results show an important alternative for sustainable animal food production.