Turning Pineapple Waste into Gold: How Pineapple Residue Boosts Animal Farming

Overview

• China is one of the world’s top ten producers of pineapples, with a production of about 1.29 million tons in 2012.
• Pineapples are widely processed into canned fruit, juice, wine, and dairy drinks.
• Processing pineapples generates a huge amount of pineapple residue (50–60% of the original fruit).
• Most processing factories throw away this residue, causing both wasted resources and environmental pollution.
• Studies show pineapple residue has high nutritional and economic value and can be turned into excellent feed with the right processing.

Nutritional Content of Pineapple Residue

• Pineapple residue is juicy and rich in pectin, lignin, minerals, fiber, hemicellulose, and nutrients like protein, fat, carbohydrates, and vitamin C.
• It contains:Non-nitrogen extract: 43.7%–47%Crude fiber: 26.7%–28.7%Crude protein: 7.5%–7.7% (2.5 times higher than the original pulp)Crude ash: 5.3%–5.5% (3 times higher than the pulp)Crude fat: 2.4%
• Also provides plenty of calcium, phosphorus, iron, copper, manganese, zinc, potassium, and sodium.
• Higher in fiber and minerals but slightly lower in protein, fat, and phosphorus compared to premium feeds.

Three Main Ways to Use Pineapple Residue as Animal Feed:

1. Fermentation

• Ferment with beneficial microbes to turn pineapple residue into protein-rich animal feed.
• The natural acidity of the residue helps fermentation and prevents unwanted bacteria.
• Protein content can be boosted significantly (up to 24.7% in some studies), and the feed becomes more flavorful and appealing to animals.

• 2. Silage (Ensiling)

  • Fresh pineapple residue already has plenty of beneficial bacteria, making it great for silage.
  • After 40–50 days of fermentation, the residue becomes soft, aromatic, and packed with more fiber, calcium, and phosphorus.
  • Studies show that including up to 62% pineapple silage in sheep feed maintains healthy weight gain and nutrition.

  3. Dried Pineapple Residue

  • Dehydrating pineapple residue reduces moisture to about 10%, extending shelf life and improving taste.
  • Can be used to feed dairy goats, laying hens, and more without significantly affecting animal health or product output (as long as it doesn’t exceed 15% of chicken feed).

Proven Benefits for Animal Production

• Fermented pineapple residue improves animal appetite and nutrition.
• Its natural acidity helps balance pH in animal stomachs, aiding digestion.
• In dairy cows, replacing traditional feed with fermented pineapple residue increased feed intake, milk production, and milk quality.
• In beef and sheep, including pineapple residue led to higher daily weight gains.
• For laying hens, feed with up to 15% pineapple residue was safe and nutritious, without reducing egg size or survival rates.