Attilio Luigi Mordenti1, Elisa Giaretta2, Luca Campidonico1, Paola Parazza1, Andrea Formigoni1. 1. Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Veterinarie (DIMEVET), Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, Via Tolara di sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Italy. 2. Dipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata ed Alimentazione (BCA), Università di Padova, Via dell'Università 6, 35020 Legnaro, Italy.
Abstract
In the past fifty years, agriculture, and particularly livestock production, has become more resource-intensive, with negative implications regarding world environmental status. Currently, the circular economy 3R principles (to reduce, reuse and recycle materials) can offer many opportunities for the agri-food industry to become more resource-efficient. The closed-loop agri-food supply chain has the great potential of reducing environmental and economic costs, which result from food waste disposal. To meet these principles, the use of crop byproducts, such as molasses, in animal nutrition improves the nutritive value of coarse and poorly desired feedstuff, which could present a real opportunity. The aims of this study were to summarize the possible applications of molasses for animal nutrition, to improve hay and silage quality for beef and dairy cattle, to enhance industrial byproduct values using liquid feed in swine production, and to improve extensive livestock production with feed blocks. The study focused on both feed characteristics, based on molasses, and on ruminal fermentation of its carbohydrates; the techniques of the production, conservation and administration of molasses to animals have been widely described as being capable of positively influencing animal performance, milk and meat quality.
In the past fifty years, agriculture, and partipan class="Chemical">cularly livestock production, has become more resource-intensive, with negative implications regarding world environmental status. Currently, the circular economy 3R principles (to reduce, reuse and recycle materials) can offer many opportunities for the agri-food industry to become more resource-efficient. The closed-loop agri-food supply chain has the great potential of reducing environmental and economic costs, which result from food waste disposal. To meet these principles, the use of crop byproducts, such as molasses, in animal nutrition improves the nutritive value of coarse and poorly desired feedstuff, which could present a real opportunity. The aims of this study were to summarize the possible applications of molasses for animal nutrition, to improve hay and silage quality for beef and dairy cattle, to enhance industrial byproduct values using liquid feed in swine production, and to improve extensive livestock production with feed blocks. The study focused on both feed characteristics, based on molasses, and on ruminal fermentation of its carbohydrates; the techniques of the production, conservation and administration of molasses to animals have been widely described as being capable of positively influencing animal performance, milk and meat quality.
Authors: Daciele Abreu; José C B Dubeux; Luana Dantas Queiroz; David Jaramillo; Erick Rodrigo Da Silva Santos; Flávia van Cleef; Carlos Vela-Garcia; Nicolas DiLorenzo; Martin Ruiz-Moreno Journal: Animals (Basel) Date: 2022-08-29 Impact factor: 3.231