Nutritional Value Assessment Macaúba Processing Waste as a potential ingredient for Animal Feed

Abstract

Agribusiness residues have been widely used and can be considered as intermediaries in obtaining new products with high added value, thus contributing to environmental and sustainability issues. In this context, we highlight the macaúba, Acrocomia aculeata, belonging to the family Arecaceae, a species commonly found in the Brazilian Cerrado. This species has been studied both for its pharmacological properties and for its application as a biofuel. Aiming to use the residues from the extraction of oil from macauba as an ingredient in animal feed, in the present work the pulp and almond bran and the epicarp were characterized in terms of ash, crude protein, neutral and acid detergent fiber, lignin, cellulose, crude fiber, ether extract, in vitro digestibility, as well as some mineral elements. The results of these analyzes revealed the high protein and fiber content of the almond bran, the high digestibility of the pulp bran and the high percentage of iron in the epicarp.