Summary
This experimental study compared two mixed silages formulated from wheat straw, cheese-whey, and molasses combined with either grape pomace or olive mill wastewater as ruminant feed. Silage incorporating grape pomace demonstrated superior nutritional quality, with higher crude protein, favourable fatty-acid composition, greater bioactive phenolic content, and improved pH stability over the 150-day ensiling period. The findings suggest grape pomace-based silage has potential as a functional feed ingredient whilst valorising agro-industrial by-products.
Regional applicability
The study geography is not specified in the metadata provided. The methodology is applicable to United Kingdom livestock farming, particularly given the availability of dairy by-products (whey) and potential access to Mediterranean agro-industrial wastes via supply chains; however, local availability of grape pomace and olive mill wastewater would be the primary constraint to adoption in UK practice.
Key measures
Crude protein content, dry matter, structural fiber fractions, pH, buffering capacity, short-chain fatty acids, lactic acid concentration, total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, polyphenolic profiles, long-chain fatty acids
Outcomes reported
The study measured chemical composition, fermentation dynamics, fatty-acid profiles, and polyphenolic evolution during 150-day ensiling of two mixed silages incorporating grape pomace or olive mill wastewater. Both silages were evaluated for their nutritional quality, bioactive compound retention, and suitability as ruminant feed.
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