Evaluation of selected agricultural wastes as viable sources of vitamin supplements in poultry feeds

The vitamin content of selected agricultural wastes was evaluated as supplements in poultry feeds. The agricultural wastes considered in this study include; cassava bagasse, beans coat, pineapple peel, avocado pear seed, watermelon peel, fluted pumpkin stalk, potato peel, Mix. A - mixture of all wastes (ratio, 1:1:1), Mix. B - mixture of bean jackets, avocado pear seed and potato peel (ratio, 1:1:1). The vitamins considered were Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Pantothenic acid, Niacin, Biotin and Pyridoxine. Cassava bagasse gave the highest amount of vitamin A (0.36±0.06 mg/l), whereas this vitamin was totally absent in fluted pumpkin stalk. This waste also gave the highest amount of vitamin E (0.99±0.21 mg/l). The highest amount of vitamin D (10.35±0.21 mg/l) was obtained from watermelon peel, while the highest amount of vitamin B12 (0.08±0.04 mg/l) was gleaned from a mixture of all the wastes (Mix. A). The wastes were quite low in vitamin K - herein, Mix. B (bean jackets, avocado pear seed, and potato peel) gave the highest amount (2.36±0.16 mg/l). Finally, pineapple peel gave the highest amount of pantothenic acid (8.55±0.35 mg/l), niacin (5.95±0.53 mg/l), biotin (0.08±0.03 mg/l), as well as pyridoxine (2.45±0.55 mg/l). These results were compared with the standards required for feed formulation for different categories of poultry birds. Our findings revealed that these agro-wastes contain vitamin levels that did not differ significantly from the standards required for feed formulation for different categories of poultry birds. Hence, they can serve as good supplements for vitamins in poultry feeds. Harnessing the vitamin contents of these wastes as supplements in poultry feed will increase animal production and ensure food security in terms of protein supply.