DETERMINATION OF THE CHEMICAL AND MINERAL COMPOSITION OF APPLE POMACE IN RELATION TO ITS UTILISATION AS AN INNOVATIVE FEED RAW MATERIAL

Abstract

Globally, the food industry is one of the largest and fastest-growing industries. However, food production is also associated with the generation of tons of waste, which has a serious negative impact on the environment. Almost 50 % of fruits used for freshly squeezed juice production become waste. Animal husbandry and especially feed raw materials cultivation also has a serious ecological footprint on nature. The inclusion of these waste products in the feeding of farm animals could help to reduce economic losses, having a positive environmental effect as well. In this regard, the aim of the present study was to determine the nutritional and mineral composition of waste products (pomaces) obtained from the production of freshly squeezed apple juice from two different apple varieties - red apple (Malus domestica 'Red Delicious') and green apple (Malus 'Granny Smith'). In all samples, the following indicators were determined: dry matter (DM), moisture, crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF), crude ash (CA), ether extract (EE), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), sodium (Na), potassium (K), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd). The results showed that variety affects nutritive value, and red apple pomace is a better source of nutrients. For both types of AP, crude fibre was the nutrient with the highest values and the heavy metals tested were below the maximum allowable concentrations.