O amendoim como alternativa na alimentação animal

Abstract

Brazil stands out as one of the world's leading producers of peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.), with its production tripling in the last decade. As an ingredient in animal feed, it has attracted interest due to its high nutritional value, availability in various producing regions, and the possibility of utilizing agro-industrial waste, promoting sustainability and reducing costs in animal production. Peanut production generates waste such as: the shell, used for energy generation; the skin and shriveled kernels, used for oil production; and mineral and vegetable residues from the crop, which are sent to landfills. Co-products are residues obtained from agro-industrial processes (alcohol production, fruit juices, grains, crops, and human food) and, because they have adequate nutritional value to meet animal requirements, can be used in diet formulations, replacing part of the corn and soybean meal in animal feed. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of peanuts and their co-products (shell, skin, kernel, and whole peanuts) for their use in animal nutrition. Laboratory analyses demonstrated that the husk has a high content of neutral detergent fiber (NDF = 78.3%) and acid detergent fiber (ADF = 65.5%), with low protein and energy content. The skin stood out for presenting higher levels of crude protein (CP = 23.7%) and ether extract (EE = 27.9%). The grain presented the highest energy density, with 26.1% CP and 46.4% EE, while the whole sample presented intermediate characteristics, balancing energy and fiber (NDF = 58.7%; ADF = 44.2%). It is concluded that peanut by- products can be used in the formulation of animal diets, provided that inclusion limits and sanitary precautions are respected.