Dried apple pomace
Dried apple pomace (as flakes, pellet or ground to the fraction ordered)
Apple pomace is obtained after pressing apples and the process is carried out in accordance with the European feed safety standard GMP+.
In order to protect the pomace from spoilage, it is dried in accordance with GMP+ requirements. For this purpose, a process line equipped with a drum dryer designed for drying cereal grain and green fodder, as well as fruit and vegetable pomace is used. Until drying, apple pomace is stored in a cooled, shaded warehouse for no longer than two hours from the moment of pressing. The pomace humidity is on average 65-70%. All devices and components included in the drying installation constitute a typical electronically controlled process line used in the grain industry and food processing. The dried product has about 9 – 12% humidity. After removing moisture and cooling, the pomace is ground appropriately, depending on the customer’s needs, and then packed in paper bags or big bags. The product is then moved to the storage rooms.
Dried apple pomace has a moderate content of total protein of approx. 6-8%, a level of crude fiber of 18-20% and ether extract of approx. 2.7%. Compared to wheat bran, this feed material has a slightly higher nutritional value in terms of the content of the above-mentioned basic nutrients. The content of limited amino acids, including methionine, lysine and threonine, is lower than the level of these amino acids in beet pulp. However, when considering the chemical composition of apple pomace, noteworthy is the high content of nitrogen-free extractive compounds in the form of sugars, pectins and organic acids, flavonoids and vitamins compared to other ingredients. The results of a number of studies confirm the positive effect of organic acids contained in apple pomace, including malic and citric acids, improving the palatability of the feed and the secretion of gastric juice. Attention should be paid to the high content of pectins in apple pomace. It is known that pectins have antibacterial, absorptive (absorbing), antidiarrheal, antiatherosclerotic and antihemorrhagic (accelerate blood clotting) properties. They regulate bowel movements, alleviate inflammation, eliminate digestive disorders and passage of food content. The high content of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) in apple pomace is of great importance, as it cannot be used directly in the small intestine of a pig. This fraction with a low level of lignin is digested by microorganisms in the cecum and colon, and during the fermentation process, volatile fatty acids (butyric acid and others) are released, which are used by adult animals (sows, boars). The fibre fraction, especially in the case of pregnant sows, improves the feeling of satiety (satisfaction) of animals. It reduces the frequency of aggressive behaviour, often improves the quality of faeces and reduces the tendency to constipation. Dried apple pomace contains a significant amount of fibre. The fibrous fraction stimulates intestinal peristalsis and improves the tension of the intestinal walls and the general condition of the mucous membranes of the digestive tract. Fibre, being a substance that is not digestible (not digested) by the pig’s body, fills the intestines, stimulating the passage of food content. This movement is necessary for the proper course of digestion and defecation. In addition, fibre passing through the pig’s digestive system stimulates the secretion of digestive enzymes by the cells of the stomach and reduces the level of microflora of the digestive system, helping to inhibit the development of saprophytic bacterial flora.
Dried apple pomace should also be considered a valuable feed also due to its significant content of minerals. However, it should be noted that compared to beet pulp, it contains 7.5 times less calcium, which should be taken into account when balancing feed rations.
The advantage of dried apple pomace, especially when used in sows’ nutrition, is that it contains significant amounts of beta-carotene, vitamin C and B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin and niacin). In addition, dried apple pomace is a good source of bioflavonoids, including quercetin. Quercetin is a bacteriostatic agent against Gram+ and Gram- bacteria at a concentration of 0.075-0.1 ng/ml. The medicinal properties of apples can be explained by the presence of flavonoid compounds. The presence of this flavonoid has an extremely beneficial effect on the circulatory system, deepens heart contractions and increases the heart’s output. It also protects blood vessels from the deposition of atherosclerotic plaques and seals them.
