RESIDUO DE PEQUI (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) NA ALIMENTAÇÃO DE RUMINANTES – REVISÃO DE LITERATURA

Abstract

The objective of this work was to carry out a survey on the use of pequi residue in ruminant feed. Pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) is a typical fruit from the Brazilian cerrado, having great socioeconomic importance for the populations of the regions in which it is found. With the large consumption and commercialization of pequi in the Central-West region and part of the Northeast region, the industrialization of the fruit generates a large volume of waste, mainly composed of peels. The residues have a high percentage of fiber and are a source of nutrients such as lipids, vitamin C, beta-carotene and phenolic compounds, being a potential food for ruminants, since an issue that interferes with the productivity of these animals is the seasonality of the supply of quality forage due to climatic factors. With the high price of inputs, there is a desire among producers and researchers to search for alternative foods that offer greater animal performance or simply maintain their performance along with a reduction in production costs. Pequi residue can be an interesting alternative as it is an easily accessible product found in abundance in the Brazilian savannah, and as it offers several nutritional benefits. However, some studies have revealed that, after a certain amount of pequi is included in the animals' diet, the digestibility of the food decreases. This is due to the anti-nutritional effect due to the presence of tannins, which, on the other hand, can have an anthelmintic action. In this way, a residue that would be a possible cause of pollution around agro-industries that process pequi fruit, can become a more accessible and sustainable food alternative for ruminant animals. Keywords: Alternative foods; Animal performance; Digestibility; Cerrado fruits; By-products.