Dried citrus pulp is second only to corn as a concentrated feed nutrient for sheep, dairy and beef cattle. It offers high calcium, low phosphorus content and excellent palatability for livestock.
Dried citrus pulp is an excellent source of rumen-derived vitamin A and an effective antimicrobial forage. Studies have even suggested that dried citrus pulp may help prevent rumen parakeratosis in cattle fed on concentrate mixtures containing more than 60% dried citrus pulp.
Contents
Protein
Beef cattle can benefit from various citrus by-products. These include dried citrus pulp, citrus meal, seed meal and molasses.
Dried citrus pulp, when properly supplemented with protein and phosphorus, can replace up to 40% of corn meal in rations for finishing yearling cattle or grazing yearlings. It may also be used in place of ground shelled and ground snap corn in a concentrate mixture with satisfactory results.
Citrus seeds or molasses can alter the nutritional composition of dry citrus pulp. Generally, seeds and molasses increase protein content but decrease fiber and nitrogen-free extract levels.
Fat
Citrus pellets are a common energy concentrate by-product fed to cattle. Not only do they contain high amounts of energy, but their drying process also minimizes nutrient loss due to heat damage.
Citrus pellets tend to have lower dry matter and crude protein contents than cane molasses, and can be used as a replacement for up to 60% of corn meal in a diet.
However, they can have negative consequences on rumen fermentation and cattle feed intake. Therefore, it’s important to select them carefully so the protein, fiber, and phosphorus content is balanced.
Fiber
Dried citrus pulp, a by-product of juice production, is often used as a supplement for dairy and beef cattle. It provides energy, protein and essential vitamins A and C.
Beef cattle should be fed dried citrus pulp along with a dry carbohydrate source, roughage and an appropriate mineral supplement. It can also be used as an additional pasture supplement.
Dried citrus pulp has been identified as an ideal feed for ruminants, providing high digestible energy with excellent palatability. It can easily be included in 40% of a feedlot ration when combined with additional protein and phosphorus sources.
Calcium
Dried citrus pulp contains a high calcium content (76%) that can be used as an excellent source of calcium in rations for finishing cattle on drylot or pasture. However, it’s essential to know how much of this feed should be included before determining if it makes sense to include it or not.
Citrus pulp’s nutritional composition varies significantly based on the type and number of seeds and molasses present. Products without molasses tend to have higher fiber and nitrogen-free extract concentrations than those with molasses, though they contain lower levels of protein.
Phosphorous
Dried citrus pulp is an excellent source of digestible energy and calcium. When supplemented with protein and phosphorus, it can provide up to 40% of a feedlot ration.
Dried fruit meal and dried citrus molasses are excellent sources of digestible energy for cattle feeding. When selecting these by-products for cattle use, it’s important to inspect them carefully for nutrient content and quality assurance.
When feeding dried fruit meal to beef cattle, the phosphorus content can vary considerably between processors. Therefore, it’s essential that these levels are balanced before adding them into their diets.
Vitamins
Citrus pulp pellets provide essential vitamins and minerals for animal health, as well as fiber. Citrus pulp pellets also make great feed for livestock due to their high fiber content and abundance of essential nutrients.
Cattle feed with citrus pellets or dried citrus pulp is a popular option for dairy cattle and other livestock. As a general guideline, at least 30-40% of ground snapped corn should be replaced in dairy rations by citrus pellets or dried citrus pulp.
Studies have demonstrated that adding citrus products to ruminant rations significantly reduces pregastric gut and lower-gut populations of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica without significantly altering fermentation end products.
