Effect of Persimmon Peel as an Additional Feeding

Huge amount of persimmon peels, which are byproducts usually arising after making dried persimmons from fresh persimmons, are generated in fall, every year. As the dry matter of persimmon peel contains carbohydrates over 80%, it could be a good candidate for feed. In this study, we evaluated the persimmon peel as a feed resource for a hen laying eggs. Persimmon peel has lower ratio of crude protein and fat composition while higher ratio of crude fiber composition compared to a basal laying hen feed. Feeding the persimmon peel by adding to the feed at the level of 2% or 5% did not affect the egg-laying rate from beginning to the peak of laying. In addition, feeding the persimmon peel did not affect the egg quality either, as the pH, Haugh unit, yolk color and shell thickness of the egg were not different from each other. The composition of amino acids and fatty acids were also almost same for each other, except for the linolenic acid which was slightly higher in the persimmon peel feeding groups. In conclusion, addition of persimmon peel to the feed up to 5% might be helpful to increase the income and reduce the waste produced from the agricultural byproduct. (