Conversion of Agricultural Residues into High-Value Animal Feed

Increased agricultural and industrial activity across the world has resulted in huge production of agro-industrial wastes. In developed and developing countries, agro-industrial wastes are known to contribute a significant proportion of the total waste matter. An estimated 998 million tons of agricultural waste per year is being produced and is likely to have a significant increase in the coming years. These wastes are commonly disposed of by burning, dumping, random piling, or landfilling which may result in environmental pollution becoming hazardous to human health and therefore raising a huge concern. Conversion of agro-industrial waste into animal feed is one of the most effective means of valorization of agro-residues without affecting the environment. Agricultural waste is comprised of lignocellulosic materials, fruit and vegetable wastes, processing industry wastes, and residues from animal farms which are rich in many bioactive and nutraceutical compounds. With the continuous increase in commercial animal feed prices (corn and soybean meal) due to the global pandemic, livestock producers are facing a huge feed cost inflation accounting for an average of 60–70% of the total cost of animal production. Agro-industrial waste or residues are major valuable biomass and can contribute as a potential solution to the problems of increasing the cost of animal feeds. Upcycling the current agro-industrial by- and co-products using appropriate valorization techniques can play a critical role in developing low-cost yet high-value animal feed reducing the food-feed competition and overall cost of animal production making it sustainable with a low-carbon footprint. Hence, this chapter focuses on various techniques involved in the conversion of agro-industrial waste into animal feed and their potential utilization.