Production and evaluation of fermented apple pomace in the feed of broilers

Animal feed from apple pomace (AP) was prepared on a large scale by solid s tate fermentation under optimized conditions by using five yeasts i.e.. Sac charomyces cerevisiae. Candida utilis. Torula utilis. Schizosaccharomyces p ombe and Kloeckera spp. The changes during fermentation were monitored. Com positional analysis, after fermentation of apple pomace with yeasts and eth anol recovery revealed that the dried product was rich in crude proteins, c rude fat, vitamin C and minerals. Fermented apple pomace, when mixed with a standard broiler feed in 1:1 ratio was acceptable to broilers and was comp arable to the standard feed. The broilers gained weight regularly upto 8 we eks. There was neither mortality nor any abnormalities in liver and kidneys of the broilers. The serum biochemical changes i.e.. serum urea nitrogen l evel, sugar, total proteins, ALT. AST and AKPase levels were also found to be within the normal limits. It was concluded that reformulation of broiler feed could make apple pomace as one of the essential components of feed.