By Blake Jackson
Researchers at Cornell University have found that grape pomace, the leftover skins, seeds, stems, and pulp produced during winemaking, may offer poultry producers a promising alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in chicken feed.
The study examining whether grape pomace could replace zinc bacitracin, a commonly used antibiotic in broiler production. Scientists tested the byproduct in broiler diets designed to trigger low-grade gut inflammation, a condition that can reduce growth and feed efficiency in poultry.
According to the study, adding just 0.5% grape pomace to feed significantly improved bird performance. Chickens receiving the supplement showed stronger weight gain, improved feed conversion, and healthier gut conditions compared to birds fed the inflammation-inducing diet alone.
“We’ve been studying this as a functional food ingredient for both humans and animals, and this is a defining moment,” said Elad Tako, associate professor in Cornell’s Department of Food Science. “We were able to mitigate low-grade inflammation, which is status quo in the poultry industry.”
Researchers simulated commercial poultry stress conditions by feeding broilers a diet containing 30% rice bran, which is known to increase intestinal inflammation.
Birds supplemented with grape pomace gained at least 79% more weight than untreated birds and performed nearly as well as those receiving antibiotics.
The study also examined fermented grape pomace processed with beneficial bacteria and yeast. While fermentation slightly reduced polyphenol levels, the treated pomace still improved gut health and nutrient absorption.
Researchers observed lower populations of harmful bacteria such as Klebsiella and Clostridium and increased production of butyrate, a fatty acid linked to gut health.
“There is a full ban of the use of antibiotic growth promoters in the EU, China and Brazil,” Tako said. “There’s not yet a formal ban in the U.S., but there’s a significant need because of the threat of introducing antibiotic resistance.”
Researchers believe grape pomace could also provide environmental benefits by repurposing millions of tons of winery waste generated globally each year.
“What needs to happen next is demonstrating that it works in real-world conditions with a much bigger number of birds,” Tako said.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-branex
Categories: New York, Education, Livestock, Poultry