U.S. Study Finds Winery Waste May Replace Antibiotics in Chicken Feed

Scientists in the United States have found that waste from wine production may help improve poultry health and reduce the use of antibiotics in chicken farming.

Source: phys.org

Researchers at Cornell University studied grape pomace, the leftover skins, seeds, stems, and pulp from grapes after juice extraction. They found that the material can serve as a natural feed additive for broiler chickens.

The study compared grape pomace with zinc bacitracin, a common antibiotic used in poultry feed. Researchers said adding just 0.5 percent grape pomace to chicken diets improved body weight gain, feed efficiency, and gut health, with results close to those seen with antibiotics.

A total of 126 broiler chickens were used in the 42-day trial. To create gut stress similar to conditions in intensive poultry farming, the birds were fed a rice bran-based diet known to cause low-grade intestinal inflammation.

Chickens that received no supplements showed weaker growth and higher inflammation. But birds fed grape pomace recorded about 79 percent better weight gain and improved feed conversion throughout the study.

Researchers said earlier studies produced mixed results because too much grape pomace was added to feed. This latest trial showed that lower amounts can deliver health benefits without reducing bird performance.

The finding may also help reduce agricultural waste, as grape pomace from wineries could be reused in animal feed instead of being discarded. Scientists say the approach could support antibiotic-free poultry production as more countries tighten restrictions on antibiotic use in livestock.