Queen pineapple peels, eye trimmings, core, and pomace need not go to trash. These wastes can be processed into a feed supplement called queen pineapple (QP) Bran for native chickens.
The QP Bran provides nutrients and health benefits to native chickens similar to that of the commercial rice bran but is more affordable.
A research team from the Camarines Norte State College (CNSC) produced the QP Bran through the project, “Development of Various Products from Queen Pineapple Wastes.” The project is led by its leader, Ms. Michelle S. Carbonell and project staff, Dr. Sonia S. Carbonell.
Funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST- PCAARRD), this project is one of the components of the program, “Enhancing the Marketability and Quality of Queen Pineapple Wastes,” implemented by the Visayas State University (VSU), CNSC, and the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office V.
During the recent program review held at VSU, Baybay, Leyte, Michelle S. Carbonell said that 50 percent QP Bran and 50 percent Rice Bran is a good mix. Initial results of the study showed that this formulation is best for “Camarines strain” native chickens in Camarines Norte. In 30 days, the 150-day-old native chickens fed with 50:50 formulation were as good as those fed with rice bran only, in terms of weight gains, feed consumption, feed cost, and feed conversion ratio.
Project leader Michelle S. Carbonell further reported that the five-day old native chicken observed for 30 days and 180 days showed similar performance regardless of the amount of rice bran and QP Bran proportion.
As feed supplement, QP Bran can help native chicken growers save more than half the retail price of rice bran per kilogram. QP Bran costs P11 per kilogram, while rice bran costs P25/kg.
Michelle Carbonell also cited that about 40 percent of raw materials such as pulp, peel, eye trimmings go to waste, based from actual data from Labo Camarines Norte Multipurpose Cooperative. An estimate of as high as P197,600 per hectare per harvest can be generated if these wastes will be processed.
Processing QP wastes into QP Bran feed supplement is environment-friendly and a potential venture that will benefit famers, poultry owners, chicken growers, and entrepreneurs.