The unexpected fate of tomatoes: How to process them for animal feed and what to know

Tomato byproducts, including pulp and fruit, offer significant nutritional benefits, boasting high levels of protein, minerals, and vitamins. However, consuming these materials directly without processing presents considerable challenges and dangers. When exposed to air, unprocessed tomato pulp deteriorates rapidly, fostering the growth of hazardous molds and toxins. Its high water content, typically between 87-89%, also complicates logistics and increases transportation expenses.

To mitigate these issues, ensiling, a process similar to that used for orange pulp, is the recommended approach. This involves mixing tomato fruit or pulp with absorbent materials like chopped straw or wheat bran. The goal is to increase the dry matter content of the silage to 30-35%, with an ideal ratio of 85% tomato byproduct to 15% absorbent material. This mixture effectively absorbs excess moisture and reduces nutrient losses through liquid effluents.

Without such absorbent materials, valuable soluble nutrients like protein, minerals, and sugars are lost. Furthermore, the pH does not drop quickly enough, leading to undesirable outcomes such as protein degradation and the development of butyric fermentation. Properly ensiled tomato byproducts can be preserved for extended periods in an anaerobic environment. This method not only enhances the conservation of these valuable resources but also helps reduce production costs for animal feed and lessens the environmental impact by utilizing waste materials.