The utilization of Quebec vegetable residues for poultry nutrition

Can chickens eat broccoli and cabbage leaves?

In this special presentation, Animal Science professor Arif Mustafa will share his research on feeding chickens vegetable residue to produce meat and healthy eggs.

The vegetable-growing industry is a major part of agricultural production in Quebec, generating annual revenues of $450 million. Quebec produces 64% of the total domestic production of broccoli, 48% of cabbage, 44% of carrot and 29% of cauliflower. Due to the high standards imposed by consumers and merchants, more than 90,000 tonnes of vegetables are discarded annually. This represents 25% to 70% of annual production for some species in Quebec and has a major environmental impact as it is a significant source of organic waste.

“Recovery and conversion of waste into food for animals is an effective way to reduce the impact of horticultural production on the environment and increase the profitability of several vegetable crops,” says Mustafa. “Vegetable residues can be used to replace a significant portion of traditional food sources for animals. Additionally, residues can be an important source of essential nutrients such as protein, fibre, carbohydrates and minerals; they are also an important source of antioxidants and oligosaccharides (pre-biotics) and may have beneficial effects on animal health.”