Hazelnut skins as a new sustainable ingredient for beef cattle diets

Hazelnut skins (HS), by-products of the hazelnut industry classified as waste, are rich in polyphenols, poli-unsaturated fatty acids and fibres. This study aimed at assessing the in vivo effects of HS inclusion in beef cattle diets. Eighty beef bulls were divided in two groups (control and test; 4 r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 38926 - 11
Main Authors: Diaz Vicuna, Elena, Fiorilla, Edoardo, Srikanthithasan, Karthika, Zambotto, Valeria, Bianchi, Chiara, Riondato, Fulvio, Renna, Manuela, Odore, Rosangela, Badino, Paola, Gardini, Giulia, Arneodo, Valentina, Cravero, Andrea, Ozella, Laura, Giorgino, Andrea, Tabasso, Silvia, Capaldi, Giorgio, Brugiapaglia, Alberto, Forte, Claudio
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 06.11.2025
Nature Publishing Group
Nature Portfolio
Subjects:
631/601
704/172
Alternative feed material
Animal Feed - analysis
Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Animal welfare
Animals
Beef
Beef cattle
Cattle
Cattle industry
Corylus - chemistry
Diet
Diet - veterinary
Feed conversion
Feeds
Food by-product
Food waste
Forage
Hazelnut skins
Hematology
Humanities and Social Sciences
In vivo
Livestock
Male
multidisciplinary
Phenolic compounds
Phenols
Polyphenols
Polyphenols - analysis
Re-evaluation
Red Meat
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Sustainability
Italy
Hazelnut skins
Livestock
Re-evaluation
Alternative feed material
Food by-product
In vivo
ISSN:2045-2322, 2045-2322
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Hazelnut skins (HS), by-products of the hazelnut industry classified as waste, are rich in polyphenols, poli-unsaturated fatty acids and fibres. This study aimed at assessing the in vivo effects of HS inclusion in beef cattle diets. Eighty beef bulls were divided in two groups (control and test; 4 replicates per group), following a two-phase dietary plan (fattening – 5 months; finishing – 2 months). Both groups received forage (hay/straw) and feed, with the test feed presenting an 8% HS inclusion. Feeds’ chemical composition and total phenolic contents were assessed. Bulls’ in vivo growth performances were recorded, and haematological analysis were conducted at trial start and on slaughter day. Test feeds of both phases presented higher values (p < 0.001) of polyphenols than the control ones. No differences were observed in haematological or growth parameters during the fattening phase. In the finishing, the control group exhibited a lower (p < 0.05) feed conversion ratio than the test. However, the potential health benefits linked to the HS’ phenolic compounds, along with the re-valorization of an agro-industrial by-product and the resulting reduction in food waste, support the hypothesis that including HS in beef cattle diets may constitute a viable and sustainable strategy for the beef industry.
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ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-22896-1