Shabtay, A., Institute of Animal Science, Department of Ruminant Science and Genetics, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel
Eitam, H., Institute of Animal Science, Department of Ruminant Science and Genetics, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel, Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science and Science Education, University of Haifa, 31905 Haifa, Israel
Tadmor, Y., Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel
Orlov, A., Institute of Animal Science, Department of Ruminant Science and Genetics, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel
Meir, A., Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel
Weinberg, P., Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
Weinberg, Z.G., Forage Preservation and By-Products Research Unit, Agricultural Research Organization, 50250 Bet Dagan, Israel
Chen, Y., Forage Preservation and By-Products Research Unit, Agricultural Research Organization, 50250 Bet Dagan, Israel
Brosh, A., Institute of Animal Science, Department of Ruminant Science and Genetics, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel
Izhaki, I., Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science and Science Education, University of Haifa, 31905 Haifa, Israel
Kerem, Z., Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
Eitam, H., Institute of Animal Science, Department of Ruminant Science and Genetics, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel, Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science and Science Education, University of Haifa, 31905 Haifa, Israel
Tadmor, Y., Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel
Orlov, A., Institute of Animal Science, Department of Ruminant Science and Genetics, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel
Meir, A., Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel
Weinberg, P., Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
Weinberg, Z.G., Forage Preservation and By-Products Research Unit, Agricultural Research Organization, 50250 Bet Dagan, Israel
Chen, Y., Forage Preservation and By-Products Research Unit, Agricultural Research Organization, 50250 Bet Dagan, Israel
Brosh, A., Institute of Animal Science, Department of Ruminant Science and Genetics, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel
Izhaki, I., Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science and Science Education, University of Haifa, 31905 Haifa, Israel
Kerem, Z., Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
Pomegranate peel is a nutritive-rich byproduct whose amounts are extensively growing due to the exponential increase in the production of pomegranate juice and "ready to eat" arils. Pomegranate peel is a rich source for antioxidants and thus may serve in the prevention of cattle diseases and in the improvement of beef products, making it an attractive component in beef cattle diets. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of commonly used storage practices on the nutritive and antioxidative properties of pomegranate peel. In general, storage conditions preserved most antioxidant capacity. Ensiling ambivalently affected the nutritive values of the peel and promoted increased levels of antioxidative components. In addition to polyphenols, nonphenolic components, such as α- and γ-tocopherols, contributed to the total antioxidative capacity, and several minerals found in the peel added to its nutritional value. Dietary supplementation with fresh peels promoted significant increases in feed intake and α-tocopherol concentration in the plasma, with positive tendency toward increased weight gain of bull calves. All in all, the nutritive value and the antioxidant capacity of pomegranate peel turn it into a favorable health-promoting constituent of feedlot beef cattle diet. © 2008 American Chemical Society.
