Full utilization of liberated and modified fibers from plant biomass as feed binders

Authors: Aksoy, Mediha; AKSOY, BURAK - Auburn University; OZDEMIR, YUNUSEMRE - Auburn University; Beck, Benjamin; AKSOY, JANSET - Auburn University; IGLESIAS, CELESTE - Auburn University

Submitted to: Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/11/2025
Publication Date: 4/12/2025
Citation: Aksoy, M., Aksoy, B., Ozdemir, Y., Beck, B.H., Aksoy, J., Iglesias, C. 2025. Full utilization of liberated and modified fibers from plant biomass as feed binders. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research. 21(2025): Article 101909. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101909.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101909

Interpretive Summary: Water stability and nutrient retention of aquatic animal feed are important components of feed quality, especially in aquatic crustacean feed. Novel feed binders from various biomass were developed to further improve the stability of the compound feed under water. Eight agricultural-based (cottonseed fiber (CF), wheat straw (WS), peanut fiber (PF), distiller’s dried gain (DDG), hemp fiber (HF), miscanthus (MS), sugar beet (SB), and soyhull (SH)), and two woody-based (softwood and hardwood) biomass feedstock at 0.5% level were evaluated as binding agent in shrimp feed. Four natural common binders (carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), corn starch (CS), alginate (Alg) and wheat gluten (WG)) used as control binders. Pellets were tested for their water stability, water absorption values, and nutrient leaching after being immersed in water up to 24 hours at a water temperature of 30 °C. All the diets with novel lignocellulosic-based binders had significantly improved pellet water stability compared to the control diets with CMC, ALG and CS. Diets with DDGS, CF, and PF had significantly improved pellet water stability compared to the diets with control binders (WG, CMC, Alg, and CS) after being immersed in water for 2h and longer. CMC had the poorest performance, followed by Alg for all time periods. Water absorption property of pellets with the lignocellulosic micro-fibrillated fiber binders seems to be negatively correlated with the water stability of pellets. The binder that best retained crude protein and ash for all time periods was DDGS, followed by PF and CF. Lipid retention was the highest in pellets with HF, DDGS and PF binders. DDGS, PF, CF, MS, HF, and WS were ranked the highest binding agents for water stability and nutrient (protein, lipid, and ash) retention of pellets and are relatively inexpensive natural alternatives to conventional binders.

Technical Abstract: Water stability of aquatic crustacean feeds, which must remain water stable for several hours, is important. The purpose of this study is to improve structural integrity of shrimp feed to minimize feed degradation and loss of nutrient in water by using plant biomass. Novel feed binders from various biomass were developed to improve water stability of the compound feed. Eight agriculturalbased (cottonseed fiber (CSF), wheat straw (WS), peanut hull fiber (PF), distiller’s dried gain with solubles (DDGS), hemp fiber(HF), miscanthus (MS), sugar beet (SB), and soyhull (SH)), and two woody-based (softwood and hardwood) biomass feedstocks were evaluated as binding agent (0.5%) against four natural control binders (carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), corn starch (CS), alginate (ALG) and wheat gluten (WG)) with respect to water stability, water absorption values, and nutrient leaching after being immersed in water up to 24 hours at 30 °C. All the diets with novel lignocellulosic based binders had significantly improved pellet water stability compared to the control diets with CMC, ALG and CS. Diets with CSF and DDGS had significantly improved pellet water stability compared to the diets with control binders (WG, CMC, ALG, and CS) after being immersed in water for 2h and 6h. CMC had the worst performance, followed by ALG in all time periods. Water absorption of pellets with the lignocellulosic micro-fibrillated fiber binders seems to be negatively correlated with water stability of pellets. The binder that best retained crude protein and ash in all time periods was DDGS, followed by PF and CSF. Lipid retention was the highest in pellets with HF, DDGS or PF binders. Regarding water stability and nutrient (protein, lipid, and ash) retention, DDGS, PF, CSF, MS, HF, and WS were ranked as the highest bindings. These can be produced easily and are less expensive natural alternatives to conventional binders.