The value-added utilization of unblanched high-oleic peanuts as a preferable and alternative poultry feed ingredient to produce premium quality nutritionally enriched eggs

Authors: Toomer, Ondulla

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/10/2026
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Studies have shown that hens fed a 20% unblanched high-oleic peanut diet produced eggs with reduced saturated fats, enhanced yolk color, and enriched levels of monounsaturated fatty acids and ß-carotene as compared to conventional eggs. Additionally, meat-type chickens fed a 10% unblanched high-oleic peanut diet produced premium quality chicken breast enriched with >56% monounsaturated fatty acid content with 25% less saturated fat as compared to conventional poultry meat. Hence, these studies support the use of unblanched high-oleic peanuts as a value-added poultry feed ingredient in layer and broiler formulations. High-oleic peanuts and/or conventional peanuts offer value to the poultry industry as an alternative feed ingredient to produce premium quality, enriched poultry meat and eggs with potential for human nutrition and health benefits gained from enrichment of unsaturated fats and carotenoids. In this booth presentation, we will inform poultry producers, poultry feed industry professionals and poultry scientists of our recent research findings from a layer dose response feeding trial utilizing 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% inclusion of unblanched high-oleic peanuts in layer diets. Hens fed the 15 and 20% high-oleic peanut diets had reduced feed intakes and improved feed conversion ratios as compared to the conventionally fed hens, while egg quality was similar among treatments. Eggs from hens fed the 10, 15 and 20% high-oleic peanut diets had an enhanced nutritional profile, with reduced saturated fats, higher levels of oleic and omega 9 fatty acids as compared to conventional eggs. While the calculated experimental feed cost/ton was highest in the high-oleic peanut treatments, hens fed the peanut-containing diets (10%, 15%, 20%) consumed significantly less feed as compared to the conventional fed hens, lowering the final total experimental feed cost for 15% and 20% supplemented treatments. Economic analysis revealed that the 5% and 10% high-oleic peanut treatments had the best egg income, while return on investment was best in the 10% high-oleic peanut treatment as compared to all other treatments, driven by improved feed efficiency and production performance. Presentation of these findings to the poultry feed manufacturing community aims to expand domestic utilization and markets for peanuts beyond use in human foods.