Several agricultural and agro-industrial by-products are produced during the production or processing of fruits and vegetable crops, which may cause environmental pollution. These by-products were of great interest during the COVID-19 crisis due to lockdown, close of dry borders and ports and traffic restrictions [1,2]. The use of alternative feedstuffs and locally available feed ingredients would improve a possible solution. Date by-products are the best-known by-products that are produced from the arid and desert regions, which are sometimes used in livestock and poultry diets.

In arid and semiarid regions of the world, date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) constitutes one of the main crops. In countries of the Middle East, date cultivation is common, as it is where about 70% of the world date production occurs [3]. The world date production has been reported to have increased from 1.8 million tons in 1961 to 2.8 million tons in 1985 and to 5.4 million tons in 2001 [4]. The fruit of date palm is comprised of a fleshy pericarp and an inedible seed. A number of date by-products, such as whole cull dates, date stones (also called date pits, seeds, kernels or pips), sugar-extracted fruit date pulp and pressed cakes from date processing are available for date industries [5]. The date stone is a hard oblong body, ventrally grooved and present in the midst of the date fruit, and its length ranges from 12 to 36 mm, while the width ranges from 6 to 14 mm. The weight of the seeds represents 10–20% of the date fruit [6]. The size and weight of the seeds depend upon the variety, maturity and growing conditions. At the back of the seeds, there is a micropyle, where the embryo is located. The embryo is a small oblong body surrounded by the endosperm. The latter is a group of cells inside their walls. The hemicellulose is accumulated, giving it thickness and hardness. Date stone meal (DSM) is rich in carbohydrates and fat along with crude protein content compared to barley and corn grains depending upon the varieties of date palm, which is used as a feed ingredient for livestock feeding. However, DSM contains high amounts of crude fiber, which is the constraint for its use in the diets of monogastric animals, especially for poultry [7]. Tabook et al. [8] pointed out that date fiber can be included at a level of 5% in a broiler diet without affecting the performance of broiler chickens. On the other hand, Slominski [9] reported that enzyme supplementation improved nutrient digestibility and nutrient utilization and allowed use of the agro-industry by-product in poultry nutrition. Moreover, DSM also has functional properties due to the presence of mannans, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity [5]. A number of studies have been conducted to utilize date fruit by-products as a feed ingredient of poultry diets. The DSM can give a potential alternative for energy source in diet ingredients of poultry. Dietary inclusion of DSM significantly improved the performance and feed utilization of poultry [3,10]. These low-cost feed ingredients have emerged as potential alternatives in poultry that can reduce the cost of rations, but the effects of these by-products on production performance varied among the studies. 

3. Effect of Date Waste on Poultry

3.1. Effect of Date Waste on Growth Performance

Several studies recommended that DSM up to 10% in broiler diets can be incorporated without negative effects on growth performance [1,4]. El-Deek et al. [24] tested six levels (0 to 150 g/kg diet) of inedible date waste (85% fruit and 15% pits) in broiler chickens and noted that body weight, feed intake and feed efficiency were similar at all levels of date waste. Date palm pollen is used to improve fertility and ovulation in men and women due to it contains fatty acids, amino acids, saponins, flavonoids and sterols. Egg mass, egg weight and egg production of laying hens treated with different levels of date palm pollen were increased when compared to the control [32]. Jaffer and Jassim [33] used 0, 5, 10 and 15 of % date by-product with or without enzyme instead of maize and they found body weight, feed intake, and feed conversion as well as economic feasibility were not affected by this by-product.

As DSM contains high fiber content, which limits its use in poultry diets, some processing of DSM has been performed to improve feed utilization efficiency and performance of chickens. For example, Al-Saffar et al. [34] conducted two experiments to investigate the effect of phytase and/or multienzymes (xylanase, β-glucanase, cellulase, hemicellulose, protease and amyloglucosidase) on improving the utilization of DSM in laying hens. In experiment 1, DSM completely replaced corn in isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets, but with added phytase (500, units of phytase (FTU)/kg) and/or multienzymes (0.1%). In experiment 2, DSM was added at 0, 15, and 30% in isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets, and diets containing DSM were fed without or with phytase and/or 0.1% multienzymes. In experiment 1, laying performance and eggshell quality of hens reduced significantly due to complete substitution of corn, but hatchability and fertility were not influenced. Supplementation of phytase and multienzymes did not restore the laying performance compared to the control level. In experiment 2, the results showed that DSM could be included in diets up to 30% when supplemented with multienzymes without affecting the laying performance of hens.

Hussein and Alhadrami [35] used date pits at 0, 10, 15, and 20% with or without enzyme supplementation (Avizyme 1500) to the starter and finisher diets, while grower diets contained 10% uncooked or cooked date pits. The results showed that adding date pits with or without enzyme to the starter and finisher broiler diet had no effect on broiler performance. Body weight gain of birds who received 10% uncooked date pits were significantly higher compared to the control group birds. Groups fed a diet containing 10% date pits had no effects on feed intake or feed conversion ratio. Barreveld [5] reported that date stone could successfully replace 10% barley in chick diets. The increased live gain over the control is related to more feed intake and may be due to the existence of a growth promoting substance in date stone. Similarly, date waste (0 to 200 g/kg diet replacing wheat bran containing similar energy and protein concentration) fed to broiler chickens did not affect body weight gain up to 200 g/kg diet [36].

Al-Homidan [3] determined the effect of adding date waste (whole date waste meal and date pits meal) in starter and finisher broiler diets. Seven levels of date waste representing 0, 8, 16, 24% date waste meal and 5, 10, and 15% date pits meal were used in the starting period, while 0, 8, 16, 24% date waste meal and 6, 12 and 18% date pits meal were used during the finishing period. Results indicated that body weight and daily gain were improved when chicks were fed diets containing 8% date waste meal or 10% date pits meal during the starting period (0–4 weeks). During the finishing period (5–7 weeks), chicks fed a diet containing 8% and 16 date waste meal or 18% date pits meal had better body weight and daily gain than the control. Feed conversion improved significantly when the level of date pits meal was 10% during the growing period. During the finishing period, feed conversion was better when diets included 18% date pits meal compared with the control.

In broiler chickens, date waste (0 to 200 g/kg diet replacing wheat bran) reduced feed intake and improved feed efficiency and European feed production efficiency at 50 g/kg, whereas these variables in other date waste levels were similar to the control [12]. Kamel et al. [14] fed diets containing date pits at 5, 10 and 15%, and whole zahdi dates at 5, 10, 30 and 47.7% to broiler chicks. They found that the incorporation of 47.7% whole date as a total replacement of corn resulted in a slight decrease in feed conversion of chicks.

In some studies, the use of DSM improved production performance when used at low levels compared with the corn or barley grains, which is attributed to the presence of bioactive compounds present in it [34,35,36,37]. In addition, DSM may be effective against the aflatoxicosis. Abdel-Sattar et al. [36] reported that the inclusion of DSM (2 and 4%) in diets of broiler chickens ameliorated the negative effects of aflatoxins and provided a partial protective effect against aflatoxicosis, which was dose-related as 2% supplementation provided better protection than 4% supplementation. Moreover, supplementation of DPS in the diets reduced malondialdehyde content in muscle.

El-Far et al. [37] conducted a study on broiler chickens fed diets containing 2, 4 and 6% DSM. Results indicated that DSM significantly increased serum reduced glutathione content for all DSM, and interferon-gamma and interleukin-2 levels were significantly higher in chicks fed 2% DSM. Therefore, the authors concluded that increase growth performance, immunity, and antioxidant status of chickens due to DSM supplementation might be related to the antioxidant and immune-stimulant constituents in DSM.

The productivity and qualitative traits of eggs of laying hens were not adversely affected by the inclusion of date pits in the diets [38]. Hermes and Al-Homidan [39] clarified that the best performance was seen when 16% date waste meal or 10% date pits meal could be replaced by yellow corn without any adverse effect on productive performance, egg quality. Up to 20% date seeds was tested without an adverse effect on egg production and feed efficiency, but it decreased egg quality [40]. Al-Harthi et al. [41] recommended that using date pits as alternative feedstuff enhanced maturity of Lohmann pullets and reproduction performance of layers. Ghasemi et al. [42] stated that date pits at the level of 10% could be partly used as alternative feedstuffs in laying hens’ diets, without negatively affecting the productive and health parameters but more than 10% feed intake was reduced due to the presence of non-starch polysaccharides which increase the viscosity of gut contents.

Generally, the age of the bird affects the benefit from adding dates to the diets, as old birds benefit from the fibers more than young birds. Due to the high percentage of fiber in date wastes, it should be added to finisher diets with a higher percentage than the starter diets. Additionally, ducks and laying hens benefit from the diets containing date waste more than broiler chickens. Finally, from the previous studies that were reviewed, it can be concluded that using DSM up to 5–10% in diets of poultry (broiler, laying hen, ducks, quail or turkey) positively affects the productive performance. We summarized effects of date by-products on performance of poultry in Table 7.

Table 7. Effects of Date by-products on performance of poultry.

Sources and Levels	Species	Results	Reference
Date pits (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40%),	Broiler chicks	Adding date pits at 10% had no effect on broiler performance. carcass characteristics and blood parameters.	[43]
DW (0 to 200 g/kg diet)	Broiler chicks	No effect on BWG	[36]
In the starting period: DWM (0, 8, 16, 24%) and DPM (5, 10, and 15%) In the finishing period: DWM (0, 8, 16, 24%) and DPM (6, 12 and 18%)	Broiler chicks	In the starting period, BW and BWG were improved when chicks were fed diets containing 8% DWM or 10% DPM, and 10% DPM improved FCR. In the finishing period, chicks fed a diet containing 8% and 16 DWM or 18% DPM had better BW and BWG than the control. 18% DPM improved FCR	[3]
DW (50 and 200 g/kg diet)	Broiler chicks	DW (50 g/kg diet) reduced FI and improved feed efficiency and European feed production efficiency.	[12]
Date pits (5, 10 and 15%) and whole zahdi dates (5, 10 and 47.7%)	Broiler chicks	47.7% whole date as a total replacement of corn resulted in a slight decrease in FCR	[14]

DW = date waste; DWM = date waste meal; DPM = date pits meal; BW = body weight; BWG = body weight gain; FCR = feed conversion ratio; FI = feed intake.

3.2. Effect of Date Waste on Carcass Traits

Kamel et al. [14] fed broiler chicks with diets containing date pits at 0, 5, 10 and 15% or whole Zahdi dates at 0, 5, 10, 30 and 47.7%. The gross examination of various internal organs (liver, heart, spleen, pancreas and intestines) in both date by-products revealed abnormalities. The weight of inedible parts (including feather) of carcass as well as their proportional weight showed an insignificant response to the effect of date seeds levels [4]. The absolute and percentage weights of total edible meat differed significantly between 5% date seeds (1188 g) and the control group (1347 g). Differences for carcass weight between the 5% group (1077 g) and the control group (1229 g) were also significant, while differences between 5% and other groups were not significant. Percentage of carcass weights of the control group (66.4%) was higher than the other groups except 10% (67.2%). In addition, giblet weights were not significant for all groups.

Osman et al. [44] studied the extent of using DSM in starter and grower Pekin duckling diets. The results indicated that dressing percentage was not significantly affected by the level of DSM in the diets, but gizzard percentage increased when increasing the level of DSM in the diets. Moreover, there were pronounced trends for increased absolute and relative digestive tract weight and length of digestive tract and caecum when increasing level of DSM in the diets. This could be attributed to the gritty nature and to the high fiber content of DSM. Such increase in gizzard percentages may be an adaptation of the birds to digest the gritty and fibrous feed at the high levels of DSM. In addition, both small intestine and caecum length increased gradually with the increasing of DSM, but fasting body weight, carcass, liver and heart percentages were not affected by the level of DSM in the broiler diets.

Al-Homidan [3] determined the effect of addition of date wastes (whole date waste meal, and date pits meal) to starter and finisher broiler diets containing 0, 8, 16 and 24% whole date waste meal, or 5, 10 and 15% date pit meal in the starting period and 0, 8, 16 and 24% whole date waste meal and 6, 12 and 18% date pit meal during finishing period. Results indicated that the corresponding values for dressing percentage ranged between 68.7 and 70.5%, while ready to cook (hot carcass weight and giblets weight) percentages ranged between 73.3 and 75.6%, without significant differences among the levels.

Attia and Al-Harthi [12] reported that date waste in broiler chickens fed at 0 to 200 g/kg diet did not affect dressing percentage, weight (%) of liver, gizzard, but altered many other carcass traits such as weight (%) of heart, spleen, pancreas and intestine. Similarly, inedible date waste up to 150 g/kg diet of broiler chickens did not affect dressing percentage, chemical composition of meat along with water holding capacity, pH, tenderness, and color, but weight (%) of heart, pancreas and spleen differed among the inclusion levels [37].

3.3. Effect of Date Waste on Mortality

Regarding mortality, Kamel et al. [14] found no effect due to DSM levels on broiler mortality. They reported that there was no link between chick mortality and the use of date pits in the diets. The effect of using DSM as a substitute for yellow corn in chickens quail diets up to 24% levels on the mortality rate of Japanese quails was studied [36]. These studies reported that up to 10% DSM can be fed to chickens without affecting growth performance. Al-Homidan [3] found no significant effect on broiler mortality rate (the mortality rate was 2.2% during total experimental period of 0 to 7 weeks) due to using date waste (0, 8, 16, 24% whole date waste meal) or (5, 10, and 15% DSM) during the starter period, or (0, 8, 16, and 24% whole date waste meal) and (6, 12 and 18% DSM) during the finishing period. Date waste up to 200 g/kg diet replacing wheat bran did not affect mortality of chickens [37].

3.4. Effect of Date Waste on Feed Cost and Economic Efficiency

The net profits in broilers fed 0%, 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% of date palm kernel were 27.01, 32.77, 36.78, 43.47 and 44.51 (Rs.) per broiler, respectively. It was reported that the maximum net profit (44.51/bird) was recorded from the birds fed 4.0% date palm kernel, closely followed by those birds fed 3.0% date palm kernel (43.47/bird) [45]. Furthermore, in broilers, the feed cost per kg live weight gain was statistically less in birds fed date palm kernel with or without enzymes compared to the basal diet [46].

Al-Homidan [3] found that using date wastes (whole date waste meal and DSM) at 5, 10 and 15% in broiler diets reduced the cost of the diet compared with the control group. Application and beneficial uses of date by-product and wastes in poultry nutrition are illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Application and beneficial uses of date by-products and wastes in poultry nutrition.