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Solanum lycopersicumTomato, love appleUseful reference: 141 The tomato, which originated in South America on the slopes of the Andes, is now widely cultivated in both temperate and tropical countries. Tomatoes serve as the basis of two general classes of products: in one the fresh whole tomatoes are used; in the other only the pulp is used, as in the making of ketchup and soups, from which the seeds and skins are by-products. Because of the semiliquid state of the seeds and skins, it is necessary to obtain a high fraction of solids by passing them through a cyclone. The solids are then pressed into cakes and dried. The waste ferments readily and should be dried immediately. The dried waste is rich in oil, which can be extracted; the resulting oilcake can be used as an animal feed. Skin and seeds account for about 13% of the weight of the whole tomato. USES. Dried skin and seeds are sometimes included in pet foods at the 2-3% level to prevent diarrhoea. They can also be used to replace lucerne in poultry feeds at a 5% level. They are reported to be rich in tannins, which limits their use for monogastrics. Dried skin and seeds have constituted 25% of a concentrate for dairy animals with good results. To render the small seeds digestible to ruminants they must be ground. The oilcake has a somewhat bitter taste and should be used with better-liked feedstuffs. Because of its high content of fibre, it is used mostly in feed for ruminants with no particular limitations. When first introduced, it should be sprinkled with salt and given in small proportions.
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