Archives of Current Research International

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is one of the most widely cultivated tropical fruits in the world, generating substantial quantities of seed-based by-products that are largely discarded as agricultural waste. The seed kernel, which constitutes 45–75% of the whole seed, contains nutritionally valuable carbohydrates, moderate protein, a noteworthy lipid fraction rich in stearic and oleic acids, and an array of minerals and antioxidant compounds. These attributes make mango seed kernel (MSK) a plausible alternative energy source to conventional cereal grains such as maize in livestock feeding programmes. However, the presence of anti-nutritional factors—principally tannins, phytates, cyanogenic glucosides, oxalates, and trypsin inhibitors—constrains its direct inclusion in animal diets, particularly for monogastric species. The literature for this review was identified through systematic searches of Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed, and CAB Abstracts (CABI), as well as the field-specific databases Feedipedia, AGRIS (FAO), and FAOSTAT. Searches were conducted between November 2024 and February 2025. Simple processing techniques, including boiling, soaking, autoclaving, and fermentation, have been shown to substantially reduce these compounds and improve nutritional quality. Evidence from feeding trials in broiler chickens, laying hens, ruminants including sheep, goats, and cattle, and in rabbits confirms that appropriately processed MSK can replace 25–50% of dietary maize without adverse effects on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, or product quality. Beyond its nutritive potential, utilising MSK in animal rations addresses pressing concerns about agro-industrial waste disposal and feed cost sustainability, particularly in tropical and subtropical developing regions. This review synthesises current knowledge on the chemical composition of MSK, the nature and mitigation of its anti-nutritional factors, the performance responses of different livestock classes when fed MSK-containing diets, and the economic and environmental implications of its wider adoption. Research gaps and practical recommendations for future work are also identified.