The Nutritive Value of Cocoa Shell in Ruminants

Abstract

The nutritive value of cocoa shell was studied by in vilro and nylon bag technique and a feeding trial was also carried out in growing cattle. Cocoa shell contains 17.6% CP, 4.6% fat, 46.6% NDF,0.36% Ca, 0.61% P, 0.06% Na, 0.61% Mg and 1.6 % theobromine. The dry matter (DM) digestibility of cocoa shell was 63.5 % and within 48 hr 50 % of the DM disappeared from the rumen. Approximately 30 % of cocoa shell protein disappeared from the nrmen alter 12 h and there was
small increase alter that time. Whereas for fat, there was an increasing amount disappeared from the rumen afier 12 hr but may reach the maximum value (73%) at 48 hr. Cocoa shell is a good source of energy and minerals, P and Mg for ruminants. Five levels of cocoa shell (CS), 7, 17, 27, 37 and 47%, were included in the concentrate to study (1) theobromine disappearance in the rumen, (II) its
effect on growing cattle. In experiment 1, 2 fistulated Ongole fed elephant grass ad lrbitum plus 2 kg concentrate (with 7 % CS) were used to suspend the nylon bag containing different levels of CS. Almost all of theobromine disappeared from nylon bag at 24 hr incubation, and there was no difference with 48 hr incubation. ln experiment ll, thirty Ongole (144 112.2 kg) were randomly divided into 5 treatment groups recieving elephant grass ad libitum + concentrate (1.2% Live Weight) containing different levels of CS . The experiment lasted for 80 days. There were no differences in intake of dry matter (DM) and mctabolisable enery (ME) between the treatments. Live weight gain was not affected by feeding less than 27 % CS in the concentrate (or 11% in the ration). However, at 37% CS (or 15 % in the ration), live weight gain started to decline. At this level the ration contains approximately 0.24 % theobromine which may be responsible for reduced utilisation of metabolisable energy.