Further Studies on the Utilization of Cocoa Husk in Ruminant Rations

Abstract

THE effect on body weight changes of sheep and goats and digestibility of maintenance rations in which cocoa husk constituted, 0%, 20%, 40% and 50% of the basal ration respectively were studied. These rations were fed to wethers and castrated goats in separate but concurrent digestibility trials. There was no significant change in body weight of both the sheep and the goat. Significant decreases in apparent digestibility occurred in dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, crude fibre and total digestible nutrients. The 40% cocoa husk ration in which cocoa husk existed with maize in the ratio 2:1 appeared to be next best to the control ration for fibre digestibility. Apparent digestibility of the crude fibre component of the feed was significantly higher in the sheep than in the goats.