The utilisation of cocoa pod husk by sheep
A study is reported on the digestibility of increasing levels of cocoa pod husks a by-product of cocoa cultivation, in molasses-urea diets. Indigenous sheep of Malaysia each weighing about 22-24 kg. live weight were used for the balance trial. The chemical composition of cocoa pod husks is reported. Cocoa pod husks were included in the diet at five levels: 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 per cent to substitute dietary tapioca chips. A control diet without cocoa pod husks acted as control. Statistically significant differences were noted in all parameters measured; the control diet recorded the highest digestibility in every instance. No differences in the digestibility of dry and organic matter were noted between the 10, 20 and 30 per cent levels of cocoa pod husks inclusion; beyond this the digestibility decreased. There were no differences in the digestibility of crude protein, but N retention as a percentage of intake was highest for the 30 per cent cocoa pods level. Crude fibre digestibility increased till the 30 per cent cocoa pod husks level and then declined. Energy digestibility decreased with increasing level of cocoa pod husks inclusion. It was concluded that the optimal level of cocoa pod husks inclusion was 30 to 40 per cent in molasses-bases diets. A reduced digestibility of dry matter beyond these levels is due to the increasing amount of dietary crude fibre. The need for wider use of this and other by-products in feeding systems for livestock in Malaysia in the future is stressed.
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| Format: | biblioteca |
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1977
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| Subjects: | CASCARAS DE CACAO, ADITIVO DE PIENSOS, OVINOS, COMPOSICION QUIMICA, ANALISIS QUIMICO, DIGESTIBILIDAD, MALASIA, |
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