Exploration of Cocoa (<em>Theobroma cacao</em>) By-Products as Valuable Potential Resources in Livestock Feeds and Feeding Systems

High cost of feeds and feeding management remain unresolved challenges facing livestock production globally specifically in developing countries. More than half of the production cost is associated with feeds and feeding alone; hence, it becomes imperative for livestock production science to explore lesser known or poorly exploited resources for use in animal feeds and feeding systems to reduce cost and increase productivity. One of such strategies is the use of alternative or nonconventional feed resources. Cocoa by-products have been reported as one of such nonconventional feed resources that can replace expensive and competitive conventional feed resources in livestock diets. Cocoa bean meal, cocoa bean shells, and cocoa pod husks are all potential but unexploited nutritive resources that can be considered as animal feed materials. Although their use is severely restricted by antinutritional factor (ANF) theobromine, which is toxic to livestock, there exist modern nutritional technologies capable of being applied to improve application of these resources in livestock feeding systems. Therefore, this chapter presents cocoa by-products as potential tropical feed resources in animal feeds and feeding systems with a view to providing solution to waste management problems associated with cocoa processing factories while increasing animal productivity and reducing cost of animal production

Utilization of African star apple (Chrysophyllum albidum) kernel meal in broiler diets

The effect of feeding graded levels (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30%) of untreated African star apple kernel meal (ASAKM) on the performance and blood profile of broilers was investigated in an 8-week trial. Two hundred and ten oneweek-old Cobb strain broiler chicks were randomly allotted to 7 diets with 3 replicates of 10 chicks per replicate in a completely randomized design. Data on minerals, vitamins, amino acids and quantification of some anti-nutrients were assayed. The results showed that the kernel was high in nutrients, especially carbohydrate as a source of energy but contains high levels of anti-nutritional or toxic factors. Performance traits (p<0.05) of broilers fed ASAKM gave poor results though without mortality. The increment of dietary levels of the untreated ASAKM did not negatively influence blood composition and most of the measured biochemical indices, the parameters were better (p<0.05), or had values statistically similar with the control diet compared with those on the test diets (p>0.05). Increasing levels of ASAKM in diets caused elevation of AST, ALT, ALP and a significant increase in blood urea levels in the raw kernel meal based diets relative to the control diet (p<0.05). Based on the performance of the birds fed the raw ASAKM, it may be concluded that broilers could barely tolerate 5% raw ASAKM in their diets with minimum adverse effects. However, the values of the blood parameters particularly the red blood cells favoured erythropoiesis, suggesting that the African star apple kernel meal had no detrimental effect on the health status of the birds. Subsequent research should process the raw star apple seed meal before dietary inclusion for optimum results

DOUM PALM (Hyphaene thebaica) SEED MEAL AS A NOVEL FEEDSTUFF FOR BROILER CHICKENS: EFFECT ON GROWTH RESPONSE

Background. High cost of feed ingredients and increased demand for broiler chicken in many African countries has necessitated the search for alternative feed sources. Objective. To evaluate the effects of Hyphaene thebaica seed meal (HTSM) as substitute for maize on growth and blood parameters of broiler chickens. Methodology. Five experimental diets were formulated for the trial. Diet 1 (0% HTSM) served as the control while diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 contained 5, 10, 15 and 20% HTSM respectively replacing dietary maize in the diets of birds. A total of 225 day-old broiler chicks were randomly allotted into five treatment groups with three replicates of fifteen birds each. Each group was assigned to the five experimental diets in completely randomized design (CRD). Feed and water were supplied ad libitum for all treatment groups during the trial. Result. Differences (P0.05). Feed conversion ratio and average daily weight gain of birds fed 0, 5 and 10% HTSM diets were better (P<0.05) compared to those fed 15 and 20 % HTSM diets. Differences (P<0.05) were also observed in the blood parameters measured except the packed cell volume (29.08- 31.89%) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (14.69-15.67pg). The white blood cell (11.45-18.14 x 109/l), red blood cell (4.71-6.99 x 1012/l), haemoglobin (6.92-10.05g/dl) and aspartate transaminase (72.95-90.16 IU/l), alanine aminotransaminase (62.84-79.50 IUu/l) and alkaline phosphatase (100.26-108.77 IU/l) increased (P<0.05) as the dietary levels of HTSM increased across the treatments. Carcass and organ weights of birds fed 0, 5 and 10% HTSM diets were better (P<0.05) than those fed 15 and 20% HTSM diets. Implication. Adequate processing of the HTSM is needed to reduce the anti-nutritional factors to a tolerable level before being used in broiler diet. Conclusion. Broiler chickens can tolerate up to 10% raw HTSM in their diets without adverse effect on growth performance