Abstract
ABSTRACT This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of substituting Tifton 85 hay (Cynodon sp. cv. Tifton 85) with levels of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) byproduct (0, 8, 16, and 24%, diet dry matter basis) in the diet of 16 Holstein × Gir heifers with an average body weight of 363.0±27.7 kg on their nutrient intake, digestibility, and protein balance. The experimental period was 17 days, and the sample collection period was five days. There was no effect of cocoa [...]
Highlights
The cocoa (Theobroma cacao) fruit is a tropical species of great ecological, social, and economic importance for several producing regions that is found spontaneously in the lower stratum of forests
The byproduct affected the digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber, all of which decreased as the level of inclusion of the byproduct in the diet was increased
There was no effect of cocoa byproduct inclusion on the analyzed variables, which were expressed in kg heifer−1 day−1, as a percentage of live weight (%body weight (BW)), or as a function of metabolic weight (g kg−0.75)
Summary
The cocoa (Theobroma cacao) fruit is a tropical species of great ecological, social, and economic importance for several producing regions that is found spontaneously in the lower stratum of forests. Brazil is the fifth largest producer of cocoa in the world, generating 273.10 t annually, with an average yield of 403.00 kg ha−1. The peel can account for around 80% of the cocoa fruit; it can be used in the feeding of ruminants as is, in the form of dry flour, or even preserved as silage (Silva Neto et al, 2001). In their review on cocoa byproducts, Marcel et al (2011) stated that they can be incorporated into ruminant diet as long as they do not exceed the limit of 30% of the diet because they contain theobromine. The authors went on to state that theobromine is an anti-nutritional factor that can affect the diet digestibility and, the production performance of animals when ingested in large quantities
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