Dietary inclusion rate of cocoa husks for starter cockerels

Abstract: Growth performance and economics of production were measured to assess the dietary inclusion rate of cocoa husk for starter cockerels. The study involved 156, 2-week-old cockerels which were reared for 6 weeks on four diets incorporating 0, 10, 15 and 20 % cocoa husk meal (CHM) at the expense of maize. Body weight gain and feed conversion were depressed beyond the 10 % CHM level. Although cost of feed consumed decreased across treatments, feed cost/kg body weight gain was reduced beyond the 10 % CHM level. Ten percent dietary inclusion of CHM appears optimal in cockerel starter diets since beyond this level, growth performance and monetary gains are sacrificed. Key Words: Cocoa husk meal, cockerel growth performance, economics of productio