Performance, Nutrient Digestibility and Carcass Characteristics of Broilers Fed Cocoa Pod Husk-Based Diets

The study examined the effect of replacing maize with cocoa pod husk (CPH) in the diets of broilers on the performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics of the birds. CPH was sun-dried, milled and incorporated in the diets at 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80% replacement levels for maize. There was a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in feed intake, live weight gain and feed conversion ratios (FCR) with increasing levels of CPH in the diets. However, birds fed 20% CPH had the highest feed intake and live weight gain. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in the FCR of the birds fed 0, 20 and 40% CPH replacement for maize. Nutrient digestibility coefficients decreased significantly (P < 0.05) with increasing levels of CPH in the diets. The live and dressed weights of the birds decreased with increasing CPH levels. The liver weight increased with increasing CPH levels, while other organ weights did not follow any regular pattern as revealed by the influence of CPH on the birds. This study suggests that maize in broiler diets could be replaced with CPH up to 20% level