Growth Performance And Economic Impact Of Broilerchicken Fed Concentrates Supplemented With Processed Cocoa Pod Waste

The study was conducted to examine the performance growth and economic impacts of broiler chicken fed concentrates supplemented with processed cocoa pod waste. The experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Cocoa pod waste or husk was collected and processed by ash treatment to form a processed cocoa pod husk meal (PCHM). Three experimental diets were formulated at both the starter and finisher phases, in which PCHM was included at 0, 5 and 10% and designated as diets 1, 2 and 3, respectively. One hundred and eighty 1-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly distributed to three dietary treatments (10 birds/replicate; 60 birds/treatment) in a completely randomized design. The growth performance, carcass, relative internal organ weights and haemato biochemical indices were determined. Histological examination of the liver and heart samples was also determined. Results: The PCHM inclusion did affect (P < 0.05) the performance characteristics of the broiler chicks and also for the feed intake that significantly (P < 0.05) increased in birds fed 8% of PCHM-inclusive diet at the starter phase. The carcass traits, relative internal organ weights, haematological indices and serum biochemical indices of the broiler chickens were similar (P > 0.05) across the dietary treatments. The serum glutathione peroxidase and catalase concentration were higher (P < 0.05) in birds fed PCHM-inclusive diets compared to those fed the control diet. Implications and recommendations were made from the findings of the study