Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) pod husk and sugarcane bagasse-based diets as feedlot finishing rations for local beef cattle
1978
Amaning-Kwarteng, K.
The effects of sugarcane bagasse and cocoa pod husk in diets, on the performance of four randomly selected N'dama and one Santa Gertrudis crossed West African Shorthorn crossbred bullocks were evaluated in two experiments. The feed of the animals in each treatment consisted of a major roughage source, a protein-energy vitamin-mineral supplement, urea and molasses. Both cocoa pod husk and sugarcane bagasse based rations were acceptable to the local beef cattle without any detrimental physical or physiological manifestations resulting from the rations. Dry matter consumption and feed lot performance were significantly (P 0.01) influenced by the type of roughage. Cocoa pod husk-based rations were more consumed and more efficiently utilised than sugar-cane bagasse based ration. The level of protein in the rations did not significantly influence feed lot performance, and incorporation of 20% yellow corn significantly (P 0.01) improved the TDN value of cocoa pod husk based rations and feed lot performance. The standard finishing ration formulated from 50% yellow corn, 20% hay, 8% molasses, 10% wheat bran, 0.8% urea, and 11.2% supplement was the most efficient in terms of weight gain feed conversion, fat formation and feed cost
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