Chemical evaluation of cocoa byproducts

Abstract

The four main by-products from cocoa -cocoa husk, cocoa shell, cocoa cake and cocoa dust -were chemically evaluated and compared to determine their usefulness in poultry and livestock feeds. The proximate constituents, gross energy and theobromine content of the samples were determined. All four by-products were found to have nutritive value. However, cocoa husk can be considered to be more useful than the others for animal feeds because of its high content of minerals, low level of theobromine and availability in large quantities in cocoa-farms and plantations.