Abstract
Forty Large White pigs were divided on the basis of sex and initial liveweight into five equal groups. The five groups were fed ad libitum growing/finishing diets containing 0, 10, 20, 25 and 30 per cent cocoa husk, respectively, from an average initial body weight of about 55 kg to market weight of about 82 kg and the effect of the diets on growth, economics and carcass characteristics of the pigs was evaluated. Daily rate of gain was not adversely affected when up to 20 per cent cocoa husk was incorporated into the diets, but beyond 20 per cent there was a slight depression in the rate of gain. Pigs fed the 10 and 20 per cent cocoa husk diets reached market weight earlier while those fed diets with cocoa husk at higher rates reached it later than the control pigs. Efficiency of feed utilization decreased with increases in the husk content. Decreases in feed cost and cost per kilogramme gain in liveweight as the proportion of cocoa husk increased indicated that up to 30 per cent cocoa husk could be economically incorporated into growing/finishing diets for pigs. While there was a slight decrease in dressing percentage, the increases in carcass length, percentage ham plus loin and loin eye area together with the reduction in backfat thickness showed that up to 30 per cent cocoa husk resulted in improved carcass quality.
