| Livestock Research for Rural Development 34 (7) 2022 | LRRD Search | LRRD Misssion | Guide for preparation of papers | LRRD Newsletter | Citation of this paper |
The study evaluated the reproductive performance and the cumulative effects of sows fed with diets containing cocoa-cake-with-shell (CCWS) and dried cocoa husk (DCH). Two trials were conducted. Experiment 1, fifteen (15) Large White gilts were allocated to five dietary treatments comprising breeder diets B1 (Control), B2 (7.5% CCWS), B3 (10% CCWS), B4 (20% DCH) and B5 (30% DCH). The sows were individually fed the breeder diets at rate of 2 kg/sow/day. After parturition, each sow was fed 4 kg of the corresponding lactating diets (L1, L2, L3, L4 and L5). Water was provided ad libitum. The average litter size of sows for the first, second, third and fourth parities were 8.29, 9.92, 9.75, 11.38 and 9.63 for diets B1, B2, B3, B4 and B5 respectively (p < 0.05). Average number of piglets weaned were 7.21, 8.50, 8.41, 9.21 and 8.88 for diet L1, L2, L3, L4 and L5 respectively (p < 0.05) and the corresponding average weaning weights were 11.07, 11.78, 10.53, 13.78 and 12.83 kg (p < 0.05). In experiment 2, eighteen (18) weaner pigs at an average liveweight of 9 kg were randomly selected from sows on experiment 1 and assigned to three dietary treatments namely Control (0%), CCWS (8.75%) and DCH (25%) based on sex and weight so that there are six (6) weaner pigs to a treatment. Each treatment was replicated three times with two weaner pigs per replicate. They were fed the same weaner diet until they attained average live weight of 20 kg. They were then assigned to the corresponding grower-finisher diets until they attain of an average live weight of 90 kg. Gilts per each treatment were served with a boar which had not been fed any diet containing cocoa by-products. They were subsequently fed the corresponding breeder then lactation diets. They were in turn fed the diets over three parities. Average number of still births recorded was higher (p < 0.05) among the cocoa by-product diets, the number of piglets weaned as well as the weaning weight were not significantly (p > 0.05) affected. The study demonstrated that CCWS and DCH at 7.5% and 20% respectively in the diets of pigs had no detrimental effect on the reproductive performance and survivability of piglets.
Keywords: cocoa cake with-shell, dried cocoa husk, number weaned, parity, weaning weight
Ghana is estimated to have produced about 1,047 thousand metric tons of cocoa beans, the most ever produced by the country (Shahbandeh 2022). A large quantity of cocoa husk is there-by produced which invariably go as waste on the farms. Studies have indicated that Dried Cocoa Husk (DCH) is a potential feedstuff for livestock (Rhule et al 2005). It has been shown that DCH could be fed up to 30% of the diet to grower-finisher pigs (Okai et al 1984; Barns and Oddoye 1985) and 15% to the starter pig (Barnes and Oddoye 1985; Okai 1987). Dried Cocoa Husk could replace 25% of maize in the pig’s diet but requires critical balancing of amino acid (Odusi and Longe 1995). Nitrogen retention was reduced significantly when detoxified discarded cocoa bean meal replaced 50% of maize in the diet of grower-finisher pigs (Barns and Oddoye 1985).
Cocoa-cake-with-shell (CCWS) at an inclusion of 8% in the diet was detrimental to their performance weaner pigs (Rhule 2005). Cocoa-cake-with-shell is the by- product of the extraction of cocoa butter from cocoa beans. The production of CCWS is done on a commercial scale for export. Large quantities of CCWS are produced for which no use is made of in Ghana and therefore exported to some European countries. Very little work has been done on CCWS in livestock feeding. Odusi and Longe (1995) observed that whereas up to 10% inclusion cocoa bean cake in the diet had no effect on the performance of pullets 20% had adverse effects. Of the two by-products (DCH and CCWS), dried cocoa husk could be more useful as a feedstuff for pigs due to its high content of minerals, low content of theobromine and also, of being more available on cocoa farms in large quantities than cocoa cake-with-shell (Rhule 2005).
The cocoa by-products (CCWS and DCH) in Ghana are usually left on cocoa farms to rot but have been reported that they have some nutritive value and therefore can be used as animal feed if processed well (Okai et al 1984). Rhule (2015) reported that, DCH has low crude protein value varying between 5.49% and 6.23%. He further classified it as high fibre product (value varying between 19.47% and 21.11%) and concluded that, the presence of theobromine and tannins limit its inclusion level in the diet of pigs.
There is dearth of information on influence of DCH or CCWS on the reproductive performance of breeding sows. This study was therefore undertaken to determine the reproductive performance and cumulative effects in breeding gilts and sows fed diet containing CCWS and DCH.
The DCH was obtained from the Cocoa Research Institute, New Tafo, in the Eastern region of Ghana whiles the CCWS was obtained from the West African Mills Company, Takoradi, in the Western region of Ghana.
Fifteen Large White gilts at an average initial live weight of 90 ± 1kg were distributed over five dietary treatments so that there are three gilts per treatment. The gilts were assigned to the treatments before mating.
There were five dietary treatments made up of diets with CCSW and DCH included at five levels namely CCSW & DCH 0%, CCSW 7.5%, CCSW 10.0%, DCH 20% and DCH 30%. The compositions of the breeder’s diets are shown in Table 1, with the corresponding lactation diets shown in Table 2.
The gilts were individually-housed and fed the breeder diets for about twenty-one days before mating. Each gilt was fed once, daily a 2.0 kg of feed mixed with water with a feed-to-water ratio of 1:2. Drinking water was provided ad-libitum. The gilts were fed the breeder diets (shown in Table 1) until parturition when they were fed the corresponding lactation diets as shown in Table 2. After parturition the sows were fed daily at the rate of 4.0 kg per sow per day. Each sow was fed over four parities. Parameters considered were litter size, still birth, number weaned and weaning weight.
|
Table 1. Composition of the breeder diets containing cocoa-cake-with-shell and dried cocoa husk (%) |
||||||
|
Ingredient |
Dietary Treatment |
|||||
|
CCWS & DCH |
CCWS 7.5% |
CCWS 10% |
DCH 20% |
DCH 30% |
||
|
Dried cocoa husk |
- |
- |
- |
20.0 |
30.0 |
|
|
Cocoa-cake-with-shell |
- |
7.5 |
10.0 |
- |
- |
|
|
Maize bran |
39.65 |
33.65 |
31.65 |
20.07 |
18.07 |
|
|
Rice bran |
30.00 |
30.00 |
29.60 |
30.00 |
27.00 |
|
|
Palm kernel cake |
20.00 |
20.00 |
20.00 |
20.00 |
15.00 |
|
|
Fish meal |
4.05 |
3.45 |
3.35 |
3.85 |
3.85 |
|
|
Soyabean meal |
4.60 |
3.70 |
3.70 |
4.38 |
4.38 |
|
|
Oyster shell |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
|
Salt |
0.50 |
0.50 |
0.50 |
0.50 |
0.50 |
|
|
Premix* |
0.20 |
0.20 |
0.20 |
0.20 |
0.0 |
|
|
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
|
|
Determined Composition (%) |
||||||
|
Moisture |
10.07 |
10.21 |
10.15 |
9.18 |
10.43 |
|
|
Dry matter |
89.93 |
89.79 |
89.85 |
90.82 |
89.57 |
|
|
Ash |
10.12 |
9.87 |
10.21 |
12.39 |
11.24 |
|
|
Ether extract |
1.81 |
6.83 |
9.54 |
7.16 |
5.45 |
|
|
Crude fibre |
10.19 |
10.78 |
10.54 |
14.23 |
19.61 |
|
|
Crude protein |
12.04 |
12.64 |
12.76 |
11.69 |
11.83 |
|
|
Nitrogen free extract |
47.32 |
64.59 |
47.24 |
45.35 |
42.44 |
|
|
Calcium |
0.49 |
0.70 |
0.58 |
0.71 |
0.87 |
|
|
Zinc |
0.233 |
0.127 |
0.191 |
0.125 |
0.130 |
|
|
Manganese |
0.13 |
0.13 |
0.15 |
0.13 |
0.16 |
|
|
Magnesium |
0.79 |
0.73 |
0.72 |
0.83 |
0.77 |
|
|
Gross energy (MJ/Kg) |
17.38 |
17.39 |
16.93 |
16.75 |
16.63 |
|
|
*Vitamin and TMP (Trace Mineral Premix): Inclusion rate is 25 kg/tonne to supply the following per tonne of feed: Vit.A, 2,000,000 IU; Vit.E, 15000 mg; Vit.B1, 1500 mg; Niacin 30,000 mg; Vit.B6, 1500 mg; Vit.D3, 4500,000 mg; Vit. K3, 3,000 mg; Pantothenic acid, 12000 mg; Vit.B12, 10,000 mg; Vit. B2,6000 mg; Folic acid, 800 mg, Iron, 60,000 mg; Copper 75,00 mg; Iodine, 750 mg; Manganese, 130,000 mg; zinc, 70,000 mg; Selenium, 300mg. calcium,17.50%, Lysine,1,330 mg; Methionine, 1,075 mg; B-Corotenic acid, 350 mg |
||||||
|
Table 2. Composition of the lactation diets containing cocoa-cake-with-shell and dried cocoa husk (%) |
||||||
|
Ingredient |
Dietary treatment |
|||||
|
CCWS & |
CCWS 7.5% |
CCWS 10% |
DCH 20% |
30% DCH |
||
|
Dried cocoa husk |
- |
- |
- |
20.00 |
30.00 |
|
|
Cocoa-cake-with-shell |
- |
7.50 |
10.00 |
- |
- |
|
|
Maize bran |
39.30 |
32.97 |
30.97 |
19.57 |
17.57 |
|
|
Rice bran |
30.00 |
30.00 |
29.60 |
30.00 |
27.00 |
|
|
Palm kernel cake |
20.00 |
20.00 |
20.00 |
20.00 |
15.00 |
|
|
Fish meal |
9.00 |
7.83 |
7.73 |
8.73 |
8.73 |
|
|
Oyster shell |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
|
Salt |
0.50 |
0.50 |
0.50 |
0.50 |
0.50 |
|
|
Premix* |
0.20 |
0.20 |
0.20 |
0.20 |
0.20 |
|
|
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
|
|
Determined Composition (%) |
||||||
|
Moisture |
9.29 |
9.57 |
9.50 |
9.88 |
9.92 |
|
|
Dry matter |
90.71 |
90.43 |
90.50 |
90.12 |
90.08 |
|
|
Ash |
10.57 |
9.69 |
9.87 |
13.07 |
11.86 |
|
|
Crude fibre |
11.01 |
11.89 |
13.07 |
16.25 |
18.58 |
|
|
Ether extract |
5.02 |
5.92 |
5.30 |
4.00 |
4.42 |
|
|
Crude protein |
12.66 |
12.75 |
12.89 |
11.69 |
12.53 |
|
|
Nitrogen-free extract |
53.36 |
51.92 |
50.60 |
45.11 |
46.69 |
|
|
Calcium |
3.52 |
2.98 |
2.69 |
4.26 |
3.99 |
|
|
Phosphorus |
0.51 |
0.55 |
0.71 |
0.52 |
0.45 |
|
|
Gross energy (MJ/Kg) |
12.69 |
12.81 |
12.46 |
11.28 |
10.72 |
|
|
* Vitamin and TMP (Trace Mineral Premix): Inclusion rate is 25 kg/tonne to supply the following per tonne of feed: Vit.A, 2,000,000 IU; Vit.E, 15000 mg; Vit.B1, 1500 mg; Niacin 30,000 mg; Vit.B6, 1500 mg; Vit.D3, 4500,000 mg; Vit. K3, 3,000 mg; Pantothenic acid, 12000 mg; Vit.B12, 10,000 mg; Vit. B2,6000 mg; Folic acid, 800 mg, Iron, 60,000 mg; Copper 75,00 mg; Iodine, 750 mg; Manganese, 130,000 mg; zinc, 70,000 mg; Selenium, 300mg. calcium,17.50%, Lysine,1,330 mg; Methionine, 1,075 mg; B-Corotenic acid, 350 mg |
||||||
Six weaner pigs (females) each at an average liveweight of 9±1 kg were randomly selected from the sows on Control (without cocoa by-products), CCWS and DCH diets in the present study making a total of eighteen weaner pigs.
The pigs (females) were assigned to three dietary treatments namely Control (0%), CCWS 8.75% and DCH 25% based on sex and weight. Each treatment was replicated three times with two weaner pigs per replicate.
They were fed weaner diets as shown in Table 3 until they attained an average live weight of 20 kg. They were then assigned to the corresponding grower-finisher diets in Table 4 until attaining an average live weight of 90 kg with subsequent feeding of corresponding breeder and lactation diets (Tables 5 and 6).
|
Table 3. Composition of the weaner diets containing cocoa-cake-with-shell and dried cocoa husk (%) |
|||
|
Ingredient |
Dietary treatment |
||
|
Control |
CCWS 8.75% |
DCH 25% |
|
|
Dried cocoa husk |
- |
- |
25.00 |
|
Cocoa-cake-with-shell |
- |
8.75 |
- |
|
Maize bran |
73.97 |
66.35 |
48.45 |
|
Palm kernel cake |
10.00 |
10.00 |
10.00 |
|
Fish meal |
14.33 |
13.20 |
14.85 |
|
Oyster shell |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
Salt |
0.50 |
0.50 |
0.50 |
|
Premix* |
0.20 |
0.20 |
0.20 |
|
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
|
Determined composition |
|||
|
Moisture |
|||
|
Dry matter |
- |
- |
- |
|
Ash |
- |
- |
- |
|
Ether extract |
9.21 |
10.05 |
11.75 |
|
Crude fibre |
3.31 |
4.25 |
5.98 |
|
Crude protein |
18.23 |
18.63 |
18.46 |
|
* Vitamin and TMP (Trace Mineral Premix): Inclusion rate is 25 kg/tonne to supply the following per tonne of feed: Vit.A, 2,000,000 IU; Vit.E, 15000 mg; Vit.B1, 1500 mg; Niacin 30,000 mg; Vit.B6, 1500 mg; Vit.D3, 4500,000 mg; Vit. K3, 3,000 mg; Pantothenic acid, 12000 mg; Vit.B12, 10,000 mg; Vit. B2,6000 mg; Folic acid, 800 mg, Iron, 60,000 mg; Copper 75,00 mg; Iodine, 750 mg; Manganese, 130,000 mg; zinc, 70,000 mg; Selenium, 300mg. calcium,17.50%, Lysine,1,330 mg; Methionine, 1,075 mg; B-Corotenic acid, 350 mg |
|||
|
Table 4. Composition of the grower-finisher diets containing cocoa cake-with-shell and dried cocoa husk (%) |
|||
|
Ingredient |
Dietary treatment |
||
|
Control |
CCWS 8.75% |
DCH 25% |
|
|
Dried cocoa husk |
- |
8.75 |
- |
|
Cocoa-cake-with-shell |
- |
- |
25.00 |
|
Maize bran |
48.27 |
40.65 |
22.75 |
|
Cassava peels |
30.00 |
30.00 |
30.00 |
|
Palm kernel cake |
10.00 |
10.00 |
10.00 |
|
Fish meal |
10.03 |
8.90 |
10.55 |
|
Oyster shell |
1.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
Salt |
0.50 |
0.50 |
0.50 |
|
Premix* |
0.20 |
0.20 |
0.20 |
|
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
|
Determined composition |
|||
|
Moisture |
10.05 |
10.12 |
9.53 |
|
Dry matter |
89.95 |
89.88 |
90.47 |
|
Ash |
8.45 |
8.81 |
10.98 |
|
Crude fibre |
5.54 |
5.71 |
12.13 |
|
Ether extract |
3.08 |
4.16 |
3.92 |
|
Crude protein |
11.05 |
11.55 |
11.16 |
|
Nitrogen free extract |
61.83 |
59.65 |
54.28 |
|
Calcium |
3.12 |
3.24 |
3.87 |
|
Phosphorus |
0.50 |
0.42 |
0.39 |
|
Gross energy (MJ/Kg) |
13.41 |
13.53 |
12.83 |
|
* Vitamin and TMP (Trace Mineral Premix): Inclusion rate is 25 kg/tonne to supply the following per tonne of feed: Vit.A, 2,000,000 IU; Vit.E, 15000 mg; Vit.B1, 1500 mg; Niacin 30,000 mg; Vit.B6, 1500 mg; Vit.D3, 4500,000 mg; Vit. K3, 3,000 mg; Pantothenic acid, 12000 mg; Vit.B12, 10,000 mg; Vit. B2,6000 mg; Folic acid, 800 mg, Iron, 60,000 mg; Copper 75,00 mg; Iodine, 750 mg; Manganese, 130,000 mg; zinc, 70,000 mg; Selenium, 300mg. calcium,17.50%, Lysine, 1,330 mg; Methionine, 1,075 mg; B-Corotenic acid, 350 mg. |
|||
The two pigs per replicate were housed in a pen measuring 400 x 350 cm. Each pen had in-built feed and water troughs (170 x 40 cm) moulded with concrete on opposite walls. They were restricted-fed quantity of feed equivalent to 5% of their average live weight. Water was provided ad libitum. The ration was adjusted after the weekly weighing of the pigs. The diets were fed wet in a feed to water ratio of 1:2. The four gilts per each treatment were served at 90kg live weight with a boar which had not been fed any diet containing cocoa by-products. They were subsequently fed corresponding breeder and lactation diets with the cocoa by-products. They were in turn fed the diets over three parities. Parameters measured were litter size, still birth, number weaned and weaning weight.
Samples of the diet were chemically analyzed according to the methods of AOAC (2000). Data was analyzed by ANOVA using GENSTAT Statistical package (version 16.0) and Tukey’s was used to determine differences between means. Differences were considered significant at (p < 0.05).
Table 1 shows the formulae and determined chemical composition of breeder diets offered to the gilts during the experiment. Crude fibre content was higher in the DCH diets compared to CCWS which were similar to the control. The crude protein was similar for CCWS & DCH and CCWS 7.5%. The higher the inclusion levels of the cocoa by-products, the higher the crude protein content. For the Lactation diet, the DCH diets had lower gross energy levels and were also lower in the breeder diets (Table 2). Both crude fibre and protein levels increased with the inclusion of CCWS and DCH in the Weaner diets (Table 3). The crude fibre level in the grower-finisher diets was again highest in the DCH diet and this trend was same in all the different diets studied (Table 4).
The litter sizes of the sows on the breeder diets are shown in Table 5. The litter sizes were significantly (p < 0.05) higher on CCWS 10%, DCH 20% and DCH 30% than CCWS 7.5% and CCWS and DCH 0 % for the first parity. In the 2nd parity, the litter sizes were found to be significantly (p < 0.05) different being similar on CCWS 7.5% and DCH 30% and higher in CCWS 10% and DCH 20%. The litter size during the 3rd parity where significantly (p < 0.05) different; being highest on DCH 20% compared to CCWS & DCH 0%, CCWS 7.5%, CCWS 10% and DCH 30%. Furthermore, litter size on the 4th parity there were significant (p < 0.05) differences in the litter size at the fourth parity being highest on the CCWS 7.5%, DCH 20% and DCH 30% compared to CCWS 10% and CCWS and DCH 0 %. The litter size increased with succeeding parities being 0.67, 2.67, 0.00, 1.17 and 1.00 pigs on CCWS and DCH 0 %, CCWS 7.5%, CCWS 10%, DCH 20% and DCH 30% respectively. The highest litter size was obtained on DCH 20% with the lowest on CCWS and DCH 0 %.
|
Table 5. Average litter size of sows fed breeder diets containing CCWS and DCH (Experiment 1) |
|||||||
|
Parity |
Dietary Treatment |
SEM |
|||||
|
CCWS & DCH |
CCWS |
CCWS |
DCH |
DCH |
|||
|
1st |
8.33b |
8.33b |
10.00a |
10.33a |
10.00a |
0.44 |
|
|
2nd |
8.33c |
9.33ab |
9.67a |
9.67a |
9.00b |
0.26 |
|
|
3rd |
7.50c |
11.00b |
9.33bc |
14.00a |
8.50c |
1.14 |
|
|
4th |
9.00c |
11.00a |
10.00b |
11.50a |
11.00a |
0.43 |
|
|
a,b,c Means with different superscripts within the same row are significantly different (p< 0.05) |
|||||||
At the first parity there were similar stillbirth among the control and cocoa cake with shell (CCWS 7.5% and CCWS10%) diets but significantly (p < 0.05) different compared to the dried cocoa husk diets (DCH 20% and DCH 30%). In the second parity, no still births were recorded for the CCWS diets but were similar to the control. There were no stillbirths on the B4 and B5 diets for the third and fourth parities with the control also having none in the third parity.
|
Table 6. Total stillbirth of sows fed diets containing CCWS and DCH (Experiment 1) |
|||||||
|
Parity |
Dietary treatment |
SEM |
|||||
|
CCWS & DCH |
CCWS |
CCWS |
DCH |
DCH |
|||
|
1st |
0.67b |
0.67b |
0.33b |
1.67a |
1.50a |
0.26 |
|
|
2nd |
1.00a |
0.00b |
0.00b |
0.33b |
0.50b |
0.19 |
|
|
3rd |
0.00b |
0.33b |
1.67a |
0.00b |
0.00b |
0.32 |
|
|
4th |
0.50c |
1.33b |
4.00a |
0.00c |
0.00c |
0.75 |
|
|
a,b,c Means with different superscripts within the same row are significantly different ( P< 0.05) |
|||||||
The average numbers of piglets weaned were significantly (p < 0.05) higher on L4 and L5 and lowest on L1 at the first parity (Table 7). At the second parity, the average numbers of piglets weaned were found to be similar on L2, L3, L4 and L5 but significantly (p < 0.05) lower on the control with an average value of 6.67. However, L4 recorded the highest number of piglets weaned. The numbers of piglets weaned by sows in the third and fourth parity were similar for sows on D2 and higher than those on the control diet (p < 0.05) Table 7. Sows fed the control diet showed the lowest (p < 0.05) average number of piglets weaned in the third and fourth parities although there was a similarity with the L3 during the third parity. The averages of piglets weaned over the four parities were 8.47, 7.5, 8.57 and 9.17 for L1, L2, L3 and L4 respectively.
|
Table 7. Average number of piglets weaned by sows fed diets containing CCWS and DCH (Experiment 1) |
|||||||
|
Parity |
Dietary treatment |
SEM |
|||||
|
CCWS & DCH |
CCWS |
CCWS |
DCH |
DCH |
|||
|
1st |
7.67bc |
7.67bc |
10.00a |
8.33b |
9.00b |
0.44 |
|
|
2nd |
6.67b |
7.67a |
7.67a |
8.00a |
7.50a |
0.42 |
|
|
3rd |
7.50c |
9.33ab |
7.00c |
10.50a |
8.50b |
0.63 |
|
|
4th |
7.00c |
9.33b |
9.00ab |
10.00a |
10.50a |
0.60 |
|
|
a,b,c Means with different superscripts within the same row are significantly different ( P< 0.05) |
|||||||
The average weaning weights of piglets are shown in Table 8. At the first parity, weaning weight of piglets from sows on L1, L3 and L5 were similar. The lowest value was on L2 with the highest value on L4 (p > 0.05). In the second parity, the weaning weight of piglets on L2, L4 and L5 were similar and lowest on L1 (p < 0.05). The highest weaning weights of the piglets were on L4 and L5 with the lowest on L3 for the third and fourth parities respectively (p < 0.05).
|
Table 8. Average weaning weight (kg) of piglets fed diets containing CCWS and DCH (Experiment 1) |
|||||||
|
Parity |
Dietary treatment |
SEM |
|||||
|
CCWS & DCH |
CCWS |
CCWS |
DCH |
DCH |
|||
|
1st |
11.37b |
10.07c |
12.27b |
13.67a |
12.15b |
0.59 |
|
|
2nd |
9.67c |
12.93a |
11.13b |
12.70a |
13.05a |
0.66 |
|
|
3rd |
10.95b |
11.70b |
10.93b |
15.50a |
11.25b |
0.87 |
|
|
4th |
12.30b |
12.43ab |
7.77c |
13.25a |
14.85a |
1.18 |
|
|
a,b,c Means with different superscripts within the same row are significantly different ( p< 0.05) |
|||||||
The average weaning weights of all the piglets were 11.91, 11.90, 12.01 and 12.12 of L1, L2, L3 and L4 respectively.
The average litter sizes of sows fed diet containing CCWS and DCH in this study are shown in Table 9. Dietary treatments did not show any significant (p > 0.05) effect on first and second parities. In the third parity, the sows fed the CCWS and DCH breeder-based diets during pregnancy recorded higher litter size than those fed the control diet.
Litter size was same for all treatments at the first parity. Litter size was higher on D3 compared to D1 at the second parity (p > 0.05). There were however (p < 0.05) significantly high compared to D2. Litter sizes on D2 and D3 were similar and significantly higher than that on D1. With the exception of D1, litter size increased with succeeding parities and at similar magnitude.
|
Table 9. Average litter size of sows fed diet containing CCWS and DCH (Experiment 2) |
||||
|
Parity |
Dietary Treatment |
SEM |
||
|
Control |
CCWS |
DCH |
||
|
1st |
8.67 |
8.67 |
8.67 |
1.69 |
|
2nd |
10.33 |
8.33 |
11.00 |
1.38 |
|
3rd |
8.67b |
11.50a |
11.33a |
1.38 |
|
a,b, Means with different superscripts within the same row are significantly different ( p< 0.05) |
||||
The stillbirths in all the parities (1st, 2nd and 3rd) were significantly (p < 0.05) different being similar on CCWS and DCH diets and higher than the control. Sows on D2 recorded the highest values in all the three parities studied.
|
Table 10. Average number of still birth from sows fed Diet containing CCWS and DCH (Experiment 2) |
||||
|
Parity |
Dietary Treatment |
|||
|
Control |
8.75% CCWS |
25% DCH |
SEM |
|
|
1st |
0.33b |
1.33a |
1.00a |
0.73 |
|
2nd |
0.34b |
1.65a |
1.05a |
0.73 |
|
3rd |
0.22b |
1.27a |
0.89a |
0.89 |
|
a,b Means with different superscripts within the same row are significantly different ( P< 0.05) |
||||
The average number of piglets weaned was similar (p < 0.05) for the three dietary treatments over the three parities with the highest values during the second and third parities being on D3.
|
Table 11. Average number of piglets weaned by sows fed diet containing CCWS and DCH (Experiment 2) |
||||
|
Parity |
Dietary Treatment |
|||
|
Control |
CCWS 8.75% |
DCH 25% |
SEM |
|
|
1st |
8.00 |
8.00 |
7.89 |
1.31 |
|
2nd |
7.67 |
8.33 |
10.00 |
1.60 |
|
3rd |
8.67 |
8.33 |
10.33 |
1.31 |
The average weaning weights of piglets were similar among dietary treatments (p > 0.05) and ranged from 6.70 – 8.80 kg, with the control (D1) registering the highest value.
|
Table 12. Average weaning weight (kg) of piglets from sows fed diets containing CCWS and DCH |
||||
|
Dietary Treatment |
||||
|
Parity |
Control |
8.75% CCWS |
25% DCH |
SEM |
|
1st |
8.27 |
8.50 |
7.30 |
1.57 |
|
2nd |
8.80 |
7.33 |
7.30 |
1.93 |
|
3rd |
6.83 |
7.00 |
6.70 |
1.57 |
Dry cocoa husk has a very higher CF between 19.74% and 21.11% (Rhule 2015) resulting in the high CF values in all the DCH-containing diets. The lower CF value of CCWS at 8.78% (Rhule 2015) reflected in the lower CF levels in the diets.
The CP contents of the Control and cocoa cake with-shell (CCWS) breeder diets were considered adequate (NRC, 1998). However the levels in the lactation diet could be considered low (NRC, 1998). The gross energy of the diets decreased as the levels of CCWS and DCH increased due to the low energy value of the cocoa by-products (Rhule 2015).
Sows on the 20% DCH performed better in all the parameters considered in comparison with the sows on 30% DCH.
Loss of appetite, lethargic appearance and soft faeces in pigs were observed when fed with 8% cocoa meal (25-27g/kg level of theobromine) for 126 days (ICO, 2012). Cocoa husk meal, cocoa bean shell and cocoa bean meal have been reported to contain 1.5-4.0, 8.0-16.9 and 20-33 g theobromine per kg material respectively (European Food Safety Authority, 2008). None of the symptoms associated with toxic effects with cocoa by-product feeding were observed on the study. Ogunsipe et al (2017) also examined the addition of cocoa shells into pigs’ meals and found that 20% was the optimal biological level of cocoa shells as an energy substitute for maize in a pig diet.
Dried cocoa husk has been fed to pigs at levels of 20% replacing maize in the diets with good average weight gains and feed conversion efficiency comparable to the control pigs (Rhule, 2005). There was a significant (p < 0.05) difference between the sows fed the Control, CCWS and DCH diets in terms of all the performance parameters studied (Table 5). The average litter size in the first parity in this study was much less than 11.0 obtained by Rhule (2005). The highest average litter size of 14.00 kg was recorded in the third Parity and on DCH at 20% . This was higher than values obtained by Rhule (2005) in a similar study. This is contrary to a National Toxicology Programme (NTP) in the US which assessed the reproductive effects of theobromine (0, 1, 2.5 or 5 g/kg in the feed) on the Swiss CD-1 mice and the litters per rat were reduced at the highest dose (Adamafio 2013).
Pigs fed diets 20% DCH and 30% DCH inclusion levels recorded no stillbirth in the third and fourth parity but 7.5% CCWS and 10% CCWS diets recorded 1.33 and 4.0 respectively in the fourth parity (Table 6). The high incident of stillbirth in the diet containing the 10% CCWS could be as a result of the presence of high level of theobromine and this is in agreement with Ozung et al (2016) who reported that high concentration of theobromine could cause intestine lesions in the digestive tract. Theobromine which is an anti-nutritional factor in cocoa by-products could form complexes with the proteolytic enzymes in the pancreases and the intestine mucosa leading to decrease digestibility of nitrogen of the diet. It could also decrease the digestibility of energy (Long Staff and Mcnab, 1991; Rhule, 2005). It has also been observed that the shell has a higher concentration of theobromine which is toxic to pigs than the cocoa husk (Abiola and Tewe 1991).
The average numbers of piglets weaned on the diets containing 20% DCH in the first parity in this study was similar to piglets weaned on the 20% DCH on another study (Rhule, 2005). However, the average number of piglets weaned on L4 and L5 diets in the third and fourth parity were higher than values obtained with piglets on similar study with 20% DCH (Rhule, 2005).
The lowest weaning weight of 7.77kg which was recorded on weaner pigs on 10% CCWS during the fourth parity could be due to a possible adverse effect of the accumulation of theobromine on the sows’ milk. There was a significant reduction in milk yield of dairy cows fed diet containing cocoa shell (7.0 g/kg theobromine) ( Adamafio, 2013). The average weaning weights of piglets in this study were higher than a similar study by Rhule (2005).
The sows in Experiment 2, eventually had been fed the cocoa by-products diets over a much longer period than those on Experiment 1, being the progeny of sows previously fed diets containing DCH and CCWS.
The effect of the dietary treatments on the litter size in the second experiment was not prominent except in the third parity which was similar (p > 0.05) for the cocoa by-products diets (Table 9). This is comparable to studies which evaluated the effects of diets containing 0, 25, 50 or 75 g cocoa powder/kg feed from day 0 of gestation to day 21 of lactation and no effects were observed on the litter size at birth (Tarka and co-workers, 1986b).
The significantly (p < 0.05) higher number of still births among the cocoa by-products diets could be attributed to the accumulation of theobromine. It is known that theobromine concentration in the shell is more than in the husk (European Food Safety Authority, 2008). This is could be the reason why diet D2 which had 8.75% of cocoa cake with shell recorded the highest still births in all the parities. Analogous to this is decreased number of live pups per litter and decreased proportion of pups born alive when female mice administered 5 g theobromine/kg feed (630 mg/kg body weight) in a trial (NTP, 1984).
The average number of piglets weaned and the weaning weight were similar in all the parities studied and this is disparate to work done by the US Toxicology Programme which had live pups per litter reduced at all doses of theobromine (0, 1, 2.5 or 5 g/kg of theobromine in the feed and estimated intake: 0, 126, 335 and 630 mg/kg body weight per day respectively).
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