Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 9 (2): 195-197, 2010 ISSN 1680-5194 © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2010 Corresponding Author: O.E. Ayinde, Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, University of Ilorin, P.M.B.1515, Ilorin, Nigeria 195 Economics of Using Cocoa Bean Shell as Feed Supplement for Rabbits O.E. Ayinde , V. Ojo , A.A. Adeyina and O. Adesoye 1 2 2 1 Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Department of Animal Production, 1 2 University of Ilorin, P.M.B.1515, Ilorin, Nigeria Abstract: The study analyzed the economics of using cocoa bean shell (cbs) as feed supplement in rabbit production. Data used for this study was collected from an experimental study of performance of rabbits fed graded levels of various treatments of CBS as feed supplement. Gross margin and dominance analysis were used to analyze the data. The study showed that untreated CBS can be used economically at 100g/kg inclusion in rabbit feed while hot Water treated CBS (WCBS) can be included up to 200 g/kg in rabbit feed. The study recommends the use of hot water treatment of CBS at 200 g/kg inclusion for optimum profitability of rabbit production. Key words: Cocoa bean shell rabbit, gross margin, dominance analysis INTRODUCTION In Nigeria, the high cost and scarcity of conventional food and feed sources for human and livestock has caused men and livestock to compete with each other for some food supply. Hence, livestock for use should be those that are less dependent and are capable of converting crop waste into meat. Lebas et al. (1986) found that rabbits with short generational interval fulfils such criteria in utilizing plant materials and crop wastes more efficiently and are very suitable as panacea to protein deficiency and low meat supply in Nigeria (Joseph et al., 1997). There is therefore, the need to search for by products and crop wastes with a view to finding feed supplements which can maintain physiological balance and enhance live-stock productivity. Cocoa bean shell, a by-product of the emerging cocoa is MATERIALS AND METHODS the testa immediately surrounding the cocoa nib and Data used for this study were mainly of the secondary constitute about 10% of the cocoa bean. It is estimated form. The major data was obtained from an that about 10,500 tonnes of cocoa bean shell is experimental study of rabbits fed various treatments of produced annually in Nigeria (Aina, 1998), which cocoa bean shell. Data were collected on the body constitute a disposal problem in the cocoa milling and weight gain resulting from different level of cocoa bean chocolate industry. The cocoa bean shell has a shell fed. Information were also sourced from journals, proximate composition that is comparable to other agro- annual reports and internal Network information. allied by-products such as maize bran and wheat offal. Two treatments were used to investigate the effect of Hence, it is useful as a supplement to feed animals cocoa bean shell on growth performance and economic especially, rabbits. Cocoa bean shell also has an returns to the farmer. Treatment one evaluated untreated intermediate buffer value between the protein and cereal Cocoa Bean Shell (CBS) at 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 or sources of feed (Carolien, 2001). This suggests that 300 g CBS 1kg diet. Treatment two involved hot Water animals consuming cocoa bean shell might not have treated Cocoa Bean Shell (WCBS) a 0, 100, 200, 300 difficulty in lowering the gastric pH, thus, improving and 400 g/kg (WCBS) diet. In treatment 1, forty-two protein digestibility and utilization. weaner rabbits (mean body weight 0.37 kg) were However, the theobromine content of cocoa bean shell randomly allocated to the 7 dietary treatment levels. limits its use as feedstuff for monogastric animals due Each rabbit was treated as a replicate thus, there were to the imbalance caused by theobromine on growth six replicates per treatment level. performance of rabbits (Muhammed et al., 2000). Earlier reports (Odunsi and Longe, 1998; Odunsi et al., 1999) advocate the reduction or neutralization of theobromine as a means of improving the food value of the cocoa cake. Adeyina and Ademoroti’s (2003) findings indicate some effectiveness of boiling treatment of cocoa bean shell in reducing the theobromine level for improved performance of broiler finisher. This effectiveness may actually be based on the physical measurement; hence, the study is aimed at analyzing the economic of using cocoa bean shell as feed supplement for rabbit. The study specifically analyzes the economical treatment in the use of cocoa bean shell the profitability and the best level of inclusive of cocoa bean shell as feed supplement in rabbit.