The digestive and physiological visceral organs of male Bali cattle were fed with cocoa bean shell

Abstract

Abstract Cocoa bean shell (CBS) is a waste from cocoa bean processing, and recently used as supplements in ruminants feed. However, a CBS contains theobromines that well known for its anti-nutrient effect in the animal digestive system. This study examined the effect of CBS supplementation on some digestive organs in Bali cattle bulls. The total of 12 Bali bulls (average initial body weight, 159.25 ± 15.68 kg) aged 16 months age were fed with four levels of CBS concentrate in the diet for 16 weeks (0, 3, 6, and 9%, repestively). At the end of the experiment, digestive tract and some visceral organs weight (e.g., rumen, digest tracts, lymph, liver, lungs, heart, and kidney) were measured and calculated as the percentage of body weight (BW). The results showed that the percentage of spleen, liver and kidney weights were increased (p<0.05) according to the level of CBS supplementation. The effect of CBS feeding on the percentage of spleen weight was occurred at level 9%, and significantly higher (p<0.05) compared to the level of 3%, 6% and without cocoa shell. The liver and kidney percentages were higher (p<0.05) at levels 6% and 9% compared to 0% and 3%. There was no effect of supplementation on the digestive tract, lungs and heart. The study concluded that CBS supplementation at 6% and 9% levels had an effect on physiological visceral organs of Bali cattle bulls.