Abstract

Cocoa Pod Husk (CPH) is a major by-product from the cocoa industry in Ghana. Using CPH as a low-cost unconventional feedstuff is hampered by its poor nutrient composition due to high level of non-starch polysaccharides including cellulose, pectin and hemicellulose, which are indigestible in monogastric livestock such as poultry. Anin vitro enzyme treatment study was conducted to test the effect of various combinations of selected exogenous fibrolytic enzymes on the digestibility of CPH feedstuff. Concentrations of 0.8, 0.6 and 0.8% w/w respectively for Pentopan^®MonoBG, Viscozyme^®L and Pectinex^®5XL were observed as appropriate levels for supplementing CPH feedstuff. Among the enzyme combinations tested, the Pentopan^®MonoBG + Viscozyme^®L, Viscozyme^®L + Pectinex^®5XL and Pentopan^®MonoBG + Viscozyme^®L + Pectinex^®5XL formulae were most effective in maximising sugar release from CPH feedstuff by 42 - 53% increase with a corresponding reduction (7 - 14%) in crude fibre and non-starch polysaccharide fractions (P < 0.05). The present results suggest that supplementation with multi-enzymes or blends of exogenous NSP-degrading enzymes may enhance the capacity of poultry to efficiently digest and utilise dietary CPH.

Key words: Agro-industrial by-product, cocoa pod husk, non-starch polysaccharides,in vitro treatment, fibrolytic enzymes, saccharification.