Evaluation of the Utilization of Cocoa Pulp in Feed Concentrate on the Hematological Parameter of Bali Cattle

The cocoa pulp is a by-product of cocoa. Even, its high potentials, the cocoa pulp has not been utilized as feed for ruminants yet. The objective of this study was to evaluate the utilization of cocoa pulp as an alternative feedstuff in feed concentrate on the hematological parameters of Bali cattle. The experimental diet was three levels of cocoa pulp, i.e., 0% (D0), 5% (D1), and 10% (D2), respectively. As a prime source of diet, 60% of forage of dwarf napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Mott) and Indigofera (Indigofera zollingeriana), while 40% of the feed concentrate, respectively. Other feedstuff was consisting of rice bran, coconut cake meal, shrimp waste meal, corn epidermis, milled corn, molasses, and minerals. Parameters used were hematological status, i.e., red blood cell count, white blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit. The results revealed that concentrate feed containing cocoa pulp had no significant effect (P>0.05) on the hematological parameters, even the addition of cocoa pulp in the feed concentrate tended to be better compared to without the addition of cocoa pulp. So, in this study, it can be concluded that feed concentrate containing cocoa pulp can be used as an alternative feedstuff for Bali cattle.