ArticleAnimal bioscience2026
Inclusion of unqualified cacao pod in mineral feed block: a novel strategy to improve rumen fermentation and mitigate methane emissions in beef cattle.
Article in Animal bioscience, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
objectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the effects of incorporating unqualified cacao pod powder into beef cattle diets on nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, greenhouse gas emissions, and blood metabolites.
methodsA 4×4 Latin square design was used with four of Brahman×Thai native crossbred steers (207.1±45.1 kg body weight). Treatments included; T1: a control (no supplement), T2: supplemented with 50 g/d of cacao powder, T3: supplemented with mineral block containing cacao powder and T4: both supplemented with 50 g/d of cacao powder and mineral block containing cacao powder.
resultsResults showed no significant effect on feed intake, but polyphenol and tannin intake increased (p<0.01). Apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, protein, and both detergent fibers increased with cacao supplementation (p<0.01). Rumen pH, total volatile fatty acid, and acetate concentrations increased, while methane and carbon dioxide emissions were reduced (p<0.01). Blood urea nitrogen levels decreased (p<0.05), while concentrations of white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin, and lymphocyte percentage remained unchanged. The neutrophil percentage tended to decrease, as same as, the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in the supplemented groups (p = 0.06 and p = 0.08, respectively).
conclusionThese findings suggest that unqualified cacao pods can enhance nutrient utilization and mitigate enteric methane emissions, offering a sustainable strategy for valorizing cacao byproducts in ruminant production.
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