Chula turns cocoa waste into livestock feed

Chulalongkorn University researchers in Bangkok developed a cocoa-based mineral supplement that converts low-grade cocoa and discarded husks into feed for cattle. The project aims to cut farm costs, improve animal health and reduce methane emissions while creating new value for cocoa growers.

Why it matters: - Chulalongkorn University’s cocoa-based feed supplement gives farmers a way to turn crop waste into higher-value livestock inputs. - The approach could help cocoa growers recover income from damaged harvests while lowering feed costs for cattle producers. - The project also targets methane reduction, linking livestock productivity with lower greenhouse gas emissions.

What happened: - A researcher at Chulalongkorn University developed a “cocoa-based mineral supplement” from low-grade cocoa and discarded cocoa husks. - The project was led by Asst. Prof. Dr. Tansiphorn Na Nan, Acting Assistant Dean for Research and Academic Services at the Faculty of Integrated Agriculture and director of the Innovation Center for Research and Development of Sustainable Cocoa Thailand in Nan province. - The innovation was developed in Bangkok and announced June 9, 2026.

The details: - The research team created two products: a compressed lick block for small farms and a powdered supplement for larger feed-mixing systems. - Both forms can include cocoa waste at up to 30% of the ingredient mix. - The project was designed in response to climate-driven cocoa losses of 80% to 90%, which left farmers with unsellable waste. - Livestock farmers were also facing higher feed costs during prolonged drought. - Cocoa compounds including flavonoids, polyphenols, theobromine and tannins were identified as beneficial for livestock. - Theobromine was found to improve cattle well-being, reduce inflammation and improve feed-to-meat conversion efficiency. - In dairy cattle tests, the supplement cut somatic cell counts linked to mastitis by more than 70%. - The same testing showed milk fat content rose by up to 15%. - In beef cattle, farmers reported animals previously sold for 20,000 to 30,000 baht each later reached premium A3 and A4 grades valued at more than 100,000 baht. - Tannins in cocoa were found to suppress methane-producing bacteria in the rumen. - Researchers said methane emissions fell by up to 44% while more energy was redirected toward muscle and fat production. - The shift improved marbling and meat quality. - The research is being expanded into poultry, goats and shrimp farming. - The project’s guiding principle is that “every cocoa bean must have a purpose.”

Between the lines: - The project is more than a feed formulation. It is a circular-economy model that tries to solve three problems at once: crop waste, feed inflation and livestock emissions. - The biggest commercial upside may be for farmers who can move from selling damaged cocoa as waste to selling it as a feed ingredient. - The premium-price beef results suggest the supplement could create strong incentives for adoption if the gains hold at scale.

What’s next: - Chulalongkorn University is extending the research into additional species, including poultry, goats and shrimp. - Farmers and feed producers can contact the Faculty of Integrated Agriculture at +662 218 1243. - More information is available through the university’s website.