Winter Sunshine

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 234, 2 October 1937, Page 8 (Supplement)

Winter Sunshine

By giving winter "sunshine" to cows in the form of cacao shell, it has been found possible to bring the vitamin D content of their milk and butter from winter to summer level. Cacao shell is the only important by-product of the cocoa and chocolate industry. A few years ago the cacao bean was found to be unique among vegetable products in that it contained one unit of vitamin D The dry, crisp, slightly brown husk, however, was later found to possess an astonishing potency of vitamin D, equal to about one quarter of that of codliver oil. It also contains a valuable ■stimulant in theobromine. Winter milk and butter are notably deficient in vitamin D, and early tests were made by the National Institute for Research in Dairying at Reading to ascertain what difference the feeding of cows with cacao shell would make. It was ascertained that 21b of the shell given to each animal per day increased the vitamin D content of butter and milk from the winter to the summer level. A definite rise in the weight and percentage of fat in the mi;lk was observed. Experiment*; have clearly established that cacao shell can be used safely as an accessory fodder for cattle in "suitable quantities with the most beneficial results.