ABSTRACT
The study investigated the suitability of cocoa bean shell (CBS), a by-product from cocoa processing industry as alternative energy source for animal feeding when subjected to a two-stage solid state fermentation with Pleurotus ostreatus and Aspergillus niger. It involved the optimization of the fermentation period by the afore-mentioned fungi. The already dried shells were milled into 2 mm particle size, composted and pasteurized. The pasteurized substrate was fermented with the spawn of P. ostreatus (oyster mushroom) for six weeks followed by A. niger fermentation for seven days. The fermentation of the shells with P. ostreatus significantly increased (p