Efek Perbedaan Teknik Pengeringan terhadap Kualitas, Fermentabilitas, dan Kecernaan Hay Daun Rami (Boehmeria nivea L Gaud)
Abstract
Ramie leaves as by product of ramie fiber plantation, have great potentials as animal feedstuff. However, their utilizations are limited due to their periodical availability. There is a need of ramie leaves preservation so that the leaves can be used in animal daily ration. Drying leaves under open sunlight is the cheapest preservation method. However, frequently rainfall interfered in tropical rainforest like Indonesia causes mold contamination on the material. Therefore, alternative drying techniques need to be studied. Ramie leaves from Koppontren Darussalam Garut were used to evaluate the effect of different drying techniques on dried ramie leave nutrition composition, fermentability and digestibility. The drying technique used are open sun drying at 7 (KM-7), 14 (KM-14) and 21 (KM-21) hours of light intensity, green house drying at 7 (RK-7), 14 (RK-14) and 21 (RK-21) hours of light intensity, and oven heat at 50o C (Ov-50), 60o C (Ov-60) and 70o C (Ov-70). The proximate composition had been determined according to AOAC (1999). NDF and ADF had been determined according to van Soest (1991). The concentration VFA and NH3 were measured according to General Laboratory Procedures (1966), while gas production were measured according to Menke et al (1979). Tilley and Terry (1963) method were used to determine dry matter and organic matter digestibility. Drying in green house at 14 h and open sun drying at 21 h sun light intensities reduced moisture content to storage safety level (DM>86%). Drying in oven in all temperature produced hay with moisture content <14% (DM>86%). Ov-50 resulted higher ramie leaves CP content than RK-14, RK-21, or KM-21. Organic matter digestibilities estimated from gas production of Ov’s techniques were lower than RK’ or KM’s. At least 14 hours of light intensities were needed to produce dried ramie leaves with moisture content less than 14% or DM > 86% on green house and 21 hours if oven sun drying technique will be applied. Drying ramie leaves at lower temperature (50o C) were sufficient.