Uji kualitas silase singkong utuh (Manihot esculenta) dengan beda umur panen secara in vitro sebagai upaya peningkatan pemanfaatan pakan lokal

Abstract

A study to evaluate whole cassava crop silage quality at several age of harvesting compared to total mixed ration have been done. Two kg of well mixed sample of whole crop cassava at 7 month (SSU7), 8 month (SSU8), 9 month (SSU9) of harvesting and sample of total mixed ration (SRK) were ensiled for 5 weeks anaerobically in 35 cm x 50 cm polyvinyl bags silo. Comparison of the silages qualities were based on physical (color, smell, humidity, texture and presence of moulds), fermentative (pH, DM, VFA, DM losses, CP, N-NH3, degradation of CP, WSC, HCN, and fleigh number) and utilities (in vitro rumen fermentability and digestibilities) characteristics. The treatments were completely randomized and each treatment was repeated thrice. Physical, fermentative and utilities characteristics of whole cassava crop silage made from cassava crops harvested at 7, 8, and 9 months of age were comparable to the total mixed ration silage or even better. The best whole crop cassava silage quality was produced from SSU8 (better physical characteristics, higher fleigh number, and digestibilities). However, because of nutritional contents of whole cassava crop were changed with age, therefore the silage utilization should consider animal requirement and its level of inclusion.