Nutrient Digestibility of Male Local Sheep fed Corn Cob and Combinations of Different Protein Sources

Abstract

This study was aimed to evaluate nutrient digestibility of different combination protein sources (coconut meal, fish meal and soybean meal) in concentrate of local male sheep fed corn cob. Twelve local male sheep (26.6±1.5 kg BW) were subjected to 4 treatments. The sheep were offered diet consisting of 70% concentrate and 30% corn cob. Four treatments in a block design were R1 = the combination of coconut meal and urea, R2 = the combination of coconut meal and soybean meal, R3 = the combination of coconut meal and fish meal, and R4 = the combination of coconut, soybean, and fish meal. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance and significant differences among treatments were tested by Duncan Test. The results showed that combination sources of protein with coconut meal and fish meal (R3) or combination sources of protein with coconut meal and soybean meal (R2) increased nutrient digestibility, because fish meal rations maybe stimulated the growth of rumen bacterial population compared to without additional fish meal, while the soybean meal include low by-pass protein which increased protein degradation is thought to improve the rumen microbes. The increasing of rumen bacterial population in the treatment of fish meal fed corncob fiber allowed increasing fiber digestibility. Combination of coconut meal and fish meal (R3) increased digestibility of dry matter (67.14%), organic matter (69.54%), crude fiber (58.71%), crude fat (95.01%), BETN (69.83%) and value TDN (70.68%).

Usaha peningkatan produksi ternak harus diikuti oleh penyediaan hijauan pakan yang cukup baik dalam jumlah maupun kualitas. Terbatasnya kesediaan pakan dapat mempengaruhi produktivitas ternak, sehingga perlu suatu upaya untuk mengatasi kekurangan hijauan pakan ternak, yaitu pemanfaatan limbah pertanian sebagai pakan alternatif dan ekonomis,salah satunya adalah tongkol jagung. Tongkol jagung memiliki kandungan serat kasar yang tinggi, tetapi rendah kandungan protein. Pemanfaatannya perlu disuplementasi dengan bahan pakan sumber protein. Konsentrat dengan bahan pakan sumber protein seperti bungkil kedelai, bungkil kelapa dan tepung ikan diharapkan dapat menunjang kebutuhan protein serta meningkatkan kecernaan pada ternak domba.