In vitro Nutritional Evaluation of Dairy Goat's Feed Containing Indigofera zollingeriana

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study was aimed to produce a best complete ration formula-based Indigofera zollingeriana for dairy goats. This study used a completely randomized design, consisted of five rations containing different levels of 1. zollingeriana, namely R1 = 80% 1. zollingeriana leaf meal + 0% soybean cake, R2 = 60% 1. zollingeriana leaf meal + 0% soybean cake, R3 = 40% 1. zollingeriana leaf meal + 0% soybean cake, R4 = 20% 1. zollingeriana leaf meal + 5% soybean meal and R5 = 0% 1. zollingeriana leaf meal + 28% soybean meal. Each treatment was repeated 3 times. The rations were subjected to in vitro incubation by using rumen simulation technique. Variables observed included nutrition, digestibility values, methane emissions, and rumen microbial populations. The results showed that crude protein contents in R1 and R5 were significantly higher than those in R2, R3 and R4 (P<0.05). Rations containing 40% to 80% of 1. zollingeriana had the same digestibility values with commercial ration containing 28% of soybean cake. The Rl, R2 and R4 showed the highest acetic and butyric acids. The lowest methane production was obtained in the rumen simulator given 80% 1. zollingeriana. There was a positive correlation between protozoa populations with methane production. The bacterial population on rations R2, R3 and R4 tended to be higher than the other rations and was inversely related to the population of protozoa. It can be concluded that the rations that met the quality and physiological need of dairy goat were R3 and R4 which contained 40% and 20% 1. zollingeriana, respectively.