The Evaluation of Rumen Metabolism of Fries Holstein (Fh) Calves Fed Biofermented Cocoa Pods Using Phanerochaete Chrysosporium

Abstract

An in vivo experiment was conducted to evaluate cocoa pods to substitute forages for ruminant. The experiment was carried out using latin square design on 5 head of FH calves with 5 treatments and 5 replications. Ration was designed iso-protein (17%) and iso-TDN (65%) used cocoa pod as forages (35%) and other cocoa by-product were used as concentrate (65%). The treatment consisted of concentrate plus untreated cocoa pods (R1); urea ammonia treated of cocoa pods (R2); silage of cocoa pods (R3); bio fermented of cocoa pods using rumen content (R4) ; and bio fermented of cocoa pods using P chrysosporium (R5). Variables measured were pH, N-NH3, VFA, Microbial Protein, Alantoin, Non Glucogenic Ratio (NGR), Ration Utilization Efficiency (EPR) , Net Protein Utilizatin (NPU) . Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and Duncan multiple range test was further used to test the significant differences. Results showed that rumen metabolism variables such as pH, N-NH3, VFA, Microbial Protein on ration consisted of cocoa pods bio fermented by P. Chrysosporium were increased (P<0,01) compared to the others. There was positive correlation between microbial protein and alantoin. Microbial protein and alantoin excreted to urine indicated that there was an increase of rumen microbe population, while NGR value had positive correlation with methane production (CH4). Ration containing cocoa pods bio fermented by P. Chrysosporium showed the lowest NGR as indicator for optimum ration utilization efficiency for animal growth. It was concluded that cocoa pods bio fermented by Phanerochaete chrysosporium Burdsall ATCC 34541 is potential to be used as forages replacing elephant grass.