In vitro Fermentability and Digestibility of Fibrous Feedstuff by Termite Bacterial Isolates

Abstract

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate inoculum level of termite bacteria upon the in vitro fermentability and digestibility of fibrous feedstuff. The experimental design was Factorial Randomized Block Design 2×3×3 with 3 replications. The first factor was the species of termite bacteria from Coptotermes curvignathus Holmgren (A (SB 53 5(3)1)) and Microtermes inspiratus Kemner (D (SC 51 5 (2)). The second factor was the inoculum level of termite bacteria (106 CFU/ml, 108 CFU/ml and 1010 CFU/ml). The third factor was the fibrous feedstuff (napier grass, rice straw and palm press fibre). The rumen liquid was used as replications. Data were analyzed by using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the difference between treatments were determined by contrast and polinomial orthogonals. The results showed that the fibrous feedstuff affected significantly (P<0.01) ammonia concentration, digestibilities of dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM), but did not affect VFA concentrations. Napier grass had higher (P<0.01) ammonia concentration and digestibilities of DM and OM than rice straw and palm press fibre. The interaction between inoculum level and fibrous feedstuff affected significantly (P<0.05) digestibility of OM. The interaction of three factors (the species of termite-inoculum level-fibrous feedstuff) produced significant (P<0.05) effect on digestibility of DM. The result of total bacterial populations showed that termite bacterial isolate D (SC 51 5 (2)) had higher population than the isolate A (SB 53 5(3)1). It can be concluded that termite bacterial isolate D (SC 51 5 (2)) has a better capability of surviving in rumen condition than the isolate A (SB 53 5(3)1). The optimum inoculum level of termite bacterial isolate A (SB 53 5(3)1) to degrade rice straw is 106 CFU/ml, and to degrade napier grass and palm press fibre is 1010 CFU/ml. Termite bacterial isolate D (SC 51 5 (2)) needs inoculum level 108 CFU/ml to degrade rice straw and palm press fibre, and 106 CFU/ml to degrade napier grass.

Pakan merupakan faktor yang dapat menjamin keberhasilan pemeliharaan ternak. Permasalahan yang umum terjadi adalah ketersediaan pakan yang tidak kontinyu, terutama pada musim kemarau. Salah satu upaya untuk mengatasi masalah tersebut adalah dengan memanfaatkan limbah pertanian dan perkebunan sebagai alternatif pakan sumber serat. Pemanfaatan limbah pertanian dan perkebunan ini sebagai pakan ternak masih terbatas, karena kandungan serat kasar yang tinggi. Oleh karena itu, perlu dilakukan suatu cara untuk meningkatkan kecernaan kedua bahan pakan tersebut, salah satunya adalah dengan cara biologis. Rayap merupakan serangga yang makanan utamanya adalah kayu, karena dalam saluran pencernaannya terdapat mikroorganisme pendegradasi serat kasar. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendapatkan taraf inokulum isolat bakteri rayap terbaik (A (SB 53 5(3) 1) dan D (SC 51 5 (2)) berdasarkan fermentabilitas dan kecernaan in vitro pakan sumber serat.