Rumen Fermentation and Performance of Sheep Fed Different Level of Cassava Leaf Silage

Abstract

This experiment aimed to investigate the effects of cassava leaves silage (CLS) addition in substituting concentrate on rumen fermentation characteristics and performance of Javanesse thin tail sheep. Sixteen male sheep of nine months old with average body weight of 15.36 ± 2.59 kg were allocated intorandomized block design consisted of four treatments and four replicates. They were placed in individual cage and had free access to drinking water. They were fed experimental diets twice a day, in equal portion in the morning and afternoon, at level of 3.5% body weight on dry matter basis. The treatments were T0 (100% of napier grass), T1 (60% napier grass + 40% concentrate), T2 (60% napier grass + 20% concentrate + 20% CLS), and T3 (60% napier grass + 40% CLS). The results showed that addition of cassava leaf silage had no effect on dry matter intake. Addition of cassava leaves silage decreased (P<0.05) dry matter digestibility of feed, but increased (P<0.05) VFA and N-NH3 productions. Animal in T2 group (CLS addition at level of 20%) had average daily gain and feed utilization efficiency (FUE) similar to those of T1 group. Animal in T3 group (CLS addition at level of 40%) had daily gain and FUE significantly lower (P<0.05) than those of T1 and T2 groups. Animal in T0 (control group) were inferior in all parameters to those of other groups. It is concluded that CLS can be given at level of 20% of total ration which is equal to half part of concentrate diet with resulting in good performance.