Evaluasi Kecernaan Hay Hijauan Jagung Muda Umur 17 Hari sebagai Alternatif Sumber Hijauan untuk Pedet Hasil Penyapihan Dini

Abstract

Hay of young corn forage age 17 day (hjm17) has a great potential as forage because of its high nutrient content, smooth teksture, and high production. This experiment used 9 post-weaning male calves (4-5 months) which weaned early with body weight 97.2 ± 10.14 kg. This experiment used completely randomized design with 3 treatments and 3 replications. The treatments were P1 (calf starter + 100% elephant grass/control), P2 (calf starter + 50% hay hjm17 + 50% elephant grass), and P3 (calf starter + 100% hay hjm17). Variables observed were dry matter digestibility, organic digestibility, fiber digestibility, acid digestible fiber (ADF) and neutral digestible fiber (NDF digestibility). The data were analyzed by analysis of variance. The results of this experiment showed that hay hjm17 did not show any significance effect on dry matter digestibility, organic digestibility, fiber digestibility, and neutral digestible fiber (NDF), but it give significance effect on ADF digestibility (P<0,05). The result of this research showed that hay hjm17 can be used as forage for early weaned calves especially as elephant grass subtituted on dry season and area with hay hjm17 potential. Key words: digestibility, early weaned calves, hay hjm17.