Effect of feeding time on physiological response of Fries Holland heifer fed with three levels of TDN of concentrate containing coconut oil

Abstract

One of the greatest challenges to production facing dairy farmers in Indonesia is heat stress. Climatic conditions in Indonesia are such that the warm (or hot) is all year, there is intense solar radiant for an extended period of time, and there is generally the presence of high relative humidity. Thus heat stress is chronic in nature, there is often little relief from the heat during the evening hours, and intense bursts of combined high ambient temperature and humidity further depress performance. Some researchs have been done in Indonesia showed that physical modification of the environment (shading, cooling) and improved nutritional management practices are management strategies to minimize the effects of heat stress. However, the management strategies to minimizing of the heat stress have not been fully examined. The objective of the present study is to evaluate physiological responses of dairy heifer to feeding time when fed concentrate differences in TDN content. Six dairy heifers were randomly allocated to 1 of 6 treatments: two feeding times (5 am/6 pm or 8 am/4 pm) of concentrate with 70% or 75% of concentrate unsupplemented or supplemented with 3.5% coconut oil, in each of 6 periods of 14 d each in a 6 x6 Latin square design. The environmental conditions (air temperature, relative humidity, temperature humidity index, radiation, and wind velocity) and animals responses (heart rate, respiration rate, body temperature, rectal temperature, and skin temperature, feed consumption rate, chewing rate, and average daily gain) were then measured. The environmental condition were measured daily at 1 h intervals from 5 am to 8 pm. The animals responses were measured at the 4th, 8th, 12nd, 14th Keyword: physiological responses, coconut oil, feeding time, TDN day of each periode at 1 h intervals from 5 am to 8 pm. Tukey’s test, contras orthogonal analysis, and correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis among treatments. The results show that physiological responses were significantly lower on cattle which fed at 5 am & 6 pm than 8 am & 4 pm also for cattle which fed concentrates contained 3.5% coconut oil than not containing that with the same TDN (75%). Chewing velocity was higher on cattle fed concentrate containing 3.5% coconut oil than without coconut oil. Average daily gain were higher on cattle fed at 5 am & 6 pm than 8 am & 4 pm or fed with concentrate containing 3.5% coconut oil than without coconut oil. The conclusion is heat stress of dairy heifer could be reduced with managing feeding time and feeding with easily digestible nutrient.

Salah satu tantangan terbesar yang dihadapi oleh para peternak sapi perah di Indonesia adalah stres panas. Kondisi iklim di Indonesia bersifat panas sepanjang tahun yang disebabkan oleh radiasi sinar matahari dan kelembaban udara yang sangat intensif. Stres panas di alam bersifat kronis, cuaca panas hanya sedikit berkurang pada malam hari, dan terjadi peningkatan yang sangat besar akibat kombinasi suhu dan kelembaban udara yang dapat menurunkan performa produksi ternak. Beberapa penelitian telah dilakukan di Indonesia seperti modifikasi lingkungan fisik (naungan dan pendingin) dan peningkatan manajemen nutrisi untuk meminimalkan efek dari stress panas. Akan tetapi, strategi manajemen untuk meminimalkan stress panas belum dilakukan secara menyeluruh. Penelitian telah dilakukan di Laboratorium Lapang Bagian IPT Perah, Fapet, IPB pada bulan Maret hingga Juni 2011. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengevaluasi respon fisiologis sapi dara pada waktu pemberian pakan berbeda yang diberi konsentrat dengan kandungan TDN yang berbeda pula. Enam ekor ternak peranakan FH dara digunakan pada penelitian ini. Sebanyak enam perlakuan yang digunakan merupakan kombinasi dari waktu pemberian pakan (pukul 5.00 & 18.00 dan pukul 8.00 & 16.00) dan level TDN konsentrat (70%, 75%, 75% mengandung minyak kelapa 3.5%). Ternak diberi pakan dua kali sehari dengan rumput gajah dan konsentrat. Penelitian dilakukan selama enam periode dan setiap periode selama 14 hari. Pengambilan data dilakukan setiap jam pada hari ke 4, 8, 12, 14 dari pukul 05.00 hingga pukul 20.00. Parameter yang diukur meliputi parameter unsur cuaca (suhu udara, kelembaban udara, kecepatan angin, radiasi matahari), parameter respon fisiologis (denyut jantung, frekuensi respirasi, suhu rektal, suhu tubuh, suhu kulit), kecepatan konsumsi pakan, kecepatan mengunyah, dan pertambahan bobot badan. Rancangan yang digunakan adalah Rancangan Bujur Sangkar Latin 6 x 6. Analisis korelasi digunakan untuk mengetahui korelasi antara cuaca lingkungan dengan respon fisiologis. Analisis lanjut menggunakan Uji Tukey dan Analisis Kontras Orthogonal.