The Effect Supplementation with High Protein from Different Supplement and Similar Energy Source on Intake, Digestibility and Liveweight Gain of Bali Bulls Fed Elephant Grass

Abstract

In fattening of Bali cattle (Bos sondaicus) in Central Sulawesi, farmers generally fed the animal with native grass or agro-industrial by products as single feed. Under this condition, cattle liveweight gain are low. This study aimed to compare the effect of supplementing Bali bulls with different protein supplements with similar energy source and basal diet on feed intake, digestibility, growth performance and income over feed costs. Twenty-four Bali bulls ranging in age from 8 to 12 months, averaging 154.29±6.40 kg (mean ± SEM) of live weight (W) were used. This experiment employed a randomized block design with four dietary treatments and six replications (6 Bali bulls per treatment). The dietary treatment employed in this experiment were (a) elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) ad libitum (EG) (b) EG + supplement (rice bran (RB) 1.25% liveweight (W) dry matter (DM)/day) and gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium) leaves 1.25% W DM/day (EGRBG), (c) EG, + supplement (RB 1.25% W DM/day + palm kernel meal (PKM) 1,25% W DM/day (EGRBPKM) (d) EG + supplement (RB 1.25% W DM/day and copra meal (CM) 1.25% W DM/day (EGRBCM). The duration of the experiment was 10 weeks, comprised of a two-week adaptation period and an eight-week measurement period. The observed variables were the total DM intake (DMI), the DM digestibility (DMD) of feed, average daily gain (ADG), and income over feed cost (IOFC). Bali bulls treated with EG and EGRBCM had the lowest and highest total DM intake, DMD, ADG, and IOFC, respectively. It was concluded that high protein and energy supplementation raised ADG and IOFC. Protein sources from CM increased ADG more than from G and PKM. Glicidia supplementation increased IOFC more than PKM and CM.