Evaluation on digestible organic matter and metabolisable energy of total mixed ration (TMR) containing oil palm frond silage as a source of roughage using in vitro gas production technique

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate digestible organic matter and metabolisable energy of the total mixed ration (TMR) containing oil palm frond silage (OPFS) as a source of roughage using in vitro gas production technique. The TMR was formulated according to the ratio between OPFS (roughage) and concentrate as follows: T1 (80:20), T2 (70:30), T3 (60:40) and T4 (50:50). This study was arranged according to a completely randomized design. The rumen mixed microbes inoculums were taken from six Anglo-Nubian 50% crossbred male goats, 4-5 years old with average body weight of 43.07±3.09 kg. As the results, T3 and T4 were significantly higher in soluble gas fraction (a), fermentation of insoluble fraction (b) and potential of extent of gas production (d) values (-7.67, -7.44; 104.46, 106.31 and 112.13, 113.74 ml, respectively) than T1 and T2 (-2.34, -2.98; 73.29, 80.42 and 75.88, 83.40 ml, respectively) (P<0.01). It was indicated that T3 had the highest gas production rate (c) (0.07 %/h) when compared with T1, T2 and T4 (0.06, 0.06 and 0.06 %/h, respectively). Furthermore, The TMR showed not significant (P>0.05) digestible organic matter (36.28, 37.85, 37.02 and 37.38% respectively) and metabolisable energy (ME) (1.17, 1.23, 1.22 and 1.20 Mcal/kg DM, respectively)