Incremental Level Of Chromolaena odorata In Complete Diet For a Cows Fattening

Abstract

This research was aimed to use of Chromolaena odorata as an alternative protein source for livestock is the presence of various anti-nutrient compounds in the plant’s tissues. However, recent studies have revealed that physical treatments can effectively eliminate the anti-nutrition associated effects. This experiment aimed at quntifying effects of different levels of Chromolaena odorata in a complete diet (given in the form of pellet) on nutrient intake, digestibility, concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA), and efficiency of rumen microbial crude protein synthesis (EMPs). Four young male Bali cattle(aged ± 2 years old and initial liveweight of 152 kg) were allotted into four dietary treatments were a complete diet containing 10% (COP10) or 20% (COP20) or 30% (COP30) or 40% (COP40) of Chromolaena odorata meal given at 2% liveweight. The basal diet (sorghum plumosum hay) and drinking water were given ad libitum. The tested diets were design to be iso-protein (18%) and metabolisable energy (12 MJ) to support a minimum liveweight of 0.8 kg/head/day. Result indicated that increasing level Chromolaena odoratafrom 10% to 40% in the complete diet did not significantly impair all variable measured, though at the higest level (40%) ofinclusion, all variable have shown a diminishing trend. It can be concluded that Chromolaenaodorata can potentially be utilized as a cheap protein source for fattened cattle when provided up to 40% in the total diet, but might have a negative effect when the levels raised above the current level since it shows a diminishing trend in important variables such as intake, digestibility and rumen function.