THE EFFECT OF DELAYING TIME OF Gliricidia sepium OFFERED TO THE ANIMAS FED GRASS BASAL DIET ON RUMEN ECOSYSTEM AND DRY MATTER DIGESTIBILITY

Abstract

Supplemenattion of Gliricidia sepium (Gliricidia) leaves had been quite successful in improving the quality of grass diets fed to ruminant animals. There was a difference in the rate of degradation, in the rumen, between grass and Gliricidia leaves thus resulting in different on the rate of VFA produced from the grass and N-ammonia produced from Gliricidia. Synchronous production, in the rumen, of VFA and N- ammonia would be required for achievement of optimum rumen microbial activity in feeds digestibility. Thus the delaying time of Gliricidia offered to the animals fed grass basal diet was assumed would be had similar rate of VFA produced from the grass and N-ammonia produced from the Glricidia thus influences rumen microbial activity. The study was used I8 local Indonesian sheep (8 months old), which were divided into three groups of treatment, namely, Control group (Group I) fed by grass only; Group II fed by grass supplemented by Gliricidia, which was offered in the same time, and Group III fed by grass supplemented by Gliricidia, which was offered at three hours after the grass. The measurements were undertaken on rumen VFA and N-ammonia concentration, total rumen bacteria population and dry matter digestibility. The results of the study showed that there were differences in the N-ammonia and VFA concentration among the three Groups. Group II had the highest N-ammonia concentration (122.4 mg/L) then followed by Group III (93.8 mg/L) and Group I (77.5 mg/L). Group III had the highest VFA concentration (79.5 mmol) then followed by group II (75.8 mmol) and Group I (75.1 mmol). Group III had the highest rumen bacteria population (5.68 x 109 cell/ml) then followed by Group II (1.44 x 109 cell/ml) and Group I (1.23 x 109 cell/ml). Group II and Group III have similar dry matter digestibility (63 % and 64 %) but higher than that in Group I (53 %) (P<0.0l). It can be concluded that delaying time of Gliricidia offered to the animals fed grass basal diet had no significant effect on dry matter digestibility although it influence the VFA and N-ammonia concentration and the total bacteria population in the rumen.