The purpose of this study was to to evaluate the influence of low gamma irradiation dose on growth performance, in vitro gas production and rumen fermentation product of sorghum hydroponic fodder (SHF) to utilize them in ruminant diets. Three polyethylene packages of Samurai 2 sorghum seeds were exposed at 25oC gamma irradiation in gamma cell (Co-60) at doses of 100, 200 and 300 Gy in the presence of air. Samples were then referigated (< 5oC) before planting. All seeds were planted in nutrient film technique hydroponic system. This study used Completely Randomized Design with four replications The observed parameters were total fresh yield, plant height and coversion ratio from seeds to SHF. In vitro gas test evaluation was done to compare all treatments with sorghum straw. The observed parameters were total gas production, kinetics gas, CH4 concentration, CO2 concentration and rumen fermentation products. Results showed that lower irradiation dose for seeds sterilization decreased plant height and total fresh yield on SHF production. In vitro total gas production of all SHF treatment was higher (p<0.05) than sorghum straw (control) at 2-48 h time of incubation. Gamma irradiation dose of 200 and 300 Gy on SHF seeds sterilization decreased (p<0.05) in vitro CH4 concentration for 19.51 and 15.43% respectively compared to SHF control (hypochlorite sterilization). In the same dose, seeds sterilization with gamma irradiation increased (p<0.05) CO2:CH4 ratio by 23.46 and 20.73% respectively compared to SHF control. The treatment of 100 Gy gamma irradiation for seed sterilization also increased (p<0.05) TVFA by 30.63% compared to sorghum straw. It was concluded that lower irradiation dose for seeds sterilization decreased growth performance of SHF. However, 100 Gy gamma irradiation increased in vitro total gas production.

Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk melakukan evaluasi nutrisi dan kecernaan in vitro pada sembilan spesies rumput lapangan tropis di Indonesia. Sampel rumput lapangan diperoleh dari kebun rumput Kawasan Nuklir Pasar Jumat, Jakarta Selatan dengan metode kuadrat. Peletakan plot dilakukan secara purposive sampling dengan jumlah 15 plot (ukuran 1 x 1 m). Sembilan spesies rumput lapangan yang dievaluasi termasuk dalam famili Poaceae dan Cyperaceae. Peubah yang diamati adalah kandungan nutrien, fraksi serat, estimasi kecernaan dan in vitro true digestibility (IVTD). Rancangan yang digunakan adalah Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) dengan empat pengulangan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Rumput Teki badot (Cyperus kyllinga) mengandung protein kasar (PK) tertinggi (7.60%). Rumput Teki badot juga mengandung kadar neutral detergent fiber (NDF) dan acid detergent fiber (ADF) terendah berturut-turut sebesar 66.10% dan 32.40% (P<0.05). Rumput Teki badot dan Rumput belulang (Eleusine indica) menghasilkan nilai relative feed value (RFV) tertinggi dan termasuk dalam kualitas hijauan "fair". Nilai IVTD tertinggi dihasilkan oleh Rumput Kusa-kusa (Echinochloa colonum) yaitu sebesar 66.62% (P<0.05). Rumput Kusa-kusa dan Rumput teki badot merupakan dua spesies rumput lapangan yang potensial dikembangkan secara genetik karena memiliki kandungan nutrien serta kecernaan in vitro yang lebih tinggi dibandingkan spesies rumput lapangan tropis lainnya.

This study investigated the effect of harvesting time on concentration and biological activity of tannin in Andrographis paniculata (A. paniculata) leaves and determined the in vitro rumen fermentation and digestibility of diet supplemented with A. paniculata leaves to evaluate its role as herbal supplement in ruminant's feed. A. paniculata leaves were harvested at two time points i.e., before and after flowering phase and the samples were dried to analyze concentration and biological activity of tannin. Rice straw was used as basal diet to carry out in vitro digestibility trial. Four treatments were used including B consisting basal diet only, BBF and BAF each consisting basal diet supplemented with 1% A. paniculata leaves before and after flowering phases, respectively, and BBAF supplemented with 0.5% A. paniculata leaves before and 0.5% after flowering phase. Each treatment was carried out in five replications. Results revealed that contents (mg/g) for total tannin (20.40±1.06 vs 19.33±1.19; P<0.05) and condensed tannin (8.44±0.17 vs 5.47±0.30; P<0.01) were greater in leaves harvested after flowering compared with before flowering phase, however, no significant difference (P > 0.05) on biological activity of tannins was observed between the two flowering phases. The in vitro gas production was not influenced (P > 0.05) by the supplementation of A. paniculata leaves before and after flowering phase. A. paniculata supplementation also did not influence (P > 0.05) in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) and total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) values. It was concluded that the supplementation of A. paniculata leaves before and after flowering phase in the diet does not affect the digestibility.

No abstract

Ionizing irradiation is an alternative treatment to reduce the cell wall constituents and improve the nutritional value of substrates. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the fiber content and relative feed value of rice straw after gamma irradiation treatment. Rice straw was obtained from Sidenuk rice variety. Two polyethylene packages of samples were irradiated in Iradiator Karet Alam (IRKA), Indonesia at doses of 5 and 10 kGy in the presence of air. Treatments includes untreated/unirradiated, 5 kGy and 10 kGy irradiated rice straw. The observed parameters were neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), dry matter digestibility (DMD), dry matter intake (DMI) and relative feed value (RFV) estimation. The change of fiber content was also qualitatively observed by Fourier Transform Mid-Infrared (FTIR). This research was arranged into a completely randomized block design with five replications. The results showed that there was no difference in NDF and ADF content between all treatments. There was also no difference in RFV due to the results of NDF and ADF measurements. Interestengly, there was a strong absorption with a wide and strong band centred at 3331 cm−1 (O-H stretch) only observed in the untreated sample. Meanwhile, a peak signal was observed at 1722 cm−1 only in 5 kGy and 10 kGy irradiated rice straw spectra. This could affect in the increased of hemicellulose compounds after irradiated treatments. It can be concluded that gamma irradiation treatment at doses of 5 and 10 kGy has not been able to influence the fiber content and relative feed value of rice straw. However, there was a tendency for hemicellulose compounds increasingly due to irradiation treatment.