This research aimed to determine the effect of the level of zeolites as slow release nitrogen in pure glucose on microbial protein synthesis and cellulolytic activity. The material used were zeolite of clinoptilolite type with size 40-60 mesh, urea, pure glucose, cow's rumen fluid from RPH Ungaran. The research used completely randomized design (CRD) with 5 treatments and 4 replications. The treatments were T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 = pure glucose + additional level 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10% of zeolite slow release respectively. Variables observed were microbial protein synthesis and cellulolytic activity. The results showed that the treatment significantly (P<0.05) increased microbial protein synthesis and cellulolytic activity. Results of protein synthesis from higher to lower number were T2 (59.50 mg/ml), T3 (55.58 mg/ml), T4 (47.55 mg/ml), T5 (42.82 mg/ml) and T1 (31.68 mg/ml) respectively. Results of cellulolytic activity from higher to lower number were T5 (3.55 mol ml -1 min -1 ), T4 (2.36 mol ml -1 min -1 ), T2 (2.23 mol ml -1 min -1 ), T3 (2.16 mol ml -1 min -1 ) and T1 (2.09 mol ml -1 min -1 ) respectively. The results of microbial protein synthesis and cellulolytic activity at each treatment were in normal level. The addition of the zeolite level as slow release nitrogen source up to 4% increase microbial protein synthesis.
Keywords : Zeolites, microbial protein synthesis and activity of cellulolytic
PENDAHULUANSumbangan sumber protein terbesar untuk kebutuhan ternak ruminansia berasal dari protein mikroba yaitu ± 60-80% selain juga bersumber dari pakan dan protein enzim. Ketersediaan amonia dalam rumen sangat mempengaruhi populasi mikroba rumen sehingga berpengaruh pula pada sintesis protein mikroba. Salah satu sumber amonia yaitu hasil hidrolisis urea yang dibutuhkan ternak ruminansia sebagai sumber non protein nitrogen (NPN). Kelemahan dari urea yaitu mempunyai sifat higroskopis atau cepat terhidrolisis menjadi amonia didalam rumen, sehingga sebagian besar amonia akan mudah diserap dan masuk dalam sistem peredaran darah. Hal tersebut bisa menyebabkan keracunan pada ternak sehingga terjadi penurunan konsumsi pakan, bahkan menyebabkan kematian (Kardaya dkk, 2009). Perlu adanya modifikasi untuk mengikat amonia dan kemudian dilepaskan kembali secara perlahan.Pemberian urea harus diimbangi dengan sumber karbohidrat yang fer-