Search Filter

Keywords:

 

Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) - Call for papers!

Increasing the post weaning growth of Bali calves with basic feed from natural pastures and supplemented with local feed ingredients Corypha elata Robx and Leucaena leaf in Bobonaro Municipality, Timor-Leste

(Timor-Leste), Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Science (Gadjah Mada University)

Dissertation Abstract:

The research aimed to study the production system and productivity of Bali cattle in Timor-Leste, forage production, forage digestibility, and the growth of the post-weaning Bali calves fed with basal forage from the natural pasture land (NPL) supplemented with putak (Corypha elata Robx) and dau lamtoro (DL)/Leucaena leaves (LL). This research was conducted in February 2017 in Posto Administrativo Atabae and Balibo. The researcher applied the purposive sampling method to determine the location of the research based on the distribution of the cattle population and NPL area, involving 150 respondents. Focus group discussion (FGD), interview and measurement of the productivity of Bali cattle were conducted for data collection. The Data were analyzed by using variance analysis (ANOVA) with a completely randomized design (CRD) 3x3 factorial design. Any difference occurred would be analyzed with the Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The forage production and quality in Timor-Leste NP are low with average forage production per year 11,672 ton/year/ha. The quality of NP forage nutrition is relatively low as it has a low carrying capacity of 1,50 UT/ha/year and stocking rate including category over grazing. The statistical analysis result showed that the supplementation of CeR and LL affected (P<0,05) the digestibility of DM and OM, while the level of supplementation showed no significant effect. The duration of supplementation between 4 and 6 hours showed no significant effect. The best digestibility of DM and OM occurred when 10% of CeR was supplemented, given at 4 hours-time addition. The supplementation of LL and CeR could improve the digestibility of DM, OM, CP, CF, and the products of rumen fermentation (VFA, NH3, and microbial protein) of Bali bull in vitro. The cattle productivity was birth weight 13,82±0,80 kg, weaning weight 54,16±2,78 kg, and birth interval of 1.5 year. The production performance gained was:1 year weight 76,28±7,27 kg and adult weight 208,44±48,81 kg. The botanical composition was characterized as 85,05% grasses,

10,50% legume, and the rest 4,44% unidentified forages, with forage production of 2.090,53 kg DM/ha. Supplementation of CeR and LL showed a significant effect (P<0,01) to the digestibility and consumption of DM, OM, CP, CF, and TDN. However, both supplementation did not show the effect on the ADG and feed conversion. The combination of CeR and LL supplementation in Timor-Leste significantly increase the digestibility of DM, OM, CP, CF, and TDN. Supplementation of CeR increased the consumption of BBM, DM, OM, CP, CF, and TDN (P<0,05). Supplementation of both CeR and LL had not increased the growth of the cattle linear size such as body weight, chest size, body length, and the crest height, and also ADG and feed conversion. The conclusion of the research presented the overall extensive cattle production system and relatively low productivity. The NP forage production was not optimal as most of the land is dominated by grasses. Supplementation with CeR an energy source and LL as a protein source increased the in vitro digestibility, which gave the best result with 10% CeR supplementation, given at 4 hours-time addition. Supplementation of CeR and LL did not increase the ADG. The best feed conversion occurred to those of cattle group given only grasses.