Nutritional Improvement of Palm Oil Fronds for Ruminant Feedstuffs Using a Local Biotechnological Approach

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the nutrient contents of palm fronds fermented with microorganisms derived from the rumen contents, feces and urine of local cows. The study was conducted using a completely randomized, two factorial 2 x 3 design and three replications for each treatment. Factor A was the length of incubation (A1 = 7 days and A2 = 14 days) and factor B was the type of medium (B1 = rumen contents, B2 = cattle feces and B3 = cattle urine). The observed variables were the dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and crude fiber content and the digestibilities of the dry matter and organic matter in the fermented palm fronds. The experimental results revealed that fermentation reduced the dry matter, organic matter and crude fiber content (p<0.05). However, fermentation increased the crude protein content (<0.05). Neither the incubation length nor the microorganism source influence (p>0.05) the dry matter or organic matter digestibilities. There were interaction effects between the factors on the dry matter and organic matter digestibilities. In conclusion, palm oil fronds fermented with rumen contents for 7 days produced in the highest protein content. The greatest dry matter digestibility was observed in the palm oil fronds that were fermented with rumen contents and the greatest organic matter digestibility was observed in the palm oil fronds that were fermented with cattle urine for 7 days.