Optimizing the Production of Beef Cattle Utilizing Palm Oil Leaf Sheet Ammoniation Supplemented by Sulfur Minerals, Phosphorus and Cassava Leaf Flour

Abstract

Objective: This study was designed to explore the effects of supplementing processed leaf-based palm leaf rations with minerals [sulfur (S) and phosphorus (P)] and cassava flour on the optimization of bioprocess in the rumen and beef cattle growth performance. Materials and Methods: Simmental beef cattle were divided into 5 treatments and 4 replicates. The treatments consisted of A = Field grass+concentrate (60%: 40%, used as the control), B = Palm frond ammoniation + concentrate (60%: 40%), C = B + mineral supplementation S (0.4%) and P (0.27%), D = B + cassava flour (5%) and E = C + cassava flour (5%). The consumption of dry matter rations, dry matter digestibility, weight gain and feed efficiency was evaluated. Results: it is observed that the treatments had significantly different effects on Simmental cattle growth performance (p<0.05). The average dry matter ration consumption ranged from 11.25-11.76 kg/head/day, average dry matter digestibility ranged from 52.28-62.01%, average weight gain ranged from 0.84-1.01 kg/head/day and average feed efficiency ranged from 7.39-8.59%. Conclusion: Ammoniated palm oil leaves supplemented with the minerals [S (0.4%) and P (0.27%)] and cassava starch flour (5%) can replace 100% of the grass in beef cattle rations and resulted in better growth performance than was observed for control rations (grass feed) in terms of weight gain.