EVALUATION OF AVAILABILITY AND QUALITY OF FORAGES AT LIMAU MANIS CAMPUS OF ANDALAS UNIVERSITY,PADANG, WEST SUMATRA

Khalil, Khalil (2013) EVALUATION OF AVAILABILITY AND QUALITY OF FORAGES AT LIMAU MANIS CAMPUS OF ANDALAS UNIVERSITY,PADANG, WEST SUMATRA. In: 3rd International Seminar and 9th Biennial Meeting of AINI, 24-25 September 2013, Padang.

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Abstract

Ruminant livestock raised at teaching farm unit of Andalas University, West Sumatra is almost entirely dependent on forage feeds. Forages are often of poor quality, usually high in fiber and deficient on protein and minerals. The present research on assessment of availability and quality of forage sources was aimed to define appropriate stocking rate of beef cattle raised at teaching farm of the Andalas University of West Sumatra. Three areas of forage sources located at campus were selected as research sites, i.e.: teaching farm pasture, palm oil and teak wood plantations. Samples of forages in fresh form were collected in 5 different sampling points of each site by using quadrant of 0.5x0.5 m in size. The fresh samples were weighed and then sorted by plant species for identification of botanical composition. The samples were then remixed, dried and ground for chemical analysis. Parameter measured included forage mass yield, botanical composition, carrying capacity, DM and nutrient content of CP, CF, crude ash and macro minerals of Ca, P, Mg, K, Na and S. Results shown that production of forages mass both in fresh and dry form harvested from teaching farm pasture differed not significantly (P>0.05) with those from palm oil and teak wood plantations. The production of forages mass in DM form from the pasture of teaching farm, palm oil and teak wood plantation areas were found of about 24.1, 18,9 and 27.8 t/ha/year with carrying capacities of about 4.5, 3.5 and 5.1 animal unit/ha, respectively. The quality of forages from the pasture in term of CP content (11% DM) was equal to those of from teak wood plantation (11.5%), but significantly lower (P<0.05) than those of from palm oil plantation (18.2%). Ca content ranged between 7.0 to 7.7 g/kg. The highest mineral content was Na of about 11-14 g/kg, followed by Mg (8.7-9.5 g/kg), K (8.3-8.9 g/kg DM), while S content ranged between 3.8 to 4.5 g/kg DM. Mineral P was found the lowest, varied from 0.5 to 1.3 g/kg DM. Forages harvested at teak wood plantation showed the lowest P content of about 0.5 g/kg (P<0.05). Based on total wide of each sites, forages mass from pasture, palm oil and teak wood plantation could support feed for about 13.4, 69.9 and 20.6 AU, respectively, so that the stocking rate of beef cattle raised at the faculty teaching farm could be increased by about 7-8 times, if the potency of the forages available was optimally exploited. Key words:forage mass production, forages quality, carrying capacity.

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