Effect of Red Seaweed Flour (Gracilaria sp) Supplementation on Dry Matter and Organic Matter Digestibility of Sheep feed by In Vitro

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Abstract

Background. The aims of this research were to determine the best level of Gracilaria sp. Seaweed meal based on its effect on dry matter digestibility and organic matter digestibility of sheep feed on in vitro. Materials and methods. The materials used were rumen fluid from 3 sheeps that were kept in Greenhouse of Faculty of Animal Science Jenderal Soedirman University had been adapted with the feed to be tested. The treatments were supplementation of Gracilaria sp. seaweed meal at the level of 0% as control feed, P0 + 2% (P1), P0 + 4% (P2), P0 + 6% (P3), dan P0 + 8% (P4) of dry matter feed on a ration composed of 40% concentrate and 60% Cynodon dactylon forage. The method used was the experiment method using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD).The each treatment was repeated 4 times, so there were 20 experimental units. The variables measured were dry matter digestibility and organic matter digestibility. Results. The results of dry matter digestibility were 65.8 ± 1.83% (P0); 63.42 ± 0.92% (P1), 66.29 ± 1.37% (P2), 69.35 ± 1.4% (P3) and 71.04 ± 2.44% (P4). The results of organic material digestibility were 63.96 ± 2.22% (P0); 60.17 ± 1.69% (P1), 65.69 ± 3.29% (P2), 68.33 ± 1.61% (P3) and 69.72 ± 2.77% (P4). The results showed that the treatment had highly significant effect (P <0.01) on the digestibility of dry matter and organic matter. The results showed that higher supplementation of seaweed meal (Gracilaria sp.) could increased digestibility (dry and organic matter). Conclusion. Based on these results it can be concluded that, supplementation of Gracilaria sp. seaweed meal at the level of 8% gives a significant effect on the dry matter digestibility and organic matter digestibility.