Abstract
<p class="abstrak2">Sweet potato plant is produced in Indonesia in large quantities. Sweet potato leaves and stems can be used as a source of protein and the tuber can be used as an energy source. This study was aimed to analyze the effect of feeding of sweet potato biomass on the rumen fermentation characteristics, digestibility of dry matter and organic matter as well as rumen microbial population of thin tail sheep. This study used a randomized block design by applying four feed treatments, i.e., T0 (100% Napier grass), T1 (70% of Napier grass + 30% concentrate), T2 (50% of Napier grass + 50% sweet potato leaves), and T3 (70% sweet potato leaves + 30% sweet potato tuber) with three replicates. Rumen fluid samples were taken with stomach tube method using a vacuum pump. Results showed that the T3 diet has higher (P&lt;0.05) digestibility of dry matter and organic matter, concentration of NH<sub>3</sub> and VFA, and rumen bacterial population than those of T0 and T1diets but similar to that of T2 diet. Rumen pH and protozoa population was not different among the treatments. It can be concluded that the use of sweet potato biomass can improve the quality of rumen fermentation of sheep.</p>
Highlights
Low quality and fluctuated availability of feed may lead to low productivity of sheep
This study was aimed to analyze the effect of feeding of sweet potato biomass on the rumen fermentation characteristics, digestibility of dry matter and organic matter as well as rumen microbial population of thin tail sheep
In 2014, production of sweet potato in Indonesia amounted to 2,382,025 tonnes, while in West Java amounted to 471,737 tonnes and in Bogor amounted to 82,935 tonnes (CSA 2015)
Summary
Low quality and fluctuated availability of feed may lead to low productivity of sheep. Most small holder farmers feed their sheep only by field grass regardless adequacy of the nutrients and nutrition required by sheep. By-product of agriculture or plantations overflowing around the sheep farms may be used as an alternative good quality and cheap price feed. In Bogor, for example, are widely grown sweet potatoes producing waste that can be utilized by small holder farmers to feed their sheep. Sweet potato is widely grown by farmers because its relatively easy processing, have relatively short harvest period and resistant to drought. Sweet potato vines may be used as protein feed source containing 19.38% crude protein and 3720 Kcal/kg energy (Kebede et al 2008), whereas the tubers can be used as an energy source with
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