The Effect of Giving Fermented Corn Straw and Elephant Grass Silage on the Performance Improvement of Bali Cows

Abstract

The research objective was to determine the effect of fermented corn straw and elephant grass silage on improving the performance of Bali cows. The research has been carried out at the Gowa Experimental Garden, South Sulawesi Agricultural Technology Research Institute in Bajeng District, Gowa Regency. Using 20 Bali cows divided into 4 feed treatments with 5 repetitions each, namely: P1 = 50% fermented corn stalks + 50% fresh elephant grass + 2 kg/head/day concentrate, P2 = 50% fermented corn stalks + 50% silage of elephant grass + 2 kg/head/day concentrate, P3 = 50% fermented corn stalks + 50% combined silage (elephant grass + Indigofera legume) + 2 kg/head concentrate, P4 = Control (grass and corn straw without fermentation). Parameters measured were nutritional content of feed, performance of beef cattle, consumption and conversion of feed, and farm analysis. The study was conducted for four months. Data were analyzed using a completely randomized design, further testing with the Duncan method. The results showed that the P3 feed contained crude protein, which was higher than other treatments by 11.98% and crude fiber the lowest was 22.51%. Bali cows' average daily body weight gain at P3 was the highest compared to other treatments at 0.39 kg/head/day. The consumption of dry matter and organic matter in P2 treatment was the highest compared to other treatments, namely 5282.9 g/head/day and 4046.9 g/head/day. The lowest conversion in the P3 treatment was 13.42. The conclusion provision of fermented maize stalks, combined silage of grass and Indigofera and concentrate gives Bali cows better performance than other treatments.