The Potential of Oil Palm Plantation Byproducts as Feed for Beef Cattle

Abstract

Oil palm is one of the plantation commodities that Indonesia relies on to generate foreign exchange annually. The oil palm industry generates both solid and liquid waste. Oil palm waste is a byproduct of the oil palm industry that is not reused; however, with technological advancements, this waste can be utilized as supplementary feed, especially for ruminants. The waste obtained from oil palm plantations and oil palm mills includes oil palm fruit bunches, oil palm fibers, oil palm shells, oil palm kernel meal, oil palm leaves, and oil palm sludge. Mucuna barcteata can also be used as a protein source for animal feed. Research was conducted in the Sei Mangkei plantation, and feed trials were carried out in the Bangun PTPN III Plantation (Simalungun). The methods employed included surveys and laboratory research. Proximate analysis of the suspected feed sources was conducted by PT Saraswanti Indo Genetech Bogor, which encompassed total energy, moisture and ash content, total fat, protein, carbohydrates, crude fiber, calcium, and phosphorus. The weight gain of cattle after being fed the experimental diet was observed over a three-month period. The research results indicate that oil palm byproducts can support a population of 12,365 head of beef cattle per year. Mucuna bracteata, oil palm kernel meal, oil palm fronds, and solid decanter can be used as animal feed. A feed mixture containing 30% Mucuna resulted in the highest weight gain in cattle compared to the other three treatments, with an average daily gain of 0.97.