ABSTRAK

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui fermentabilitas rumen Supan-Supan Laki (Neptunia oleraceae) dari kadar amonia (NH₃) dan kadar total Volatile Fatty Acid (VFA) secara in vitro. Sampling dilakukan untuk memperoleh bagian tumbuhan meliputi bagian pucuk, daun tua, dan seluruh tanaman. Sampel selanjutnya dianalisis fermentabilitasnya secara in vitro menggunakan metode Tilley and Terry. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan kadar VFA total tumbuhan Supan-Supan Laki dari penelitian ini berkisar antara 197,5 mM - 225,8 mM yang di atas konsentrasi normal VFA yang dibutuhkan ternak untuk pertumbuhannya. Kadar amonia dari fermentasi Supan-Supan Laki pada penelitian ini berkisar antara 5,92 – 8,08 mM yang masih dalam kisaran normal ammonia untuk perkembangan mikroba rumen. Berdasarkan penelitian ini, fermentabilitas tumbuhan Supan-Supan Laki tergolong baik sehingga berpotensi dijadikan sebagai bahan pakan ternak ruminansia, khususnya kerbau.

Kata kunci :  kadar amonia (NH₃), kadar total Volatile Fatty Acid (VFA), Kerbau Rawa, Supan-Supan Laki, Fermentabilitas In Vitro.

ABSTRACT

This study was aimed to determine the rumen fermentability of Supan-Supan Laki (Neptunia oleraceae) based on ammonia (NH₃) levels and total Volatile Fatty Acid (VFA) levels in vitro. Sampling was carried out to obtain plant parts including shoots, old leaves, and the whole plant. The samples were then analyzed for the iv vitro fermentability using the Tilley and Terry method. The results showed that the total VFA levels of Supan-Supan Laki plants from this study ranged from 197.5 mM - 225.8 mM which is exceed the concentration of VFA needed by livestock for growth. Ammonia levels from Supan-Supan Laki fermentation in this study ranged from 5.92 - 8.08 mM which is still within the normal range of ammonia for rumen microbial development. Based on this study, Supan-Supan Laki plant has normal rumen fermentability so it has the potential to be used as a feed ingredient for ruminants, especially buffalo.

Keywords: amonia (NH₃) content, total Volatile Fatty Acid (VFA) content, Swamp Buffalo, Neptunia oleraceae, In Vitro fermentability.