Study of Indonesian Ongole-crossbred cattle production and income over feed cost for supplements of agricultural waste product formulated in the urea palm sugar block

Umar Paputungan, Manopo J Hendrik, Agustinus Lomboan and Kartini Maaruf

Faculty of Animal Science, Sam Ratulangi University, Manado 95115, Indonesia
umarfapet@yahoo.com

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the utilization of agricultural waste product in the form of the urea palm sugar block (UPSB) supplement on the Indonesian Ongole-crossbred cattle production and income over feed cost of household farmers. Fresh King grass (Pennisetum purpureum) was fed ad libitum to cattle without UPSB supplement and served as control ( UPB₀), fresh King grass (Pennisetum purpureum) ad libitum with UPSB supplement level of 100 g per day ( UPB₁₀₀), fresh King grass (Pennisetum purpureum) ad libitum with UPSB supplement level of 200 g per day ( UPB₂₀₀), and fresh King grass (Pennisetum purpureum) ad libitum with UPSB supplement level of 300 g per day ( UPB₃₀₀). Treatments were applied using double Latin Square Design of 2(4x4) with the period of 10 days for preliminary period and 15 days for data collection.

 Results showed that treatments of  UPB₁₀₀,  UPB₂₀₀ and  UPB₃₀₀ significantly (P<0.05) increased production of the Indonesian Ongole-crossbred cattle as reflected linearly by higher average daily gain (590 g to 660 g) compared with control ration ( UPB₀) of 390 g to 420 g. There was a tendency (p<0.05) of average daily gain for steers to be greater than that of heifers (570 g and 540 g), respectively. In addition, the income over feed cost (IOFC) increased linearly to about 184 to 208 percent (steers) and about 191 to 219 percentr (heifers) compared with those fed control ration ( UPB₀). There was a significant tendency (p=0.03) of IOFC for steers (5,653 IDR/head/day) to be greater than that of heifers (5,384 IDR/head/day).

Keywords: agricultural waste, Bos javanicus, supplement

Introduction

Most of the Ongole-crossbred cattle in rural areas of Indonesia were owned by rural households farmers. The Indonesian local cattle breeds are supposed to be of unknown compositions of mixed species origin. The Ongole crossbred cattle (OCC) are composed of crossing among zebu (Bos indicus), banteng (Bos javanicus), and other Indonesian local indigenous breed, which have not been documented (Mohamad et al 2009). They have adapted to harsh environment under hot and humid climate as well as low-quality feed to produce meat and power to plough a farm land prior to planting. The OCC animals play a role for increasing income of smallholder animal agriculture in North Sulawesi province of Indonesia. However, they are not intensively managed by adding feed supplement using local feed ingredients.Animal growth in developed farm system was generally measured by average daily gain; in addition, body size was generally detected by increase of chest girth and body length (Willeke and Dursch 2002; Bozkurt 2006; Ozkaya and Bozkurt 2008).

In the dry season, natural pasture decreases in nutritive value and improved grasses cannot grow. Therefore, it is important to find an alternative feeding system because purchased supplements are too expensive for poor farmers (Silivong and Preston 2015). Cattle and buffaloes are important on smallholder farms in most developing countries to provide meat, milk, traction power and manure in integrated crop and livestock farming systems (Preston and Leng 2009). The Indonesian Ongole-crossbred cattles are raised by smallholder under traditional management using local grass around coconut plantation and opened grass field areas (Photo 1). Strategy to increase Indonesian local cattle productivity was utilization of the potential local agricultural waste product in form of the urea palm sugar block (UPSB) supplement. The UPSB supplement was composed of easily fermented carbohydrate (waste product of local palm red sugar), fermented Nitrogen source (urea), undegradated protein source (fish meal, coconut meal), long chain fatty acid source (rice bran, coconut meal), and other mineral source (zeolit or CaCO3). These nutrient contents were formulated in UPSB supplement that are supporting efficiently growth and development of microorganism in animal rumen (Merchen et al 1992; Gerson et al 1985).

Growth of Indonesian local Ongole crossbred cattle fed B. decumbens grass plus legume increased average daily gain (ADG) of 0.42 kg per head per day (Kaligis 1997). Other Indonesian local crossbred of worker type cattle fed local grass increased ADG of 0.50 kg per head per day in North Sulawesi province of Indonesia, lower compared to animal ADG national standard of 0.70 kg per head per day (Salendu 1998). The ADG of Indonesian local Ongole crossbred cattle applied with animal health national standard was 0.53 kg per head per day (Budiarso et al 1998). Growth of small ruminant animal (Ettawah crossbred goat) supplemented with the urea palm sugar block increased average daily gain (ADG) of 150 g compared to those of unsupplemented ration as control treatment of 93.1 g (Budiarso and Paputungan 2001).

The objective of this study was to evaluate the utilization of agricultural waste product in form of the urea palm sugar block (UPSB) supplement on the Indonesian Ongole-crossbred cattle production and income over feed cost for household farmers.

Research methodology

Animal location and measurement

This study was conducted at Tumaratas village, West Langowan district of Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi province of Indonesia, during 100 days of data collections divided into four periods (September to December 2014). This Minahasa regency is categorized as agricultural areas with altitude of 600-700 m above sea level. It is characterized by cool and humid climate (25-28^oC of temperature and 70-80 percents of humidity). Each period of treatment was used for resting period as preliminary treatment (treatment adaptation) taking of 10 days and data collection period taking of 15 days. Treatments involved four heifers at the ages of 18 to 24 months old with the weight average of 180 to 200 kg live weight (LW). Each animal was raised in each pen (1x2 m). Animals were weighed directly using the indicator digital electrical scale with capacity of 2000 kg (Photo 3).

Photo 1. Location sample of study in traditional management of the Indonesian household farmers at Tumaratas village, West Langowan district of North Sulawesi province; (a) herd of Ongole crossbred cattle adapted to harsh environment under hot and humid climate; (b) Ongle crossbred cattle raised at very simple animal pen house; (c) yearling Ongle crossbred cattle fed fresh local grass by small householders.

Formulation of urea palm sugar block (UPSB) feed supplement

Formulation of the urea palm sugar block (UPSB) feed supplement was applied in the study location using ingredient of all local agricultural waste products with the composition and procedures as follows: (1) Material feed ingredients were weighed with the compositions of waste palm red sugar (50%), urea (4%), rice bran waste product (26%), coconut meal waste product (9%), animal bone meal waste product (6%), salt (2%), cattle mineral (3%) as shown in Photo 2a. (2) Waste palm red sugar was added with fresh water (ratio of 1:2) as shown in Photo 2b. (3) Rice bran waste product, coconut meal waste product, animal bone meal waste product, salt and cattle mineral were homogeneously mixed (Photo 2b). (4) The mixtures of waste palm red sugar and water were gradually filled into the mixtures in the third procedure by gradually shaking them to form homogeneous batter and heated above fire heater for about 3 to 4 minutes, and thereafter fire heater was turned off (Photo 2c). (5) Batter of urea palm sugar block was weighed in three formulation weights of 100 g, 200 g and 300 g and wrapped into plastic bag (Photo 2d). (6) The urea palm sugar block batter wrapped in the plastic bag was pressed by pressing tool for five minutes to form UPSB feed supplement (Photo 2d).

Ration treatment

Rations fed to animals were formulated as follows:

 UPB₀    : Fresh King grass (Pennisetum purpureum) ad libitum without urea palm sugar block

 UPB₁₀₀ : Fresh King grass (Pennisetum purpureum) ad libitum + 100 g of urea palm sugar block

 UPB₂₀₀ : Fresh King grass (Pennisetum purpureum) ad libitum + 200 g of urea palm sugar block

 UPB₃₀₀ : Fresh King grass (Pennisetum purpureum) ad libitum + 300 g of urea palm sugar block

Photo 2. Study process of the urea palm sugar block supplement formulation using ingredients of agricultural waste products on productivity of Indonesian local crossbred cattle raised by household farmers at villages, (a) Ingredients of agricultural waste products being weighed; (b) Waste agricultural ingredients added with fresh water to form batter; (c) The mixtures of homogeneous batter heated above fire heater; (d) The urea palm sugar block batter in plastic bag pressed by pressing tool; e: Fresh King grass (Pennisetum purpureum) being weighed; (f) Chopped fresh King grass fed to animal; (g) Feed supplement of UPSB fed daily to animals; (h) The rest of animal grass feeding collected daily as part of calculation for daily animal feed consumption).

Treatments were applied using double Latin Square design of 2(4x4) with the period of 10 days for preliminary period and 15 days for data collection. Fresh King grass (Pennisetum purpureum) was prior to being fed to animals weighed (Photo 2e) and chopped (Photo 2f). Drinking fresh water was provided ad libitum to the trial animals. Feed supplement of UPBS was fed daily to animals based on treatments (100 g, 200 g, 300 g, per animal per day) (Photo 2g).

Data collection was done during fifteen days after finishing preliminary period (animal adaptation for each ration treatment) of 10 days. Samples of ration (fresh King grass) and UPSB feed supplement were collected at the initial and end of the study in each period of treatment. The left over grass feeding was collected daily (Photo 2h). Daily difference between feed consumed and the left over grass feeding (ration) was defined as the animal feed consumption.  Animal feed consumption was converted into dry matter consumption (kg unit) per animal per day. Table 1 gives nutrient compositions of the trial animal ration.

Nutrient compositions of the ration treatment were presented in Table 2.

Variables observed

Variables observed in the trial included:

• Dry matter consumption of ration in gram per animal per day (g/animal/day), calculated as daily difference between feed consumption and the left over ration, and then converted into dry matter consumption.

• Average daily gain (ADG) (g/animal/day), calculated as difference between animal live weights at the end and at initial period of research divided by fifteen days of data collection.

• Feed conversion, calculated as ratio between dry matter consumption of ration (g/animal/day) and the ADG (g/animal/day).

• Income over feed cost (IOFC), calculated as difference between price of ADG in the unit of Indonesian rupiah (IDR) and daily feed consumption costs of King grass (dried matter weight) and UPSB supplement, all in IDR per animal per day (IDR/animal/day).

Photo 3: Weighing activity of the animals, (a) The indicator digital electrical scale being connected with battery and animal scale floor; (b) Light digital weighing indicator screen connected to the animal scale floor; (c) Animal being weighed directly using digital weighing indicator scale; (d) Recording activity for the animal live weight read from scale weighing indicator screen).

Statistical analysis

Data were analyzed using Analysis of variance (ANOVA) (Steel and Torrie 1980). Dry matter consumption, ADG, feed conversion and nutrient digestibility) were included as dependent variable, while four treatments levels of urea palm sugar block were included as independent variables in the ANOVA model (Steel and Torrie 1980).  Data were analyzed using the Insert Function Procedure of the related statistical category in datasheet of Microsoft Office Excel (2007). The significant difference in the model of treatments was tested using honestly significant difference, while differences between variable averages in animal sex were tested using pair t-test (Byrkit 1987).

Results and Discussion

Dry matter consumption

Data of dry matter consumption was calculated on the basis of the total dry matter consumption of King grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and feed supplement of urea palm sugar block as presented in Table 3. Results of ANOVA showed that animals used in this study fed dry matter consumption with the average values ranging from 4.59 to 5.31 kg (Table 3). However, the periods of data collection of dry matter consumption in animals were considered significant at P<0.05 and trends are discussed at p< 0.10 P>0.05. Increase of dry matter consumption in each additional period of treatment might be due to linear increasing development of animal growth. In focused case of treatment, it showed that animal’s dry matter consumption of the King grass (Pennisetum purpureum) without urea palm sugar block feed supplement ( UPB₀) of 3.68 kg was not significantly different (P>0.05) from that of the King grass (Pennisetum purpureum) with UPSB feed supplement of 100 g ( UPB₁₀₀) of 3.98 kg. This might indicate that the urea palm sugar block feed supplement of 100 g was not able to increase animal’s appetite in dry matter consumption.

In this study, increasing levels of the urea palm sugar block feed supplement of 200 to 300 g were able to increase animal’s appetite in dry matter consumption, ranging from 3.92 to 4.11 kg. Higher level of the urea palm sugar block feed supplement, ranging from 200 to 300 g in animal rumen might stimulate the development of ruminal microorganism in decomposing high crude fiber of grass (Elliot and Amstrong 1982; Nolan et al 1989; Merchen and Titgemeyer 1992). This study of UPSB feed supplement composed of urea, rice bran, coconut meal, palm red sugar and other minerals might stimulate animal’s appetite to consume dry matter in ration. This study was in agreement with studies reported by Juergenson (1974), Van Soest (1991) and Klusmeyer et al (1991).

The average consumptions of dry matter of animal in this study, ranging from 3.92 to 4.11 kg are in agreement with normal level consumption of cattle at body weight of 200 to 400 kg, ranging from 2.10 to 5.80 kg per head per day (Cullison 1979; Church and Pond 1998). Previous study by Parrakasi (1995) showed that dried matter consumptions of cattle for normal standard live maintenance of cattle at the body weight of 125 to 425 kg ranged from 2.45 to 6.15 kg per head per day. In this study, there was a significant tendency (P<0.05) of dry matter consumption for steers to be greater than that of heifers, either in the animals (4.87 kg vs 4.78 kg), periods (4.87 kg vs 4.81 kg) or treatments (4.03 kg vs 3.85 kg) (Table 3).

Average daily gain

Results of variance analysis showed that animals used in this study performed ADG values ranging from 0.46 to 0.65 kg in steers and 0.37 to 0.59 kg in heifers (Table 4). However, the periods of data collection of ADG in animals were considered significant at P<0.05 and trends are discussed at p< 0.10 P>0.05. The ADG in the third period was greater than that in the first period at p = 0.041, but there was no significant tendency (p=0.096) of ADG for the fourth period to be greater than that in the third period. In this study, increasing levels of the urea palm sugar block feed supplement of 100 to 300 g increased animal’s ADG significantly (p= 0.027), ranging from 0.61 to 0.66 kg in steers and 0.59 kg to 0.63 kg in heifers compared to ADG for control ration ( UPB₀) of 0.39 kg in heifers and 0.42 kg in steers (Table 4).

In this study, it is clear that higher levels of the UPSB feed supplement, ranging from 100 to 300 g stimulated development of ruminal microorganism in decomposing high crude fiber of grass (Nolan et al 1989; Merchen and Titgemeyer 1992). High rating decomposition of crude fiber by ruminal microorganisms caused increasing animal’s appetite in dry matter consumption reflecting to higher ADG. The microorganism playing role in the bio degradation process of grass crude fiber in the ruminants was cellulosic bacteria (Gerson et al 1985). In this study, there was no tendency of ADG for steers to be greater than that of heifers, either in the animals (p=0.064) or periods (p=0.056). However, there was a significant tendency (p=0.0032) of ADG for steers to be greater than that of heifers in the treatment application (Table 4).

Feed conversion

Data of feed conversion average using King grass (P. purpureum) in each animal, period and treatment are presented in Table 5. Results of variance analysis showed that animals used in this study performed feed conversion average values ranging from 5.71 to 8.19 in steers and from 6.06 to 7.78 in heifers (Table 5). In addition, the effect of periods of data collection for feed conversion in each animal were considered not significant.

The feed conversions in all periods within males and females were not significant at p = 0.070. In addition, there was no high tendency (p=0.07) of feed conversion between males and females within period. In this study, increasing levels of the urea palm sugar block feed supplement of 100 to 300 g decreased significantly (p< 0.05) animal’s feed conversion, ranging from 5.07 to 8.82 in steers and 5.04 to 8.36 in heifers compared with feed conversion for control ration ( UPB₀) with 8.36 in heifers and 8.82 kg in steers (Table 5). There was no tendency for treatment within heifers to be greater than treatment in steers (p=0.48) as shown in Table 5.

The feed conversion for animals on a ration of King grass with the UPSB feed supplement ( UPB₁₀₀) was 5.24 for steers, indicating that UPSB supplement of 100 g consumption of animal could change 5.24 kg of grass dry matter into 1 kg meat product. On the other hand, animals fed the ration of King grass without implementation UPSB supplement ( UPB₀), required 8.82 kg dry matter to produce 1 kg meat product as descriptively shown in Figures 1 and Figure 2.

Income over feed cost (IOFC)

Income over feed cost was calculated as difference between price of ADG in the unit of Indonesian rupiah (IDR) and daily feed consumption costs of King grass (dry matter weight) and UPSB supplement, all in the IDR per animal per day (IDR/animal/day). Based on the consumption costs of King grass (Pennisetum purpureum) added by the UPSB supplement and prices of animal live weight and ADG, there were significant tendency of steers to be greater than heifers for some variables of grass dry matter consumption (p=0.032095), feed cost of grass dry matter consumption (p=0.024576), price of ADG (p=0.003), feed costs of grass dry matter consumption + UPSB consumption (p=0.024), and IOFC (p=0.032). Therefore, the IOFC in steers was more efficient of five percents than that of heifers as calculated using the IOFC of both animal sex base averages as shown in Table 6.

Economical analysis in terms of IOFC showed that animals fed UPSB at level of 100 to 300 g per animal per day produced IOFC ranging from IDR 6,040 to 6,820 compared to those without UPSB supplement of IDR 3,285; increasing by about 184 to 208 percents in steers and about 191 to 219 percents in heifers compared to those fed control ration (without UPSB) as descriptively shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2.

Conclusions

• Supplementation of the agricultural waste product formulated in the urea palm sugar block (UPSB) of 100 to 300 g significantly increased production of the Indonesian Ongole-crossbred cattle as shown by higher average daily gain (ADG) of 590 to 660 g compared to the ADG of control ration with 390 to 420 g.

  
  

• Cattle fed UPSB supplement at level of 100 to 300 g per animal per day produced IOFC ranging from IDR 6,040 to 6,820 compared to those without UPSB supplement producing IOFC of IDR 3,285; increasing to about 184 to 208 percent in steers and 191 to 219 percent in heifers compared to those fed control ration without UPSB.

Acknowledgement

The financial support of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Republic of Indonesia through their Research Finance Program is gratefully acknowledged. The authors also acknowledge J. Kuhu and his farmer group members at Tumaratas village, district of West Langowan, under development of the Artificial Insemination Service Center of Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi Province for their assistance in animal data collection.

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Received 6 April 2015; Accepted 10 June 2015; Published 1 August 2015

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