Milk quality of Etawa crossbred dairy goat fed combination of fermented oil palm fronds, Tithonia (Tithonia diversifolia) and Elephant Grass (Pennisetum Purpureum)

Abstract

The aim of this research was to determine the influence of Fermented Oil Palm Fronds (FOPF) by Phanerochaete chrysosporium with Tithonia (T) and Elephant Grass (EG) as roughage on milk quality of Etawa Crossbreed Dairy Goats (ECDG). This study used a randomized complete design consisting of four treatment groups that is: T1 = 20% FOPF+16% T+64% EG, T2 = 20% FOPF+32% T+48% EG, T3 = 20% FOPF+48%T+32% EG and T4 = 20% FOPF+64% T+16% EG. Four replicates were used per treatment. The data were analysed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and differences among the treatment means were tested using Duncan's Multiple Range Tests (DMRT) with 5 replications and 1% confidence intervals. Parameters measured were quality of milk, i.e. protein, fat, lactose and mineral (Ca and P) content. Results showed using combination FOPF by phanerochaete chrysosporium with T and EG can significantly increase milk mineral concentration (Ca and P) (p<0.01), but there was no effect on milk content of protein, fat and laktosa (p>0.05). The combination FOPF by Phanerochaete chrysosporium with Tithonia (T) and Elephan Grass (EG) can be used as an alternative feed for goats. The best feed for dairy goats was 20% FOPF + 64 % T+ 16 % EG (Treatment D).