Digestibility and performance of beef cattle fed ammoniated palm leaves and fronds supplemented with minerals, cassava leaf meal and their combinations

Abstract

This study aims to determine the effects of supplementation minerals [phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S)] and cassava leaf meal to ammoniated palm leaves and frond rations on the feed digestibility and performance of beef cattle. This study used a randomized block design which divided 20 male Simmental cattle into 5 treatment rations and 4 groups as replications. Treatment NG, the control, was a native grass + concentrate, PLF= Palm leaves and fronds + concentrate, PLFM= PLF + 0.27% phosphorous (P) and 0.4% sulfur (S), PLFC= PLF + cassava leaf meal (5%) and PLFMC= PLFM + cassava leaf meal (5%) Compared to other cows, cows that get PLFMC consume more but are no different (P>0.05) from cows that consume NG. Feed digestibility from PLFM and PLFC is lower (P<0.05) than PLFMC and NG. Daily gain and feed efficiency of NG were not different (P>0.05) from PLFMC. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) from NG and PLFMC is lower (P<0.05) than PLFM and PLFC. It can be concluded that PLFMC can replace native grass 100% and produce the best digestibility and performance of beef cattle.