The Level of Dwarf Elephant Grass (Pennisetum Purpureum cv. mott) to Substitute Indigenous Forage for Goat Feed in Limestone Mountain

Abstract

This research aimed to investigaton on the level of supplementation of dwarf elephant grass that was introduced ex-limestone mining open area as to substitute indigenous forage for goat feed in limestone mountain.The method used in vivo experimental research was conducted in a completely randomized design. Sixteen local male goats in a limestone mountain weighed 24.8 kg ± 1.66 were allotted to four treatments with different level of dwarf elephant grass to subtitute indigenous forage 0, 25. 50 and 75%each with four replicates. The measured parameters were feed intake and body weight gain. The research was conducted in a limestone mountain in Gombong, Central Java Indonesia.The result showed that substituting indigenous forage with dwarf elephant grass up to 75% produced non-significantly different (P>0.05) feed intake and body weight gain of goats. The research concluded that dwarf elephant grass can to subtitute indigenous forage for goat feed, however it is recommended to substitute indigenous forage with up to 25% dwarf elephant grass to obtain an optimal weight gain to goats in limestone mountain.