Calcium Salts of Fatty Acid-Amino Acid Supplement Improves the Body Condition Score of European Crossbred Cattle Kept by Smallholder Farmers in East Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Calcium salts of fatty acid-amino acid supplement is a supplement containing high energy and can be used for cattle feed. This research aimed to test the efficacy of calcium fats of fatty acid-amino acid supplement for European crossbred cattle kept by smallholder farmers in Situbondo district, East Java Indonesia. Thirty-two Limousin-Ongole or Simmental-Ongole crossbred cattle were sourced from the population of cattle kept by smallholder farmers in Situbondo, East Java Indonesia of approximately 330±11 kg (Live Weight (LW)±sem) ± 2.5 years old. They were weighed and measured (LW and body condition score (BCS) (2.8±0.02), were then treated with anthelmintic and randomized into two different groups, 16 heads were included in the control group, and another 16 heads were offered calcium fats of fatty acid-amino acid supplement at 0.6 g/kg live weight. All bulls were fed ad libitum of commercial concentrate, elephant grass, rice straw, and corn stover based on feeding habits to cattle done by the farmers. The results showed that administering calcium salt of fatty acid-amino acid to the diet of European crossbred cattle under farmer management increased body condition score (p<0.05) but did not affect live weight gain, dry matter intake, and any blood metabolites observed (p>0.05). It can be concluded that the inclusion of 0.6 g/kg LW of calcium salts of fatty acid-amino acid supplement improves the body condition score of European crossbred cattle.