Assessing the Effectiveness of Top Leaf Meal of Indigofera zollingeriana to Substitute Soybean Meal through Evaluation on Protein Quality and Metabolic Energy in Poultry Feed

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate protein quality of top leaf meal of Indigofera zollingerina based on its net protein utilization (NPU) as well as to evaluate its metabolizable energy. Fifty broiler chicks were used in determination of NPU while fifteen broiler strain Cobbs chickens aged 5 weeks were used for metabolizable energy measurement. This study used descriptive method in which data obtained were analyzed and compared to NPU and metabolizable energy of soybean meal. The results showed that top leaf meal of Indigofera zollingerina had NPU of 38.58-46.98, which is 70.14%-85-42% of that NPU value of soybean meal is 55. Its metabolizable energy was 2791.12 kcal/kg, 9.46% higher than that of soybean meal. As the NPU and metabolizable energy were close to those of soybean meal, top leaf meal of Indigofera zollingerina can be used to substitute protein from soybean meal in poultry feed. Abstrak (Indonesian) Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi kualitas protein melalui pengukuran Net Protein Utilization (NPU) dan mengevaluasi kandungan energi metabolis tepung pucuk Indigofera zollingerina. Materi yang digunakan untuk mengukur NPU tepung pucuk Indigofera zollingeriana adalah anak ayam broiler sebanyak 50 ekor sedangkan untuk mengukur energi metabolis tepung pucuk Indigofera zollingeriana digunakan 15 ekor ayam broiler strain Cobb yang berumur 5 minggu. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode deskriptif, data yang diperoleh dianalisis dengan membandingkan NPU dan energy metabolis tepung pucuk Indigofera zollingeriana dengan NPU dan energy metabolis bungkil kedelai. Hasil penelitian diperoleh NPU tepung pucuk Indigofera zollingeriana sebesar 38,58 sampai 46,98, sedangkan NPU bungkil kedelai adalah 55. Nilai NPU tepung pucuk Indigofera zollingeriana 70.14 % sampai 85,42 % dari NPU bungkil kedelai. Kandungan energi metabolis 2791,12 kkal/kg. Energi metabolis ini lebih tinggi 9,46 % dari energi metabolis bungkil kedelai. Berdasarkan nilai NPU dan kandungan energi metabolis tepung pucuk Indigofera zollingeriana yang mendekati nilai NPU bungkil kedelai, tepung pucuk Indigofera zollingeriana dapat digunakan sebagai pakan substitusi protein bungkil kedelai dalam ransum ternak unggas. Kata-kata kunci: Energi metabolis, NPU, tepung pucuk Indigofera zollingeriana Palupi et al.