A Comparison of Growth Characteristics, Dry Matter Yield, and Forage Quality Between Mixed Cropping and Pure Stand Systems (Monoculture Systems)

Smallholders beef cattle are facing many problems, such as the unsustainable supply, limited quantity, and poor quality of forage, which all are crucial to increase the population and productivity of their beef cattle. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of monoculture and mixed cropping system between dwarf napiergrass with siratro and centro on growth characteristics, fresh and dry matter (DM) yield, and forage quality. The study was carried out for 4 months. There were 3 experiment treatments, namely P0 = dwarf napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum cv Mott) planted on monoculture system; P1 = dwarf napiergrass planted in mixed cropping system with siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum cv Siratro); and P2 = dwarf napiergrass planted in mixed cropping system with centro (Centrocema pubescent). All treatments were replicated 3 times. All plants on each treatment were planted on 3 3 m plots, with 1 m of distance between the plots. Data were collected four times after transplanting, i.e. August 20th, September 17th; October 28th; and December 16th of 2017, respectively. The results of study indicated that neither plant height nor tiller number in all treatments and measurement periods were significantly affected (p>0.05), except in month-3 (plant height) and month-4 (tiller number). Although treatments did not alter fresh and DM yield (p>0.05), the DM yield from mixed cropping system tended to be higher. Hence, it can be concluded that growth characteristic, productivity, and forage quality in mixed cropping system were better than in monoculture system.

Development of mechanical methods for cell-tray propagation and field transplanting of dwarf napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.)

Since dwarf napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.) must be propagated vegetatively due to lack of viable seeds, root splitting and stem cuttings are generally used to obtain true-to-type plant populations. These ordinary methods are laborious and costly, and are the greatest barriers for expanding the cultivation area of this crop. The objectives of this research were to develop nursery production of dwarf napiergrass in cell trays and to compare the efficiency of mechanical versus manual methods for cell-tray propagation and field transplanting. After defoliation of herbage either by a sickle (manually) or hand-mowing machine, every potential aerial tiller bud was cut to a single one for transplanting into cell trays as stem cuttings and placed in a glasshouse over winter. The following June, nursery plants were trimmed to a 25–cm length and transplanted in an experimental field (sandy soil) with 20,000 plants ha^(−1) either by shovel (manually) or Welsh onion planter. Labour time was recorded for each process. The manual defoliation of plants required 44% more labour time for preparing the stem cuttings (0.73 person-min. stemcutting^(−1)) compared to using hand-mowing machinery (0.51 person-min. stem-cutting^(−1)). In contrast, labour time for transplanting required an extra 0.30 person-min. m^(−2) (14%) using the machinery compared to manual transplanting, possibly due to the limited plot size for machinery operation. The transplanting method had no significant effect on plant establishment or plant growth, except for herbage yield 110 days after planting. Defoliation of herbage by machinery, production using a cell-tray nursery and mechanical transplanting reduced the labour intensity of dwarf napiergrass propagation

Performance of Male Bali Catte at Different Age By Feed Concentrate Containing Cocoa Pulp

The cocoa pulp is a slimy layer that surrounds the pieces of seeds, consisting of part of water and a layer of nutritional components which is quite high, including sucrose, glucose, and a little starch. The cocoa pulp, the by-product of cocoa production, has been used to avoid environmental pollution as an organic fertilizer. However, for livestock feed, the information is so limited. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the performance of male Bali cattle at different ages by feed concentrate containing cocoa pulp. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design consisting of 3 treatments and 3 replications so that it needed 9 male Bali cattle. The treatment consisted of A1 = male Bali cattle 2 years; A2 = male Bali cattle age 3 years; and A3 = Bali cattle male age 4 years, respectively. The parameter was feed consumption, performance, daily body weight gain (DWG), and feed consumption rate (FCR). The results showed that the average feed consumption, DWG, and FCR, showed significantly different (P<0.05) on feed concentrate containing cocoa pulp. The results indicated that 4 years of male Bali cattle was good growth performance compared to 2 years and 3 years by feed concentrate containing cocoa pulp

Evaluation of the Utilization of Cocoa Pulp in Feed Concentrate on the Hematological Parameter of Bali Cattle

The cocoa pulp is a by-product of cocoa. Even, its high potentials, the cocoa pulp has not been utilized as feed for ruminants yet. The objective of this study was to evaluate the utilization of cocoa pulp as an alternative feedstuff in feed concentrate on the hematological parameters of Bali cattle. The experimental diet was three levels of cocoa pulp, i.e., 0% (D0), 5% (D1), and 10% (D2), respectively. As a prime source of diet, 60% of forage of dwarf napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Mott) and Indigofera (Indigofera zollingeriana), while 40% of the feed concentrate, respectively. Other feedstuff was consisting of rice bran, coconut cake meal, shrimp waste meal, corn epidermis, milled corn, molasses, and minerals. Parameters used were hematological status, i.e., red blood cell count, white blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit. The results revealed that concentrate feed containing cocoa pulp had no significant effect (P>0.05) on the hematological parameters, even the addition of cocoa pulp in the feed concentrate tended to be better compared to without the addition of cocoa pulp. So, in this study, it can be concluded that feed concentrate containing cocoa pulp can be used as an alternative feedstuff for Bali cattle

Effect of substituting concentrate with dwarf Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) on intake, growth and carcass composition of rabbits

Dwarf Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) is considered to be more suitable as forage for ruminants due to its high yield and nutritive value, but there is limited research on rabbits. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of replacing concentrate with dwarf Napier grass on intake, gorwth performance and carcass composition of growing rabbits. Twelve growing rabbits were randomly distributed into three dietary groups in a completely randomised design: (i) concentrate feed ad libitum as control diet (T1), (ii) half of the control diet plus dwarf Napier grass ad libitum (T2), and (iii) quarter of the control diet plus dwarf Napier grass ad libitum (T3). The results showed that diets had a significant (p<0.05) effect on intake, growth performance and some non-carcass components. Rabbits fed T3 diet showed significantly (p<0.05) lower total DM intake than those fed T1 and T2 diets. Similarly, rabbits fed T3 diet showed significantly (p<0.05) lower total weight gain and daily weight gain than those fed T1 diet, but the respective values of those fed T2 diet were non-signifiacntly different from those fed T1 and T3 diets. There was significant effect on weights of meat with bone, fat, pelt, head and kidney by the diets, whereas weights of most of the non-carcass components were similar among the groups. In conclusion, diet consisting of half of the concentrate and dwarf Napier grass ad libitum is recommended to be used as it may reduce the feed cost compared to diet consisting of the concentrate alone

Effect of Repeated Application of Manure on Herbage Yield, Quality and Wintering Ability during Cropping of Dwarf Napiergrass with Italian Ryegrass in Hilly Southern Kyushu, Japan

The effects of two levels of manure application (184 and 275 kg N ha−1 year−1) on herbage yield, quality, and wintering ability during the cropping of a dwarf genotype of late-heading (DL) Napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach) oversown with Italian ryegrass (IR; Lolium multiflorum Lam.) were examined and compared with chemical fertilizer application (234 kg N ha−1 year−1) for 4 years to determine a sustainable and environmentally harmonized herbage production in a hilly area (340 m above sea level). No significant (p > 0.05) differences in growth attributes of plant height, tiller density, percentage of leaf blade, or dry matter yield appeared in either DL Napiergrass or IR among moderate levels (184–275 kg N ha−1 year−1) of manure and chemical fertilizer treatments. IR exhibited no significant detrimental effect on spring regrowth of DL Napiergrass, which showed a high wintering ability in all treatments. In vitro dry matter digestibility of DL Napiergrass tended to increase with increasing manure application, especially at the first defoliation in the first three years. Manure application improved soil chemical properties and total nitrogen and carbon content. The results suggested that the lower rate of manure application of 184 kg nitrogen ha−1 year−1 would be suitable, which would be a good substitute for chemical fertilizer application with an equilibrium nitrogen budget for sustainable DL Napiergrass and IR cropping in the hilly region of southern Kyushu

Morphometric Characteristics of Polled Bali Cattle Calves as New Local Beef Cattle in Indonesia

This study aimed to determine the morphometric performance of polled Bali cattle aged 12-15 months and the influence of the cows on the morphometrics of breeding cattle.The research material consisted of 120 head Bali cattle divided into 40 head polled cattle, 40 head with horns, and 40 cows with horns. The study was conducted in Barru District, South Sulawesi Province. The study parameters consisted of withers height, body length, and heart girth. The data were statistically analyzed using the independent sample t-test, and the effect of the morphometrics of the cows on the calves was analyzed using simple regression analysis. Measurement data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS Statistics application. The results showed a very significant difference in the body length of polled and horned males (p<0.01). Significant differences were also found in withers height and body length between polled and horned female calves (p<0.01). Polled Bali cattle aged 12-15 months have a larger morphometric size than those with horns. It is hoped that identifying the superiority of polled Bali cattle will continue at different age statuses to compile information as material for the Indonesian National Standard for hornless Bali cattle

Effect of Bali cattle ovarian status on oocytes nuclear maturation and in vitro fertilization rate

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the reproductive status influences the nuclear maturation and fertilization rates of bali cattle oocytes in vitro. Several pairs of ovary were classified into four groups: 1) ovaries with Corpus Luteum (CL) and Dominant Follicle (DF), 2) ovaries without CL and with DF, 3) ovaries with CL and without DF, 4) ovaries without both CL and DF. In the first experiment, oocytes were collected by slicing method in Phosphate Buffer Saline (PBS) medium supplemented with 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) and 100 IU/ml penicillin streptomycin. Oocytes were matured in tissue culture medium (TCM)-199 supplemented with 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS), 10 IU/ml Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), 10 IU/ml Luteinizing Hormone (LH), and 50 μg/ml gentamycin. Oocytes were matured in 5% CO2 incubator, 38oC for 24 h. In the second experiment, oocytes were matured and then fertilized in vitro to observe pronuclear formation. The first experiment showed that the percentage of oocytes reached methaphase-II (MII) stage on ovaries with CL and without DF (89.47%) were higher (P0,01) compared to ovaries without both CL and DF (75,47%), ovaries without CL and with DF (74.,41%), or ovaries with CL and DF (65,52%). The result of second experiment showed that the ovarian reproductive status was not significantly different (P0.05) on fertilization rate