Nutritional Qualities of Cocoa Pod Husk Treated with Bioconversion and or Provision of Nitrogen Sources in the Rumen
Abstract: The objective of
this study was to investigate the effects of bioconversion using Phanerochaete
chrysosporium and Pleurotus ostreatus and or inclusion of Moringa oleifera leaves
and urea in the rumen on cocoa pod husk digestibility and fermentation in the
rumen. There were 4 treatments tested: (1) 100% untreated cocoa pod husk
(UCPH), (2) 55% UCPH + 43.7% M. oleifera + 1.30% urea (UCPHMU), (3) 100%
bioconverted cocoa pod husk (BCPH), and (4) 55% BCPH + 44.5 M. oleifera + 0.5%
urea (BCPHMU). Each of the treatments was replicated three times. Variables
observed were dry matter and organic matter digestibilities and
degradabilities, rumen VFA and ammonia concentrations, gas production, and
calculated microbial biomass yields. Results indicated that the treatment
increased dry matter (P<0.001) and organic matter (P<0.01) digestibility,
with the highest for the BCPHMU and the lowest for the UCPH. The treatments
also increased dry matter and organic matter degradability in the rumen
(P<0.001), with the highest for the BCPHMU, followed by the UCPHMU, and then
by the BCPH and the lowest was UCPH. The treatment affected rumen ammonia
concentration (P=0.01), the highest value was found for the BCPHMU followed
with UCPHMU and BCPH. Microbial biomass synthesis was affected (P<0.001) by
the treatment and it was always higher when nitrogen was provided (UCPHMU and
BCPHMU). Total VFA concentration or total gas production was higher for BCPHMU
compared to other treatments. It can be concluded that nutritional quality of
cocoa pod husk can be improved by either bioconversion with P. chrysosporium
and P. ostreatus or inclusion of M. oleifera and urea in the rumen, but the
best improvement can be obtained by the combination of bioconversion and
provision of the nitrogen sources in the rumen.
Keywords: biological
treatment; cocoa pod husk; digestibility; fermentation; white rot fungi
Author: Syahrir, Hartutik, Kusmartono, Damry
Journal Code: jppeternakangg170067