| Penulis/Author |
Prof. Dr. Ir. Endang Baliarti, SU. (1) ; Prof. Ir. I Gede Suparta Budisatria, M.Sc., Ph.D., IPU., ASEAN Eng. (2); Ir. Panjono, S.Pt., MP., Ph.D., IPM., ASEAN Eng. (3); Prof. Dr. Ir. Bambang Suhartanto, DEA., IPU (4); Prof. Ir. Bambang Suwignyo, S.Pt., M.P., Ph.D., IPM., ASEAN Eng. (5); Prof. Dr. Ir. Ali Agus, DAA., DEA., IPU., ASEAN Eng. (6); Maulana, M. (7); BAYU ANDRI ATMOKO (8) |
| Abstrak/Abstract |
Measurement of forage consumption in grazing areas would be the basic data to calculate whether
nutrient requirement are fulfilled or not, and be a reference in the application of grazing
management (rotation, stocking rate, improve pasture, etc.) and the oil palm plantation potential
to be developed into grazing area. Use of Geographic Information System (GIS) is one method
to help estimate forage consumption of cattle during grazing in the oil palm plantation. For this
purpose, a colony consisting of 20 Bali cattle (19 female and one bull with average weight of 284
kg) was shepherded in an area of 10 years old of oil palm plantation in Rokhan Hulu District,
Riau Province. The cattle grazed from 08:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and then were in the cage at night.
Measurement of average grazing area per day was done by using Global Positioning Satellite
(GPS) appliance during 7 days and then processed by GIS method. The average of forage
production under palm trees was obtained by cutting forage at 10 points, 1 m x 1 m. Cutting forage
was 10 cm above ground level; it was weighed and analyzed proximate to find dry matter (DM),
crude protein (CP), and total digestible nutrients (TDN). The results showed that the average
grazing area was 11.106 ± 1.458 m2/colony/day or 555.3 m2/head/day. The average fresh forage
production was 50.2 g/m2, content DM 22.9%, CP 10.7%, and TDN 54.4%. From the calculation
it was estimated the forage consumption was 27.8 kg/head/day (fresh), or DM 6.36 kg (2.2%), CP
0.68 kg (10.7% DM based), TDN 3.5 kg (55% DM based), which was higher when compared to
the requirement by NRC standard (2000). It was concluded that the cattle forage consumption
during grazing in the oil palm plantations of Riau suffices the requirement to achieve Body
Condition Score 3 (scale 1-5). |
