OPTIMIZATION OF SILAGE PRODUCTION FROM ELEPHANT GRASS (Pennisetum purpureum) WITH ADDITION OF STRAW AND RICE BRAN AS A PRESERVED ANIMAL FEED (KEY IJP************451)

• Dewi Wahyuningtyas,Paramita Dwi Sukmawati,Tegar Akbarul Bahar

Abstract

Silage is a preserved animal feed from the process of storing and fermenting animal feed ingredients in airtight conditions with mixture of nutrients from lactic acid bacteria. The process of making silage requires the main ingredients, one of which uses elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum), and uses additional ingredients that are often used, namely rice bran and straw with the aim of improving or maintaining the quality of silage. This study aims to determine the value of moisture content, pH, protein content and dietary fiber in a mixture of elephant grass with additional ingredients, namely rice bran and rice straw with the optimal ratio. Research methods includes four stages, namely 1) chopping elephant grass, 2) making silage with the addition of molasses and EM4 nutrients, 3) adding nutrients in the silage (rice bran and straw) in airtight conditions and 4) silage analysis. The variables in this study were the weight ratio of rice bran and straw (10:2, 10:3, :4, 10:5, and 10:6 gg) and the weight ratio of straw and rice bran (3:8, 3:9, 3:10, :11, and 3:12 gg). The silage results obtained a sour aroma (lactic acid bacteria), brownish green color, and quite smooth in texture. The silage moisture content of silage value was 30% of the weight of the entire silage and the average pH values of silage 4.5 (acidic). The optimum value of straw addition and rice bran addition in silage was obtained at a composition of 6 grams of straw and 10 grams of rice bran with protein values ranging from 3.5-4.7% and total dietary fiber values ranging from 14.5-17.3%.