Characterization of Protein Degradation in Tropical Dairy Feedstuff Using the In Sacco Method

A study was conducted to determine the protein degradation characteristics of 27 tropical feedstuffs for dairy rations. Twenty-two tropical feedstuffs were grouped into A1 (local low fiber and low protein sources: corn, rice bran, cassava, cassava waste, wheat, pollard), A2 (local low fiber and low protein sources: palm kernel meal, tofu waste, tempe waste), and A3 (local high fiber sources: acacia, alfalfa, narra, gliricidia, indigofera, calliandra, bauhinia, leucaena, albizia, agati, piper, moringa, jack leaves), and compared to A4 (imported low fiber high protein sources: soybean, roasted soybean, DDGS, CGM, CGF) using the in sacco method. The study revealed that A1, A2, and A3 had lower protein content but higher crude fiber than A4. Protein solubility (a) was higher in A1 and A2, while the potentially degraded fraction (b) was higher in A2 and A3. A1 and A2 had higher RDP fractions than A3 and A4. High RDP feedstuffs include pollard, wheat, soybean, CGF, tempe waste, alfalfa, gliricidia, indigofera, agati, and moringa. In contrast, high RUP feedstuffs include corn, palm kernel meal, narra, calliandra, leucaena, albizia, tamarind, piper, jack leaves, roasted soybean, soybean meal, and CGM. Tropical feedstuffs exhibit diverse protein degradation characteristics, making them valuable for strategic ration formulation in dairy cattle.