The Effect of Replacing Forage with Binahong Leaves on Performance and Methane Gas Production of Local Indonesian Goat

Reducing methane emissions is an important aspect of climate change mitigation, including in goat production.This study evaluated the effect of substituting forage with Binahong leaves on the performance and methane production of Indonesian local goats.This study used 16 Ettawa crossbreds with an average body weight ranging from 18 to 38kg.This study used a randomized group design with 4 treatments and 4 replications, namely P0 : 60% Brachiaria mutica + 40% concentrate; P1 : 55% Brachiaria mutica + 5% Binahong leaf + 40% concentrate; P2 : 50% Brachiaria mutica + 10% Binahong leaf + 40% concentrate; P3 : 45% Brachiaria mutica + 15% Binahong leaf + 40% concentrate.The observed variables were nutrient digestibility, feed intake, and methane production.The analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed Binahong leaf had no significant effect (P>0.05) on dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) digestibility (DMD, OMD), crude protein digestibility (DCP), neutral and acid detergent fiber digestibility (DNDF, DADF), DM and OM intake (DMI, OMI), average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency.However, Binahong leaf treatment had a significant effect (P<0.01) on hemicellulose digestibility and methane gas production.Additionally, there is a tendency for DMI and OMI to decrease, and ADG to increase, followed by an increase in feed efficiency, based on the trend of average values at the 15% level of Binahong leaf use.It can be concluded that methane production can be reduced without adversely affecting performance and nutrient digestibility by using Binahong leaves as a forage replacement in the diet of Ettawa crossbred (PE) which is up to a level of 15%.