INTRODUKSI DAUN KERING LEGUMINOSA POHON SEBAGAI SUMBER PROTEIN DALAM PAKAN-KOMPLIT UNTUK TERNAK DOMBA DARA

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of formulated complete feed containing either one of dried legume leave of leucaena (Diet1), gliricidia (Diet2), or calliandra (Diet3) for protein sources of feed on the reproduction performance of the thin tailed ewes.  The experiment used 18 head of ewe lambs of about 8 months old, which were individually penned in an elevated barn belongs to The Central Java Assessment Institute for Agricultural Technology, Ungaran.  Each experimental animal was randomly fed either one of the three experimental diets.  In addition, the study also employed 3 bucks of the fat tailed sheep for mating the ewes.   Measurements  were made for dry matter (DM) consumption  of feed, weight gain,  first oestrus  occurrence,  body  weight  at first oestrus,  and pregnancy  rate of the ewes.   Results showed  that the ewes fed Diet 2 consumed  (535.7 g DM/d) larger (P<0.05)  amount  of feed than that receiving Diet 1 (489.7 g DM/d) or either Diet 3  (500.3g DM/d).   The data exhibited that palatability of Diet2  was superior among the three experimental diets.  Consistently, weight gain of ewes (37.4 g/d) and the body weight at the first oestrous  occurred  (17.88 kg) of ewe fed gliricidia  diet (Diet2) also higher (P<0.05) than that consuming Diet1  (21 g/d and 15.88 kg) or the one consumed Diet3  (20.4 g/d and 16.37 kg).   However,  the distinction  effect of various  dried legume three leaves inclusion  in the diets on the pregnancy  rate was not significant  (66.7% versus 66.7% versus 60%, for the animals  fed Diet1  versus Diet2  versus Diet3).   Overall, the present study concluded that the use of dried legume three leaves for protein sources in the complete feeds for ewes did not exhibit any negative effect.