The Formulation of Cattle’s Rumen Content and Sludge Fermented with Cellulomonas sp. as Rabbit Feed

Sony A.E. Moningkey1*, Ronny A.V. Tuturoong1, Ingriet D.R. Lumenta1 and Nova L.I.M. Ogi2

1Department of Animal Feed and Nutrition, Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Sam Ratulangi University, Jl. Kampus UNSRAT, Bahu, Manado, North Sulawesi 95115, Indonesia

2Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Manado State University, Jl. Raya Tondano, Koya, Tondano Sel., Minahasa, North Sulawesi 95618, Indonesia

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to determine the level of rumen content and sludge mixture fermented with Cellulomonas sp. in the complete feed composition to optimize the rabbit’s performance, weight increment, and food conversion. The study used 30 calf male rabbits strain New Zealand White (8–11 weeks old, 435-1,037 g). The feed consisted of fermented rumen content sludge mixture (FRCSM), and other feed materials, such as corn, coconut cake, pollard, bran, sugar drops and minerals. Rabbits were given complete feed with following treatment: R0 = feed without FRCSM, R1 = feed with 10% FRCSM, R2 = feed with 20% FRCSM, R3 = feed with 30% FRCSM, and R4 = feed with 40% FRCSM. The results showed that the highest feed consumption and weight increment were found in the R3 group by 60.5 g/individual/day and 17.8 g/individual/day, respectively. However, the R3 group exhibited the lowest food conversion (p<0.05) compared to another group. It was indicated that the R3 group was a more efficient feed. Feed with 30% Cellulomonas sp.-fermented rumen content and sludge mixture (FRCSM) was an ideal feed composition for the rabbit to increase consumption and body weight increment and reduce food conversion.

Article Information

Received 09 December 2022

Revised 15 January 2022

Accepted 23 February 2022

Available online 09 May 2022

(early access)

Published 06 January 2023

Authors’ Contribution

SAEM designed the study and wrote the manuscript. RAVT and IDRL participated in the data collection analysis. NLIMO interpreted the study results.

Key words

Cellulomonas sp., Fermentation, Rabbit, Rument content, Sludge

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/20211209071239

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

0030-9923/2023/0002-921 $ 9.00/0

Copyright 2023 by the authors. Licensee Zoological Societ of Pakistan.

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

INTRODUCTION

A rapid increase in the meat demand due to a rapid rise in human population in the resource-limited developing countries has triggered growing research to exploit the potential of low-inputs animal production systems (Khan et al., 2017; Habib et al., 2016). However, the rabbit has many advantages such as high prolificacy, rapid growth and short generation interval. The availability of animal’s feed is limited by decreased green field from land conversion to residences, industries, transportation, etc., resulting from population growth. To overcome problems of areal limitation for animal’s food plants, lack of grass in the dry season, and reduce feed cost and environmental pollution, alternative food materials are needed (Habib et al., 2016).

Rumen content and organic wastes of biogas (sludge) are large amounts of garbage and can disturb the environment if they are not well handled. Rumen content is collected from the slaughterhouse, while sludge is the mud of residual biogas production. This livestock waste is rich in essential amino acids and vitamins and potential to make the feed material of rabbit. Rumen content and sludge are cattle wastes that still contain good nutrition if used as livestock feed (Moningkey et al., 2016). Rumen content has digestive processes in the rumen mechanically or biologically and held rumen microbial cell biomass (Adeniji et al., 2015). Sludge comes from cattle’s feces containing endogenous N and protein passing from rumen degradation and is not digested in the abomasum so that it is released as feces (Moningkey et al., 2016).

Biogas production uses feces as raw materials, and in the process, the feces will be fermented, in which the remaining solids wasted in the biogas process is called sludge. The major constraints of this waste utilization as rabbit’s feed are high fiber and low protein content (Osak et al., 2015). To reduce the coarse fiber content and increase protein content of this alternative food source, microscopic organisms Cellulomonas sp. is used, since these cellulotic microbes are capable of digesting the cellulose. Yustanti (2009) stated that Cellulomonas sp. is the cellulose-digesting microorganism that highly influences the degradation of sugar cane pulp (lignocellulose containing waste).

Efforts of utilizing the rumen content and the cattle’s sludge through fermentation are expected to break down the complex organic compounds into more simple compounds to be well digested by rabbit livestock. This waste also has an essential and strategic benefit in economic and efficient livestock development. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the level of rumen content and sludge mixture fermented with Cellulomonas sp. in the complete feed composition to optimize the rabbit’s performance, weight increment and food conversion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Materials

This study used wastes of cattle’s rumen content collected from the slaughterhouse and sludge from the biogas processing unit. These materials were mixed in 50:50 ratios and fermented for 8 days employing Cellulomonas sp. at the concentration of 107 CFU/g dry material. The feeding trial was used 30 male rabbits (8-11 weeks) of New Zealand white strains with a weight range of 435-1037 g. Rabbits were obtained from the public farm, rumen content and sludge mixture, and other feed materials, such as corn, coconut cake, pollard, bran, sugar drops, and other materials bought from animal’s feed material shops. These feed materials were formulated to make complete feed without using green feed. Animal’s cages (50 × 50 × 60 cm3) were prepared and facilitated with feeding and drinking spots, balance, room thermometer, and other supporting equipment.

Experimental design

The study was experimental with group randomized design based upon the initial bodyweight of the rabbit. Variance coefficient (VC) was 23.77% (VC > 10%), meaning that the initial bodyweight of the rabbit was not homogenous. Rabbits were separated into three groups: a) rabbit group of low body weight, 435 g, 456 g, 471 g, 480 g, 497 g, 535 g, 556 g, 574 g, 584 g, and 590 g (VC = 9.07%), b) rabbit group of medium bodyweight, 612 g, 620 g, 694 g, 708 g, 712 g, 721 g, 736 g, 747 g, 781 g, and 780 g (VC= 8.13%), and c) rabbit group of high initial body weight, 787 g, 814 g, 818 g, 830 g, 860 g, 878 g, 888 g, 960 g, 1016 g, and 1037 g (VC = 9.82%).

Treatment feed

The treatment feed was separated into 5 levels of concentrations with 3 replications. There were 15 experimental units, and each experimental unit had 2 individuals, so 30 individuals of rabbits were used. The concentration levels of rumen content and sludge mixture fermented with Cellulomonas sp. in the complete feed made in pellet form were set as follows: R0 = Feed without fermented rumen content and sludge mixture (FRCSM); R1 = Feed with 10% FRCSM; R2 = Feed with 20% FRCSM; R3 = Feed with 30% FRCSM; R4 = Feed with 40% FRCSM

The feed nutrient content and composition in the complete feed are presented in Tables I and II.

Adaptation phase

Male rabbits of New Zealand White strain of 8–11 weeks old were selected, weighed, and separated into 3 groups as small, medium, and large initial weights. Using a battery system, the selected rabbits were put into a 50 × 50 × 60 cm metabolic cage. The experimental units were randomly set using random numbers with one individual per experimental unit. After the rabbits had been caged, they were adapted to experimental feed for 10 days. The need for each feed material was calculated following the treatment feed formulation.

Preliminary feeding adaptation

All experimental rabbits were fed 3 times a day at 07.00 am, 12.00, and 5.00 pm local time. This preliminary study was intended to eliminate the previous feed effect and determine the feed given. This activity was done for 5–10 days.

 

Table I. Feed material nutritive content (in dry matter).

Ingredients	Nutrient content
	Dry matter (%)	Crude protein (%)	Crude fiber (%)	Ether extract (%)	Calcium (%)	Phosphorus (%)	Metabolizable energy (Kcal/kg)
FRCSM	86.04	12.45	26.12	1.30	0.27	0.19	3,062
Pollard	88.54	16.50	14.90	4.00	0.14	0.32	1,300
Yellow corn	88.76	8.60	2.70	3.90	0.02	0.10	3,400
Coconut cake	87.92	18.50	15.00	2.50	0.20	0.57	2,200
Bran	87.82	11.56	13.36	7.00	0.04	0.16	2,860
Concentrate	88.78	38.00	11.14	5.90	1.40	1.20	2,600
Molasses	87.50	3.00	0	0.10	0.90	0.10	1,960

 

Table II. Composition and nutrient content of treatment feed.

Materials	Treatment
	R0	R1	R2	R3	R4
FRCSM (%)	0	10.00	20.00	30.00	40.00
Pollard (%)	26.00	27.00	26.00	26.00	20.00
Corn (%)	22.00	19.00	16.00	10.00	8.00
Coconut cake (%)	15.00	8.00	7.00	6.00	5.00
Bran (%)	18.00	17.00	12.00	10.00	9.00
Concentrate (%)	17.00	17.00	17.00	16.00	16.00
Molasses (%)	2.00	2.00	2.00	2.00	2.00
Total (%)	100	100	100	100	100
Dry matter (%)	88.39	88.18	87.97	87.72	87.48
Crude protein (%)	17.56	17.30	17.36	17.29	17.07
Crude fibre (%)	11.02	12.51	14.08	16.00	17.38
Ether extract (%)	4.54	4.35	3.95	3.63	3.35
Calcium (%)	0.33	0.35	0.37	0.38	0.39
Phosphorus (%)	0.43	0.40	0.40	0.39	0.38
Metabolizable energy (Kcal/kg)	2,412	2,447	2,473	2,470	2,579

 

Notes: Processed feed nutrient content.

 

Data collection

The amount of the treatment feed was prepared a day before feeding. While weighing the remaining feed was carried out the next morning (at 06.30 – 07.30 am), and each unfed feed was placed in prepared buckets. The data were used to know the amount of feed consumed, and the feed was stocked for 3 – 5 days feed treatment. Data collection was conducted for 40 days. The daily feed consumption and body weight increment was calculated by the following Equations 1 and 2:

Daily feed consumption (g/individual) = amount of feed given – the amount of uneaten feed … (1)

Body weight increment (g/individual) = final lived body weight – initial body weight … (2)

Food conversion was obtained from the feed amount consumed and body weight increment in weight and time unit (Equation 3).

Statistical analysis

The study used randomized complete block design (RCBD) in the linear model as follows:

W here Yij is the response of ith treatment in jh block, μ is the overall mean, Ti is the effect of ith treatment, Bj is effect of jth block; €ij is the experimental error.

The observed values obtained by the model above were analyzed with ANOVA and then continued with Duncan’s Multiple Range test if there was a significant effect to know the difference between treatments (Sudjana, 2002). All statistical analysis were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 23 for Windows.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Effect of FRCSM in the complete feed on feed consumption

Table III demonstrated the effect of Cellulomonas sp. fermented rumen content and sludge mixtures (FRCSM) in the complete feed on the rabbit livestock performance. The growth of rabbit, like other animals, depends on consumption and utilization of the feed. Feed consumption is crucial in rabbit livestock productivity determination (Fadare, 2015; Maidala et al., 2016). Results showed that the highest feed consumption occurred in treatment R3 (60.5 g/individual/day). Treatment R3 was statistically higher than that of R0, R1, and R4 (P<0.05) but not different from that of R2 (Table III).

Feeding of FRCSM could increase the consumption level at 30% FRCSM (R3) administration and then reduce the consumption level at 40% FRCSM (R4) administration. It means that the use of FRCSM in the complete feed could trigger the rabbit’s appetite up to 30% FRCSM because the fermented product contains a synthesis of the vitamin B complex that could increase the appetite. Decreased appetite in treatment R4 could result from higher CIRSF administration with high metabolic energy, 3,062 kcal/kg so that the cattle are quickly total. The R4 rations also hold higher coarse fiber than other treatments, making it difficult to digest. The palatability could also be an influencing factor, in which the rabbit does not like feed aroma or flavor. According to Church and Pond (1980), feed palatability is related to the feed’s texture, color, flavor, and aroma. Nurhayati et al. (2006) found that fermentation’s benefits raised feed quality and palatability. According to Khan et al. (2017), several internal or external factors affect the consumption level of the livestock, environmental temperature, palatability, taste, physiological status, nutrient concentration, feed shape, and livestock body weight.

Effect of FRCSM in the complete feed on daily weight increment

The FRCSM administration in the complete feed significantly affected the body weight increment of the rabbit (P<0.01). The mean weight increment is shown in Table III. The highest weight increment was found in

 

Table III. Mean feed consumption, weight increment, and food conversion.

Variables	Treatments
	R0	R1	R2	R3	R4
Feed consumption (g/individual/ day)	50.5±9.85b	48.7±13.28b	52.8±14.74ab	60.5±8.18a	43.8±2.81b
Weight increment (g/individual/ day)	14.6±2.07b	13.5±0.94b	15.3±3.87b	17.8±1.68a	10.0±1.83c
Conversion	3.5±0.52	3.6±0.95	3.4±0.88	3.4±0.25	4.4±0.79

 

Notes: different alphabets indicate highly significant difference (P<0.01).

 

treatment R3 (17.8 g/individual/day) and the lowest in treatment R4 (10.0 g/individual/day). Thus, treatment R3 is the best treatment since it reflects the highest feed consumption during the study and gives the highest weight increment. Increased feed consumption does not always yield a high body weight increment in a certain condition.

Bhatt et al. (2017) stated that one factor influencing the bodyweight increment is feed consumption. High feed consumption and digestibility will yield higher weight increment. It could result from increasingly numerous nutrients absorbed by the livestock’s body. This is supported by Pascual et al. (2014) that the livestock body weight is directly proportional to the feed consumption level. It means that feed consumption will demonstrate the nutrients taken by the livestock affecting the livestock’s weight increment. According to Bhatt et al. (2017), there is a close correlation between growth and food consumption. Increasingly higher feed consumption will increase protein consumption, increase livestock growth, and raise meat production. The nutrients taken by the rabbit are utilized to fulfil the major living needs and growth (Bhatt et al., 2017).

Effect of FRCSM in the complete feed on food conversion

Food conversion is the ratio of feed amount consumed by the livestock and body weight increment. Food conversion is inversely proportional to feed efficiency, in which the lower the food conversion is, the higher the feed efficiency so that it will affect the production costs (Belabbas et al., 2019).

Based on Table III, it is apparent that means food conversion to be 3.5 (R0), 3.6 (R1), 3.4 (R2), 3.4 (R3), and 4.4 (R4). Treatments R3 and R2 reflect the lowest food conversion despite statistically not being significantly different (P>0.05) compared with R0, R1, and R4. Lower food conversion reflects better food quality. It is in agreement with Oonincx et al. (2015) that low food conversion indicates high food efficiency. Increased protein content and decreased coarse fiber will raise the feed quality. Higher feed quality will impact growth and feed efficiency. Treatments R3 and R2 showed the lowest food conversion in this study, indicating that those treatments are more efficient than other treatments. The mean food conversion of the rabbit in the present study is higher than that of the previous research (2.62 – 3.46) (Aritonang et al., 2004), with the mean value of 3.00, that employs feed containing 16% PK, DE of 2,500 kcal/kg and 0.1% biovet. Rabbits are an efficient converter of forage into good quality animal protein compared to other livestock (Pasupathi et al., 2015).

Food conversion could also be influenced by several factors, such as gene, feed shape, temperature, environment, feed consumption, fresh weight, and sex. Basuki (2002) stated that food conversion is affected by consumption of dry matter and daily weight increment, which increase the body weight and improve the efficiency of feed. Until now, there has been limited study regarding the use of the mixture of rumen content and sludge fermented with Cellulomonas sp. to improve the feed consumption, body weight, dan food conversion of rabbits. This study gives new insight into the alternative feed to increase the performance of rabbits.

CONCLUSION

Feed with 30% Cellulomonas sp. fermented rumen content and sludge mixture (FRCSM) in the complete feed was the ideal feed composition for rabbit livestock to increase consumption and body weight increment and reduce food conversion. The use of rumen content and sludge could be one of the important and strategic efforts to benefit waste in rabbit livestock development.

Statement of conflict of interest

The authors have declared no conflict of interest.

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