DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14334/Proc.Intsem.LPVT-2016-p.284-290 284 The Use of Rubber Leaves (Hevea brasiliensis) as Forage in Supporting the Development of Goats Wigati S, Maksudi, Wiyanto E Faculty of Animal Science, Jambi University Jl. Jambi-Muara Bulian Km 15, Mendalo Darat, Jambi, Indonesia sriwigati@unja.ac.id ABSTRACT The nutritive potency of rubber leaves (Hevea brasiliensis) as forage/feed for goats was analysed in vivo. Twenty four male and female postweaned Etawah grade kids aged 4-6 months with body weights between 11 to 26 kg were allocated into three treatment groups (i.e. T0, T1 and T2) with eight repetition designed as Randomized Block Design. Treatment diet T0 consisted of 0% rubber leaves, 80% other forages and 20% rice bran. Treatment diet T1 consisted of 40% rubber leaves, 40% other forages and 20% rice bran, and Treatment diet T2 consisted of 60% rubber leaves, 20% other forages and 20% rice bran. The results showed that DM, DE and DP consumptions, ADG and FCR of the T0, T1 and T2 treatment groups were respectively: 1008, 1040 and 1199 g DM; 2.8, 2.9 and 4.0 McalDE; 31.9, 42.9 and 59.8 g DP; 58.2, 85.7 and 76.1 g/head/day; 25.6, 15.9 and 18.0. It can be concluded that the use of rubber leaves and its branches with composition of 40 to 60% of goat diets can increase energy and protein consumptions, increase body weight gain, decrease FCR, and subsequently increase the production efficiency of the goats. Key Words: Rubber Leaves, Hevea brasiliensis, Herbal Nutrition, Goat, Digestible Protein INTRODUCTION The exploration of rubber leaves (Hevea brasiliensis) as a source of animal feedstuff is a strategic issue in supporting the development of rural goat farming, especially those integrated into rural community rubber plantations. Rubber leaves and branches used as forage are harvested from the wild rubber trees growing under the main rubber trees. Analysis of rubber leaf potency as herbal nutrition (nutritive herbs) for goats had been previously carried out by quantitatively analysing the chemical composition of the feed, the content of total tannins and condensed tannins of fresh and 1d-withered leaves and branches (edible portion) of rubber trees taken from 7 types of rubber tree clones. The chemical composition of fresh rubber leaves were: 40.4% DM; 87.9% OM; 19.5% CP; 6.2% EE and 27.0% CF, and of withered rubber leaves were: 42.1% DM; 89.5% OM; 21.19% CP; 5.2% EE and 25.9% CF. Branches part of fresh rubber had a lower quality than the leaves part of fresh rubber. Whithering of rubber leaves during the day can increase its quality (Wigati et al. 2014a). Average total tannins content in the fresh rubber leaves and branches (DM base) was 2.71%, and of the withered form was 2.37 %. Average content of condensed tannins in the fresh rubber leaves and branches was 2.05%, and of the withered form was 2.52%. Withering have lowered the content of total tannins, but relatively increased the content of condensed tannins. The contents of total tannins and condensed tannins in fresh or withered leaves and branches were indicated as nutritive levels. According to Makkar (2003), tannins within certain limits (2 to 4% DM basis) can improve the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis and degradation and can protect the protein in the rumen, thereby increasing the flow of essential amino acids to the small intestine and increase the absorption of amino acid into the blood which in turn will be able to increase the productivity of livestock. In ruminants, tannin, particularly condensed tannin has been reported to have an effect as a medicinal herb, which is as anti-parasitic