Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 14 (2): 80-83, 2015 ISSN 1680-5194 © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2015 Corresponding Author: A. Fariani, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Sriwijaya University, South Sumatera, Indonesia 80 Supplementation of Fermented Palm Press Fibre on Digestibility of Rice Straw and Rumen Bacteria Profile A. Fariani , A. Abrar , G. Muslim and Lili Warly 1 1 1 2 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Sriwijaya University, South Sumatera, Indonesia 1 Faculty of Animal Science, Andalas University, West Sumatera, Indonesia 2 Abstract: The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the potential of fermented palm press fibre (FPPF) as supplement feed to increase in vitro rice straw digestibility. Complete randomized design experiment was used to determine digestibility (in vitro) of rice straw supplemented with palm pressed fiber. Three treatments were composed as control (P0), rice straw supplemented with 5% FPPF (P1) and rice straw supplemented with 10% FPPF (P2) with 6 replication for each treatment. Observed parameters were digestibility of dry matter (%), organic matter (%), crude protein (%), crude fiber (%) ammonia-N (mM) and Total VFA (mM) concentration. Rumen bacteria population post 24 h incubation were also determined. The result showed that digestibility of dry matter and crude protein were not altered by treatment (p>0.05) while organic matter and crude fiber were significantly (p<0.05) affected by PPFP supplementation. Rumen bacteria population post incubation were not significantly (p>0.05) altered by PPFP supplementation but the number tends to increase. Key words: In vitro, palm press fiber, rumen bacteria INTRODUCTION Rice straw has been widely used as animal feed especially ruminants because it has a carbohydrate rich material which can be utilized as a potential source of dietary energy for the ruminants. However rice straw characterized by poor palatability, low digestibility and protein. Some studies have shown that high silica and lignin contents of the rice straw impede digestion by rumen microbes. Silica reduces palatability and the MATERIALS AND METHODS degradability of rice straw in the rumen due to its direct Palm press fibre fermentation: Palm press fibre (500 g) action in preventing colonization by ruminal was fine grinding then soaked in mineral solution (0.6 g microorganisms (Agbagla-Dohnani et al., 2003; Van MgSO4; 0.5 g KCl; 5 g NH4NO3; 0.001 g CuSO4; 0.01 g Soest, 2006). FeSO4 and distilled water in to 1000 mL solution) for 3 h, Several possible strategies to improve utilization of rice then air-dried for 6 h before inoculated with white rot straw by ruminants were physical treatment, chemical fungi solution. White rot fungi (Phanaerochaeta treatment and biological method. Chemical treatments chrysosporium) solution was prepared from our to improve the utilization of rice straw may be alkaline, collection and re-suspension (1% v/v) in nutrient broth acidic or oxidative agents. The most commonly used medium which later incubated for 24 h in room alkaline agents are sodium hydroxide (NaOH), ammonia temperature. This suspension then sprayed evenly in (NH3) and urea (Elseed et al., 2003; Yulistiani et al., prepared palm press fiber then incubated in room 2003; Vadiveloo, 2000) or combine a physical and temperature for 7 days. After 7 days all palm press fiber chemical method that has been done by Zia-ur-Rehman was covered by white rot fungi then samples were taken et al. (2000) on rice straw that treated with alkalies and for proximate analysis and fiber fraction determination pressure steam. Biological methods use fungi and their using Van Soests method as described elsewhere by enzyme that metabolizes lignocelluloses is a potential Santoso et al. (2009). Data on proximate analysis of biological treatment to improve the nutritional value of control PPF and fermented PPD are shown in Table 1. straw by selective delignification, as mentioned in the review by Jalc (2002). In vitro digestibility assay: In vitro digestibility analysis Fermented palm pressed fiber (FPPF) is a product from as describe by Tilley and Terry (1963) were performed in the fermentation process on Palm pressed fiber by the present study. Rumen fluid from cattle was diluted using white rot fungi (Phanaerochaeta crysosphorium) as inoculant. As fresh fermentation product PPF was subjected to carry over metabolites exerted from white rot fungi, while also has contain single cell protein substance, therefore in the present study, FPPF were evaluate in vitro to enhance digestibility of rice straw and its effect on rumen bacteria profile post 24 h incubation.