Effects of Black Soldier Fly oil and calcium soap supplementation on rumen fermentability of Garut Sheep

Abstract

Abstract Fat is a source of energy for livestock, with low heat metabolic, but dietary fat had negative impact for rumen fermentation. Calcium soap can protect fat for ruminant. This study aimed to examine the characteristics of rumen fermentation in Garut sheep fed with suplements of BSF (Hermetia illucens) oil and BSF Calcium soap. This research used fifteen male Garut sheep with an average body weight of 29.90 ± 3.71 kg. This research used randomized block design consisting of three treatments and five replicates. The treatments were diet without supplementation BSF oil or Calcium soap (P1), diet with BSF oil suplementation 4% (P2) and diet with BSF Calcium soap suplementation 4% (P3). Data were analyzed using ANOVA and further test with Duncan test. The analysis showed that the rumen pH value, ammonia concentration, and protozoa population in the rumen were not affected by the treatments. Concentration of VFA and population of rumen bacteria were significantly (P<0.05) affected by the treatments. The total VFA concentration of P3 was significantly higher (P<0.05) than P1 and P2. Rumen bacteria population of P3 was significantly higher (P<0.05) than P1 and or P2. It can be concluded that supplementation of BSF Calcium soap improve rumen fermentation indicated by higher VFA concentration and bacteria population in the rumen.