Botanical Composition and Quality of Ruminant Feed Resources in the Dry Land Farming Areas in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Abstract

This study aims to determine the botanical composition and quality of ruminant feed resources in dry land farming areas. The research toke place in  Kemejing village, Semin subdistrict, Gunugkidul district, Yogyakarta province, Indonesia. Data obtained in a participatory rural appraisal method of 17 samples of farmers which are determined by purposive sampling. Data taken within two  seasons namely dry season and the wet season each for 4 x 10 days and 3 x 10 days are respectively along with agricultural harvest crops. All the data obtained are reported descriptively.

The results showed that the type of feed given to cattle is very varied. There are 35 species in the dry season and 15 species in the wet season. There is no concentrates were used as feed for 2 seasons. Rice straw is the most dominant type of feed used as feedstaff seen from the frequency of services and the amount consumed both in the dry and wet season, followed by elephant grass, corn straw, native grass and peanut straw. Ration composition was dominated by two types of feed rations by both dry and wet season with a variety of types 1-6 in the dray season and 1-4 type on the wet  season. The chemical composition is not much different for each type of feed between seasons, whereas the greatest difference between the different types of feed.

The conclusion, farmers provided feed to the cattle have not been based on the nutrient requirements for production, but rather the number of quantity (stuffed animals). And to survive in difficult circumstances widely used feed forage feed from other plants.

Key words: feed resources, botanical composition, ruminant, dry land, forage, cattle