ABSTRAKPenelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi optimalisasi penggunaan level sabun kalsium yang berbeda dalam ransum secara in vitro terhadap karakteristik fermentasi, populasi mikroba dan kecernaan nutrien ransum, menggunakan sumber inokulum cairan rumen sapi Bali. Penelitian dilaksanakan menggunakan rancangan acak kelompok dengan 4 jenis perlakuan dalam 3 ulangan. Ransum penelitian terdiri atas : R1, 40% rumput lapang (RL) + 60% konsentrat (K), R2 (40% RL + 60% K, mengandungn 2.5% SCa-kedelai), R3 (40% RL + 60% K, mengandung 5% SCa-kedelai), R4 (40% RL + 60% K, mengandung 7.5% SCa-kedelai). Variabel yang diukur terdiri atas karakteristik fermentasi in vitro (pH, N-NH3, produksi total volatile fatty acids), populasi mikroorganisme (total bakteri dan total protozoa), dan kecernaan nutrien (kecernaan bahan kering dan kecernaan bahan organik). Data dianalisis menggunakan analysis of varians (ANOVA) dan perbedaan antara perlakuan diuji dengan Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan, penambahan SCa-kedelai pada level yang berbeda dalam konsentrat tidak mempengaruhi pH, konsentrasi amonia, populasi mikroba, kecernaan bahan kering dan kecernaan bahan organik fermentasi tetapi berpengaruh sangat nyata (P<0.002) terhadap produksi total VFA. Produksi total VFA tertinggi diperoleh pada ransum perlakuan R4 (konsentrat yang mengandung 7.5% SCa-kedelai). Produksi total VFA tertinggi diperoleh pada perlakuan R4 dan produksi total VFA paling rendah terjadi pada perlakuan ransum R1 (kontrol). Produksi total VFA ransum R1 dan R2 dan ransum R2 dan R3 tidak berbeda nyata namun produksi total VFA ransum R3 lebih tinggi dibanding ransum kontrol. Penambahan SCa-kedelai dalam konsentrat menghasilkan produksi total VFA tetinggi namun mulai menekan populasi total bakteri. Mempertimbangkan hasil peubah fermentasi dan populasi mikroba serta biaya pembuatan produk sabun kalsium, SCa-kedelai pada level 5% merupakan level penggunaan SCa-kedelai yang terbaik dalam ransum.Kata kunci: sabun kalsium, fermentasi, in vitro, kecernaanABSTRACTThe study to evaluate the optimalization the different level of soybean oil calcium soap (CaS-soybean) in ration on in vitro fermentation using Bali cattle rumen fluid. The experiment was arranged in a complete randomized block design with 4 different ration treatments and 3 replicates. Ration treatments were R1: 40% native grass (NG) + 60% concentrate (C), R2 : 40% NG + 60% C, supplemented with 2.5% soybean oil calcium soap (CaS-soybean), and R3 (40% NG + 60% C, supplemented with 5.0% CaS-soybean and R4 (40% NG + 60% C, supplemented with 7.5% CaS-soybean). Variables measured were fermentation characteristics (pH, NH3-N, total volatile fatty acids), microbial population (total bacteria and total protozoa), and nutrient digestibility (dry matter and organic matter digestibility). Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the differences between treatments means were examined by Duncan Multiple Range Test. Results of the study showed that the four different level of CaS-soybean in ration did not have any significant effect (P>0,05) on pH, NH3-N, total bacteria, total protozoa, dry matter and organic matter digestibility. The treatments significantly increased (P<0.05) the production of total volatile fatty acids. The highest production of total VFA was obtained from ration R4 (concentrate containing 7.5% CaS-soybean) and the lowest was obtained from treatment R1 (control). There were no significant differences between R1 and R2, and between R2 and R3 on the total VFA production. However, the total productions of VFA in ration R3 were higher than that of the control ration. The addition of CaS-soybean in the concentrate had increased the total production of VFA, but at the same time, it began pressing the total population of bacteria. Considering the results of the fermentation variables and microbial population as well as the cost of making calcium soap products, CaS-soybean at 5% level was selected as the best level of CaS-soybean in ration.Keywords : calcium soap, fermentation, in vitro, digestibility