The Effects of Oil Palm Fronds Silage Supplemented with Urea-Calcium Hydroxide on Rumen Fermentation and Nutrient Digestibility of Thai Native-Anglo Nubian Goats

This study aimed to examine the combined effects of urea and calcium hydroxide ensiled oil palm fronds on rumen fermentation and digestibility of Thai native-Anglo Nubian goats. A 4 × 4 Latin square design was used to randomly assign four male crossbred goats (Thai native × Anglo Nubian). The dietary treatments were as follows: ensiled oil palm frond with no additives (EOPF as the control), urea 5% (50 g/kg fresh matter) (E-UOPF 5%), calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) 5% (50 g/kg fresh matter) (E-CaOPF 5%), and combination of urea 2.5% (25 g/kg fresh matter) with Ca(OH)2 (25 g/kg fresh matter) (E-UCOPF 2.5%). The oil palm frond ensiled with different additives did not change the DM intake (p > 0.05). The total TMR intakes range from 69.39 to 77.09 g/kg BW0.75. The goats fed with E-UOPF 5.0% consumed significantly more CP than the other groups (p < 0.05). The E-UCOPF increased ME intake by 4.8%, compared with the control treatment (p < 0.05). E-UOPF 5% and E-UCOPF 2.5% significantly increased the CP digestibility by 19.7% and 17.1%, respectively (p < 0.05). Furthermore, E-CaOPF 5.0% and E-UCOPF 2.5% improved the NDF digestibility by about 10.9% and 9.90%, respectively (p < 0.05). The urea-containing oil palm frond (E-UOPF 5.0% and E-UCOPF 2.5%) had higher blood urea nitrogen (BUN) than the other groups (p < 0.05). The TVFA of goats fed E-UCOPF 2.5% was approximately 15.8% higher than that of goats provide EOPF (p < 0.05). The mean concentration of C3 increased by 7.90% and 11.61%, respectively, when E-CaOPF 5.0% and E-UCOPF 2.5% were provided instead of EOPF (p < 0.05). The total N intake and absorbed were highest (p < 0.05) when goats offered E-UOPF 5.0% (p < 0.05). The goats fed oil palm frond without additives had the lowest percentage of N-absorption/N intake (p < 0.05). This study clearly shows that the most suitable treatment is E-UCOPF 2.5%, which enhances DMD, nutrient digestibility, TVFAs, and nitrogen balance and has no negative effects on rumen microbes. This indicates that E-UCOPF 2.5% may be utilized as an alternate roughage source in TMR diets, accounting for at least 40% of the OPF. However, several factors still require consideration for urea-Ca(OH)2 treatments to be successful, including other concentrations of urea, moisture content, duration of pre-treatment, and the metabolizable protein system.

The Production and Optimization of Bioethanol from Oil Palm Fronds: A Source of Renewable Energy

Environmental issues and the desire to be less dependent on fossil fuel have intensified research efforts towards the production of biofuels since they are a safe and clean alternatives to fossil fuels. However, the cost of carbohydrate raw materials has become a limiting factor for large-scale production, hence the need to source for low cost feedstock. This study analyzed the processes and optimization involved in the production of bioethanol from oil palm fronds from Okada, Edo State, Nigeria, as an alternative source of energy. In this study, solid-state fermentation was carried out for the production of fermentable sugars from oil palm fronds inoculated with local isolate Aspergillus niger, the results from this analysis show that the pretreatment of oil palm frond substrate using Aspergillus niger was effective, The process was effectively optimized within the confines of the following parameters; temperature X3 (36-42oC), pH, X2 (5.1-5.7), inoculum, X4(4-22) and fermentation time X1 (0-36hr), an optimum Ethanol yield Y, of 110% was obtained.

Processing and Properties of Oil Palm Fronds Composite Boards from Elaeis guineensis

Oil palm fronds are one of the biomass residues originating from oil palm plantations. It has great potential to be used as an alternative material for the composite boards industry to reduce dependency on wood-based raw materials. The fronds are obtainable all the year round and in big quantity. The oil palm fronds had been processed as compressed oil palm fronds to form such a potential composite board in this topic. A composite board from compressed oil palm fronds was produced by removing the fronds’ leaflets and epidermis. The sample was sliced longitudinally into thin layers and compressed into an identical thickness at about 2 to 3 mm. Pieces of the sample were dry using the air-dried method. They were then mixed with phenol and urea-formaldehyde of resins in the range of 12-15% and compressed again with another layer forming a composite board. Standard outlined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) tested for their physical and strength properties of composite board. Found that the physical and strength aspects’ properties show that the composite board possessed characteristics at par or equivalent. The composite board from compressed oil palm fronds has good prospects to be used as an alternative to wood. Thus, this characteristics can overcome the shortage in materials supply in the wood-based industry.

Fermentation by Eco Enzyme on Nutritional Content of Rice Straw, Corn Straw, and Oil Palm Fronds

Novelty statement: This study reveals that fermented agricultural and plantation waste by using different doses of eco enzyme turned out to have a good effect on the quality of the waste. The procedures and parameters standardised in this research can be used for production of ruminant feed. Abstract: The low nutrient content of agricultural waste is an obstacle to use as feed. The addition of eco enzyme as biological activators can help the fermentation process. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of three doses of eco enzyme as a starter fermentation of rice straw, corn straw, and palm fronds on changes in the nutritional content of 21 days fermentation. This study used a completely randomized design method with two factorial (three treatments and three replications). Factor D: Doses (D1 = 1%; D2 = 3%; D3 = 5%) and factor L: Forage (L1 = rice straw; L2 = corn straw; L3 = oil palm fronds). The parameters studied were moisture content (MC), dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF). The results of this research showed that addition of eco enzyme dose of 5% on L1, 3% on L2 and 3% L3 can increased water content and crude protein, and reduce levels of dry matter and crude fiber of forage compared without fermentation.

Efek suplementasi tepung kulit jengkol pada pelepah sawit fermentasi terhadap profil mikroba rumen dan produksi gas metan in vitro

<p class="MDPI17abstract"><strong>Objective: </strong>This research was aimed to evaluation the effect of supplementation jengkol peel powder in fermented oil palm fronds on rumen microbes profile and methane production on <em>in vitro</em>.</p><p class="MDPI17abstract"><strong>Methods: </strong>The used design was factorial randomized block design with four treatments supplementation of jengkol peel powder at 0, 2, 4, and 6% and four groups as replications. The observed variables were rumen microbes profile (population of total bacteria, cellulolytic, and protozoa), methane production, partial <em>volatile fatty acid</em> (VFA) proportion and acetate/propionate (A/P) ratio. The data were analyzed using ANOVA and different among treatments means examined by Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT).<strong></strong></p><p class="MDPI17abstract"><strong>Results: </strong>The result showed that supplementation of jengkol peel powder at 6% substrate increased (P&lt;0.05) total and cellulolytic bacteria population. Jengkol peel powder supplementation as much as 4 and 6% decreased (P&lt;0.05) protozoa population, methane production, acetate proportion and A/P ratio. Supplementation of jengkol peel powder at 2% increased (P&lt;0.05) propionate production.<strong></strong></p><p class="MDPI17abstract"><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In conclusion, fermented oil palm fronds can be substituted with jengkol peel powder at 2% substrate that did not disturb rumen microbes profile, decreased methane production, acetate proportion, A/P ratio and increased propionate production on <em>in vitro</em>.<strong></strong></p>