• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.1073-1077
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• 2001

Forty three 7-month old, Barbados Black $Belly{\times}Malin$ crossbred sheep were used for the trial. They were allotted into three treatment groups fed varying levels of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) frond pellets and commercial sheep pellets. Treatment diets were 80% commercial pellet+20 % (% w/w) oil palm frond pellet (CON group, n=15), 50% commercial pellet+50% oil palm frond pellet (% w/w) (HAF group, n=14) and 80% oil palm frond pellet+20% (% w/w) commercial pellet (OPF group, n=14). The plasma fatty acid profiles from these animals were compared before and after 14 weeks of feeding. Results showed that total unsaturated fatty acid content in the CON group had increased by 10% (p<0.01) from the pre-treatment values. All three treatment groups had significantly different plasma n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid contents at the end of the trial. In fact, the CON group had significantly (p<0.01) more n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid content compared to its own initial values, and also the values from the HAF and OPF groups. However there was a significant (p<0.01) decline in plasma n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in all groups. The final total unsaturated to saturated fatty acid content ratio was significantly (p<0.01) highest in the CON group, demonstrating the high plasma unsaturated fatty acid content in these animals. This study shows the plasma unsaturated fatty acids in sheep can be increased by dietary manipulation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.941-947
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• 2000

Three fistulated Malaysian local bulls were used in a $3{\times}3$ Latin square design to determine the effects of different levels of concentrate with oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) frond (OPF) on rumen pH and $NH_3$-N concentration, and DM degradability of different fractions of OPF. Three diets namely, 60% OPF pellet and 40% concentrate (Diet 1), 50% OPF pellet and 50% concentrate (Diet 2) and 40% OPF pellets and 60% concentrate (Diet 3) were used. The levels of concentrate in the diets affected rumen pH and $NH_3$-N concentration. The pH and $NH_3$-N concentration almost in all hourly samples did not show any difference (p>0.05) among the diets except the 6 h and 9 h samples. The highest (p<0.01) $NH_3$-N concentration was obtained on Diet 3 followed by Diet 2 and Diet 1, but there was a slightly higher (p>0.05) pH on Diet 1. The $NH_3$-N concentrations of rumen liquor at 9 h sampling on Diet 1 and Diet 2 were below the critical level (50 mg/liter) required for efficient fermentation of fibrous feeds. The in sacco DM degradation of different fractions of OPF was affected by diets. The DM degradation of fractions of OPF was higher on Diet 3, which showed differences (p<0.01) with the other diets. It was found that a higher level of concentrate (60%) with OPF gave a higher rumen $NH_3$-N concentration that increased the DM degradation of OPF fractions. The results showed that OPF could support an efficient rumen function in terms of $NH_3$-N concentration and pH when ${\leq}50%$ in the diet. A higher level of OPF (>50%) does not support an efficient rumen fermentation in terms of $NH_3$-N concentration, and resulted in lower DM degradation values of the fractions. The results suggested that there is a need to supplement additional nitrogen to OPF based diets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.625-634
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• 2003

Oil palm fronds (OPF) are one of the main by-products of the oil palm industry in Malaysia. It contains about 38.5 % crude fibre with ME values of about 5.65 MJ/kg dry matter. OPF has great potential to be utilized as a roughage source or as a component in a complete feed for ruminant animals. This paper briefly reviews the availability of OPF in Malaysia and its importance in the local beef and dairy industry. About 26 million metric tonnes of OPF are produced on dry matter basis annually during pruning and replanting operations in the plantations. The nutritive value of OPF and studies to improve its feeding value is highlighted. The optimum level of inclusion for ruminant feeding is 30 % and improvement to intake and digestibility can be further enhanced with addition of other oil-palm by-products. Performances of beef and dairy cattle fed fresh OPF or as silage, pellets and cubes are shown. Good quality OPF silage can be produced without using any additive and the significant improvement on the rate of growth and milk yield were shown. With good formulations, OPF based diets can allow live weight gains of between 600-850 g/day and for local crossbred dairy animals, milk yield of about 11.1 to 20.3 liter/day can be obtained. Pellet based on ground OPF seemed to be less well utilized for ruminant feeding due to its smaller particle size. OPF based cubes which have longer particle size is more suitable for beef and dairy cattle. Long-term feeding of OPF based feeds have been shown to produce good quality carcasses, and the meat is safe for consumption.