The potential of canola and flaxseed oil protected by calcium soap for optimizing beef cattle rumen microbial and in vitro fermentation

Abstract

Suharti S, Nasution AR, Nuraliyah D, Hidayah N. 2015. The potential of canola and flaxseed oil protected by calcium soap for optimizing in vitro rumen microbial fermentation of beef cattle. Pros Sem Nas Masy Biodiv Indon 1 (1): 89-92. Supplementation of unsaturated fatty acid from the plant in ruminant feed is needed to improve the production and quality of beef meat. Vegetable oils as potential sources of the unsaturated fatty acid include canola oil (high linoleic acid content) and flaxseed oil (high in linolenic acid). However, to use vegetable oils as sources of unsaturated fatty acids, the oil needs to be protected to avoid biohydrogenation by rumen bacteria which convert the oil into saturated fatty acid. Calcium soap method is relatively easy and cheap to protect unsaturated fatty acid. This experiment was designed to examine the potential of calcium soap-protected canola oil and flaxseed oil in optimizing in vitro rumen microbe fermentation. The experimental design was conducted in a randomized block design with 3 replicates. Variables observed were rumen fermentation characteristic (pH value, N-NH3concentration, molar proportion and total VFA, dry matter and organic matter digestibility) and rumen microbes (protozoa and bacteria). The result showed that supplementation of canola and flaxseed oil protected by calcium soap at level 6% did not affect pH level, dry matter digestibility, rumen protozoa and bacteria total, but did
increase organic matter digestibility and N-NH3 concentration. Supplementation of the protected flaxseed oil increased total VFA and
proportion of propionic acid concentration as a potential energy source for the cattle. This result indicated that supplementation of
protected fat did not disturb microbial activity in feed fermentation.