Earthworm meal (Lumbricus rubellus) has become one of natural material that could be used as feed additive. Powdering method of earthworm was done by using formic acid addition. The study was carried out (1) to evaluate the essential amino acid profile of earthworm and earthworm meal, (2) to calculate the value of essential amino acid index (EAAI) of both materials. A modified EAAI equation was developed from the essential amino acid profile of earthworm and earthworm meal. The result showed that essential amino acid of earthworm was dominated by histidine (0.63% of dry matter basis), meanwhile the earthworm meal was dominated by isoleucine (1.98% of dry matter basis). The non essential amino acid of earthworm and earthworm meal was dominated by glutamic acid (1.52% and 3.60% of dry matter basis respectively). The value of essential amino acid index obtained from earthworm meal was higher (58.67%) than those from earthworm (21.23%). It is concluded that powdering method of earthworm by using formic acid addition had higher amino acid balance than earthworm.

The effect of waru leaf (Hibiscus tiliaceus) supplementation as saponin source on ruminal fermentation characteristics were studied using in vitro gas production techniques. Rumen fluid was taken from fistulated Ongole crossbreed cattle. The treatments consisted of control treatments (Napier grass with monensin and Napier grass without waru leaf (0% saponin level) and waru leaf supplementation treatments as much as 11, 22, 33, and 44 mg of feed (in dry matter basis) or equal to 5, 10, 15, and 20% saponin level added to feed substrate of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum). The result showed that protozoa numbers and total gas production were significantly reduced (P<0.05) in line with the increasing of saponin level compared to 0% saponin level, while NH 3 , VFA concentration and pH after 48 h fermentation were not affected by the treatment. VFA concentration increased by waru leaf up to 10% saponin level then decreased at level 15 and 20%. Ratio of acetate to propionate (A/P) and non glucogenic ratio (NGR) decreased at 5, 10, and 15% saponin level, but increased at level 20%. It could be concluded that waru leaf supplementation at 10% saponin level of feed was the optimum level which gave positive effect on rumen feed fermentation.

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The aim of the study was to identify the cholesterol-lowering activity of indigenous lactic acid bacteria isolated from the small intestine, cecum, and colon of Indonesian native chickens and evaluated for bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity in vitro by using MRS media added taurodeoxycholic acid (TDCA) and CaCl 2 . The quantitative measurement of cholesterol-lowering activity of LAB was investigated by using soluble cholesterol containing MRS broth (100 µg/mL of cholesterin) and incubated at 37 °C for 48 h. Cholesterol content in supernatant was analyzed using microplate reader. The highest percentage of cholesterol reduction found in isolates from colon of native chicken with the value of 17.43% and identified as Lactobacillus plantarum. Based on phylogenetic tree analysis, this isolate was closely related to L. plantarum strain LGFCP4 (accession number KM199683.1) isolated from GIT of Guinea fowl from India. It could be concluded that L. plantarum AKK-30 had cholesterol-lowering activity. Keywords

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