Ketersediaan hijauan pakan yang tidak memadai baik kuantitas maupun kualitasnya menjadi salah satu kendala dalam pengembangan usaha peternakan khususnya ternak ruminansia. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengamati dan mempelajari serta untuk mengetahui sejauh mana pengaruh pupuk organik hasil fermentasi EM4 terhadap pertumbuhan dan perkembangan rumput Gajah dwarf (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Mott). Penelitian dilaksanakan di Fakultas Peternakan Universitas Sam Ratulangi Manado pada tanggal 14 Juli sampai 5 Oktober 2012 yang tahap pelaksanaannya dimulai dari pembuatan pupuk organik, penanaman bibit tanaman rumput gajah dwarf dan sampai dengan pengambilan data pengamatan. Rancangan penelitian yang digunakan adalah Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) dengan 4 perlakuan dan 5 ulangan yang terdiri dari P0 (0%/10 kg tanah), P1 (10%/10 kg tanah), P2 (20%/10 kg tanah), P3 (30%/10 kg tanah). Variabel yang diamati meliputi tinggi tanaman, lingkar batang, panjang daun, lebar daun dan jumlah anakan. Pengambilan data dilakukan pada minggu pertama setelah pemotongan seragam sampai pada minggu ke-6 (enam). Hasil analisis keragaman menunjukkan bahwa perlakuan memberikan pengaruh yang sangat nyata (P<0,01) terhadap parameter yang diamati. Hasil uji BNJ  menunjukkan P0 berbeda nyata dengan P2 dan P3 (P<0.05) akan tetapi P2 berbeda tidak nyata dengan P3 (P>0.05). Berdasarkan hasil pembahasan dapat disimpulkan bahwa perlakuan P2 (20%) per 10 Kg tanah atau setara dengan pemupukan sebanyak (20 ton per ha) pupuk organik hasil fermentasi EM4 memberikan hasil yang optimal terhadap semua param

EFFECT OF THE ADDITION OF RICE BRAN AND CORN FLOUR ON THE PHYSICAL QUALITY OF ENSILAGE ELEPHANT GRASS (Pennisetum purpureumcv.Hawaii). The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of the addition of rice bran and corn flour on the physical quality of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Hawaii)silage.The present study used elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Hawaii)in the ensilage process. Rice bran and corn flour were then added to the elephant grass in the ensilage processing. The present study used Completely Randomized Design with 7 treatments and 5 replications. The treatments were formulated as follow: R0 = elephant grass 100%; R1 = elephant grass + 8% rice bran; R2 = elephant grass + 12% rice bran; R3 = elephant grass + 8% corn flour; R4 = elephant grass + 12% corn flour; R5 = elephant grass + 4% rice bran + 4% corn flour; R6 = elephantgrass + 6% rice bran + 6% corn flour. The variables measured were physical quality of elephant grass silage, including:  texture, color, and aroma. The research results showed that the addition of rice bran and corn flour did not significantly affect (P>0,01) ensilage color and aroma, but significantly affect (P<0,01) the texture of the ensilage. It can be concluded that the addition of  8% rice bran gave the best result on theensilage textureof elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Hawaii). Keywords : Elephant Grass, Ensilage, Rice Bran, Corn Flour, Physical Quality

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UTILIZATION EFFECT OF CATTLE FECES BOKASHI ON GROWTH OF Kawali SORGHUM VARIETY . The Research about effect of utilization cow manure on growth of sorghum variety kawali has done. The aim of this research is to obtain data and determine the effect of utilization cow manure mixed with EM4 on growth of  sorghum variety kawali. This study was conducted using a completely randomized design (CRD) which consists of 4 treatments and 5 replicates in each treatment. The treatments were divided into plots of the experimental unit without fertilizer (P0), the plot using organic fertilizer of 4 kg/6 m2 (P1), plot using organic fertilizer of 8 kg/6 m2 (P2), and plot using organic fertilizer of 12 kg/6 m2 (P3). The variables measured in this study were plant height, number of leaves and leaf width. The HSD test indicated that at high treatment plants showed that treatments between P3 and P0 and between P3 and P1 were highly significant. However, treatments between P3 and P2 showed no significant difference. In the treatments of advanced test HSD indicated also that number of leaves between P3 and P0 showed highly significant, but between P3 and P1, and between P3 and P2 showed no difference. In the treatment of wide leaves using HSD test showed that treatment between P3 and P0 was highly significant, but those between P3 and P1 and between P3 and P2 showed no difference. Statistical analysis showed that treatment using cattle feces bokashi as the organic fertilizer of 12 kg/ 6 m2 (P3) produced high significant influence on plant height, leaf number, and leaf width. Based on this research it can be concluded that cattle feces bokashi as the organic fertilizer up to 12 kg /plot of 6 m2 produced the best effect on plant height, leaf number, and leaf width of kawali sorghum variety. Key words: Sorgum, growt,  Cattle feces bokashi,EM4.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the nutritional values of corn stover and king grass (Pennisetum purpupoides) in complete feed on the productivity of male Ongole steer calves. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in two steps: Cattle adaptation and data collection. Cattle adaptation was carried out for 2 weeks, and the cattle were fed the experimental feed. The experimental feed was formulated into five combinations: R1 (50% king grass); R2 (12.5% corn stover +7.5% king grass 50% concentrate); R3 (25% corn stover+25% king grass); R4 (37.5% corn stover+12.5% king grass); and R5 (50% corn stover). All experimental feeds were added with 50% concentrate. Data were collected in five intervals, and each interval was of 4 weeks. In every interval, weight gain and digestibility were measured every day, beginning from the 4th week by collecting feces. Dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP) digestibility, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), body weight gain, and feed conversion data were analyzed. Results: R4 and R5 treatment significantly increased (p<0.05) the feed nutritional value and weight gain of male Ongole steer calves. Interestingly, treatment with R4 had the maximum increase (p<0.05) on the digestibility value of each variable: DM, 68.85%; OM, 71.89%; CP, 73.90%; NDF, 59.10%; ADF, 55.35%; and weight gain, 0.61/gr/day. Conclusion: R4 treatment found to be the best nutritional value for improving the productivity of male Ongole steer calves.