This study aimed to compare local dairy farmer ration formula with national research council in producing higher feed efficiency and milk production. This study had two stages. The first stage was in vitro study of dairy farmer rations which have different raw materials (R3, R4, and R5) with NRC based ration (R2) and Demo Farm ration (R1). The variables measured in this stage were proximate composition, volatile fatty acid, ammonia, dry matter and organic matter digestibility. The first stage used a randomized block design with five treatments, three groups of ruminal fluid, and three replications. The second stage used nine lactating cows with three periods of lactation (one, three, and other) and used a randomized block design with three treatments, three groups, and one replication. Parameters measured were dry matter intake, manure score, milk production, body weight gain, body condition score, and technical and economical efficiencies. The first stage result showed that R1, R2, and R3 were three best rations in nutrient composition and fermentability (ammonia and volatile fatty acid concentrations were optimum for microbial growth and high digestibility), so in conclusion those three rations were the best rations and should be compared by in vivo method. The result of the second stage showed that all tested rations were not significantly different in milk production, performance and efficiency, so in conclusion those three rations have the same quality.Key words: dairy cattle, milk production, profitability, rations test ABSTRAK Tujuan penelitian adalah membandingkan ransum peternak dengan ransum yang disusun berdasarkan National Research Council (NRC) dalam meningkatkan efisiensi pakan, produksi susu, serta profitabilitas usaha. Penelitian terdiri atas dua tahap. Tahap pertama merupakan uji kualitas ransum peternak berbeda formula (based practise) (R3, R4, dan R5) dari ransum berdasarkan NRC (R2) dan Demo Farm (R1) secara in vitro. Variabel yang diamati adalah komposisi proksimat, volatile fatty acid (VFA), amonia, dan kecernaan bahan kering dan organik. Rancangan percobaan yang digunakan pada tahap satu ialah rancangan acak kelompok dengan lima perlakuan, tiga kelompok cairan rumen dan tiga ulangan. Penelitian tahap dua menggunakan sembilan sapi FH yang terbagi ke dalam tiga kelompok periode laktasi (dua, tiga, dan lainnya) dan menggunakan rancangan acak kelompok, yaitu tiga perlakuan, tiga kelompok laktasi, dan satu ulangan. Peubah yang diamati adalah konsumsi, produksi susu, manure score, pertambahan bobot badan, body condition score (BCS), efisiensi, dan harga ransum. Percobaan tahap satu menunjukkan bahwa R1, R2, dan R3 memiliki kandungan nutrien dan fermentabilitas yang lebih baik (VFA dan amonia optimum untuk pertumbuhan mikrob rumen, serta kecernaan bahan kering dan organik lebih tinggi) sehingga disimpulkan bahwa ketiga ransum tersebut merupakan ransum terbaik dan perlu diujibandingkan secara in vivo. Hasil penelitian tahap dua menunjukkan bahwa ketiga ransum tidak menghasilkan perbedaan y...