Comparison of Chemical Composition, In Vitro Digestibility, and Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy in Estimating In Situ Rumen Degradable Protein of Tropical Foliage

Tropical foliage is an alternative source for protein enrichment in the dairy ration. However, due to expensive, laborious, and time-consuming data-gathering method, its degradability database inclusion ration formulation still lacking. This study aims estimate tropical foliage's situ (RDP) using chemical compositions, vitro digestibilities, near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) methods. The used one hundred ten samples observed composition, dry organic matter digestibility, degradation characteristics variables. NIRS spectra were collected calibrate validate characteristics. Correlations made prior regression analysis. results showed that varied ash (3.02%-18.3%), crude (CP) (11.6%-30.7%), fiber (CF) (10.2%-29.8%), neutral detergent (NDF) (31.0%-58.2%), acid (ADF) (18.7%-44.1%), digestibility (DMD) (23.9%-73.2%), (OMD) (25.6%-73.9%), RDP (21.0%-75.4%). was highly degraded (RDP > 60%) except Calliandra calothyrsus (59%). In significantly correlated with ash, CP, CF, DMD, OMD coefficient correlations (r) of 0.43, 0.60, -0.33, 0.74, 0.76, respectively. Estimation composition followed equation: (%)= 0.69 + 2.122 CP (%) R²= 0.41 (p<0.01) 0.162 1.270 -0.104 CF 0.489 IVOMD, 0.68, p<0.01). Calibration resulted a (R²) 0.78. It concluded can be estimated more accurately compared composition.