Pustaka Ilmiah Universitas Padjadjaran

The experiment was aimed to observe the optimum level of dried ramie leaf utilization as a substitute for concentrate, showed by digestibility of diet nutrition in young male sheep. In vivo digestibility method was implemented in this experiment using 20 male Garut sheep age between 8-12 month with the average body weight of 34.6kg (var.koef 28%). The experimental design was completely randomized design with five treatments each replicated four times. The treatments were R0 (41% native grass + 59% concentrate), R1 (44% native grass + 49% concentrate + 7% dried ramie leaf), R2 (49% native grass + 36%concentrate + 15% dried ramie leaf), R3 (57% native grass + 17% concentrate + 26% dried ramie leat) and R4 (67% native grass + 33% dried ramie leaf), all based on dry matter content of feed offered. Statistical analysis of the data showed that the substitution 60% concentrate by dried ramie leaf in diet or utilization 26% dried ramie leaf in diet decreased (P<0.05) digestibility of diet dry and organic matter, diet crude protein, diet ether extract and N free extract, nor diet crude tibre It was concluded that dried ramie leaf can be used to substitute 35% of concentrate in the diet of sheep offered native grass as basal diet or the optimum utilization of dried ramie leaf in sheep diet was 15% in the diet.