POTENSI ALFALFA (Medicago sativa L.) SEBAGAI FEED SUPPLEMENT UNTUK AYAM RAS PETELUR: PERFORMAN DAN KUALITAS TELUR - M. Azhar; M. A. Daruslam; B. N. Prasetyo; C. Pratama; T. L. Aulyani; S. Faradila (Agrinimal Jurnal Ilmu Ternak dan Tanaman, 2023)
Ayam ras petelur pada fase produksi memiliki dua masalah utama yaitu penurunan performa dan kualitas telur. Kondisi tersebut dapat diatasi dengan pemberian alfalfa sebagai feed supplement melalui air minum. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui potensi alfalfa sebagai feed supplement terhadap performa dan kualitas telur ayam ras petelur. Sebanyak 16 ekor ayam ayam ras petelur strain Hy-Line Brown umur 40 minggu ditempatkan secara individu pada kadang cages ukuran 30 x 30 x 40 cm. Pemberian pakan dilakukan 2 kali sehari pada pukul 06:00 dan pukul 14:00 dengan jumlah 115 g/ekor/hari, sedangkan air minum diberikan secara ad libitum. Aplikasi pemberian feed supplement alfalfa dikelompokkan menjadi 4 perlakuan berdasarkan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL). Perlakuan pertama tanpa pemberian alfalfa (kontrol), perlakuan ke-2 yaitu alfalfa 3% (3 g bubuk alfalfa dilarutkan dalam 100 ml akuades), perlakuan ke-3 yaitu alfalfa 6% (6 g bubuk alfalfa dilarutkan dalam 100 ml akuades), dan perlakuan ke-4 yaitu alfalfa 9% (9 g bubuk alfalfa dilarutkan dalam 100 ml akuades). Alfalfa yang telah dilarutkan kemudian disaring dan dimasukkan ke dalam botol ukur 200 ml yang dimodifikasi dengan tutup menggunakan nipple dringker. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pemberian feed supplement alfalfa meningkatkan produksi telur, namun konsumsi air minum, konsumsi pakan, dan konvensi pakan tidak menunjukkan perbedaan antara perlakuan. Berat telur dan warna kuning telur mengalami peningkatan dengan pemberian feed supplement alfalfa. Kesimpulannya aplikasi feed supplement alfalfa 9% melalui air minum mampu meningkatkan produksi telur, berat telur dan warna kuning telur. ABSTRACT Laying hens in the final phase of production has two main problems, namely a decrease in performance and egg quality. This condition can be overcome by giving alfalfa as a feed supplement through drinking water. This study aims to determine the potential of alfalfa as a feed supplement on the performance and egg quality of laying hens. A total of 16 laying hens of the Hy-Line Brown strain aged 40 weeks were placed individually in cages measuring 30 x 30 x 40 cm. Feeding was done 2 times a day at 06:00 and 14:00 with the amount of 115 g/bird/day, while drinking water was given ad libitum. Alfalfa feed supplement application was grouped into 4 treatments based on a completely randomized design (CRD). The first treatment was without alfalfa (control), the second treatment was 3% alfalfa (3 g of alfalfa powder dissolved in 100 ml of distilled water), the third treatment was 6% alfalfa (6 g of alfalfa powder dissolved in 100 ml of distilled water), and the 4th treatment was 9% alfalfa (9 g of alfalfa powder dissolved in 100 ml of distilled water). Alfalfa that has been dissolved is then filtered and put into a modified 200 ml measuring bottle with a lid using a nipple drinker. The results showed that alfalfa feed supplementation increased egg production, but drinking water consumption, feed consumption, and feed convention did not show any difference between treatments. Egg weight and yolk color increased with the alfalfa feed supplement. In conclusion, the application of a 9% alfalfa feed supplement through drinking water was able to increase egg production, egg weight, and egg yolk color.