Semen quality of garut rams fed by different protein sources and their implementation potential assessment in small farms of West Java.

Excellent protein quality is absolutely required and plays an important role in the reproduction process, particularly in improving the quality of sperm for supporting the prolific nature of Garut rams. Maggot Hermetia illucens (Maggot Black Soldier Fly, MBSF) is an alternative protein source besides soybean meal (SBM) which have used as a feed. The aims of this study were to analyzed and compare the impact of different protein sources in feed on semen quality of Garut rams, and to assess the potential integration of these feeds into the small-scale breeders of West Java, Indonesia. These experiments consist of two phases; laboratory phase and breeding farms survey phase. The first phase of this study was conducted using a completely randomized design with 3 treatments and 4 replications. Treatment on this study was Brachiaria humidicola (BH) grass and T1 (concentrate contains 20% of SBM), T2 (concentrate contains 10% of SBM and 10% of MBSF), and T3 (concentrate contains 20% of MBSF). The parameters were feed consumption, semen quality (macroscopic and microscopic characteristics), also a potential ability of rams to serve females. The second phase was conducted in Garut, West Java, Indonesia as the concentration region of Garut rams, and assessing smallscale breeders who were potentially able to extend the feeding practical with MBSF, using a questionnaire as guidance. The first results showed there was no significant effect of the feeds (P>0.05) on protein nutrient consumption, semen volume, semen pH, semen color and consistency, sperm mass movement, sperm motility, sperm concentration, total number sperm per ejaculate, sperm morphology, sperm viability, sperm plasma membrane integrity and potential ability to serve females. However, the result showed a significant effect (P<0.05) on sperm viability and sperm membrane integrity. Sperm plasma membrane integrity of ram feed with T3 was better than T1 and T2. The potential ability rams to serve ewes on MBSF treatment was 38 heads, while in T1 and T2 were 43 and 57 heads respectively. The second results of the breeding farms survey explained there are two types of groups that are able to develop maggot BSF as feed based on indicators, i.e. income per month, experience, educational level, and numbers of animals. There are five categories of breeders who can apply MBSF on their farms but only four farmers from two categories were expected to be able to intergrate MBSF into their systems. The conclusion of our overall study is MBSF can be an alternative source of protein, besides soybean meal to improve the semen quality thus supporting the prolific properties of Garut rams.