Feed wafers from fermented sugarcane tops and Tithonia diversifolia with added tapioca starch: Effects on physical quality and in-vitro parameters for ruminant feed

Background: Alternative feeds for ruminants that can be explored are sugarcane tops as a source of crude fiber and tithonia as a source of protein. Long droughts and direct use of these components may not meet nutritional standards. Processing technologies such as wafer production, using tapioca starch as an adhesive, can improve feed durability, storage, and nutritional consistency. The addition of tapioca starch in ruminants’ feed should be considered, as its high starch content may affect overall feed digestibility. Aim: This research aims to assess at knowing the impact of the use of tapioca starch as an adhesive on complete feed wafers based on fermented sugarcane tops and tithonia to produce sturdy physical quality of wafers and increase in vitro digestibility of nutrients. Methods: The experiment used a group randomized design with four treatments, consisting of 5% tapioca starch in the ration (T1), 10% tapioca starch in the ration (T2), 15% tapioca starch in the ration (T3), 20% tapioca starch in the ration (T4), and five groups as replicates. The parameters included the physical properties of wafers (aroma, texture, color, water binding capacity, and density), in vitro digestibility of nutrients, volatile fatty acids production, NH, pH, methane gas production, and total gas production. Results: The results indicated that the use of tapioca starch had a non-significant effect (p > 0.05) on color and a significant effect (p < 0.05) on aroma and texture. Digestibility of nutrients, rumen fluid characteristics, and total gas and methane gas production were significant (p < 0.05). Has a firm, dense texture (not easily broken), a distinctive aroma of wafers, and a stable rumen pH of 6.96 in the T2 treatment made effective rumen conditions indicated by dry matter digestibility of 62.41%, organic matter digestibility of 62.52%, and protein digestibility of 64.40%. Conclusion: The research concludes that in the T2 treatment, the addition of 10% tapioca flour as an adhesive and energy source in a complete feed wafer ration based on fermented sugarcane tops and tithonia being the best treatment for physical quality, and nutrient digestibility.