Kajian Pemberian Pakan Alternatif terhadap Konsumsi, Kecernaan, dan Efisiensi Penggunaan Pakan pada Jelarang Paha Putih (Ratufa affinis Raffles, 1821)

Four cream-coloured giant squirrel (Ratufa affinis) consisted of one male and three females used in this study to determine the effect of feeding alternatives on consumption, digestibility, and feed efficiency use. During the study each of the animals was placed in individual cages equipped with sleeping box. Feed given were consisting of Guava (Psidium guajava), sweet corn (Zea mays), coconut (Cocos nucifera), peanut (Arachis hypogea), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), mung bean sprouts (Vigna radiata), and sunflower seed (Helianthus annuus). Feedstuffs are given based on this animal preferences on the grain in its natural habitat. Feed given cafetaria and drinking water available ad libitum. Results showed that the average of dry matter consumed by male was 45.95 g / head / day and by female 39.14 g / head / day; rough protein by male 6.99 g / head / day and by female 5.76 g / head / day ; gross energy by male 2392 cal / head / day and by female 2116 cal / head / day. Feed efficiency use of male is 13,99 persen and female is 12,63 persen. The average of body weight gain of the male animal is higher than that of the female, namely 6.43 g / head /day and 4.88 g / head / day respectively. The average value of digested organic matter or Total Digestible Nutrient (TDN) was higher in the female animal, namely 95.41 persen, than that of the male, namely 92.68 persen; as well as digested energy or Digestible Energy (DE) in the female animal was higher than that in the male, namely 93.60 persen and 91.17 persen, respectively. Jurnal Biologi Indonesia, 2013, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 245-254