Nowadays, one of the challenges in the farming industry is finding high-production, high nutrient forage at an affordable price. Fortunately, the Faculty of Animal Science Universitas Gadjah Mada (Fapet UGM) has addressed this issue. Through the Laboratorium Hijauan Makanan Ternak dan Pastura (HMTP), the Faculty has successfully contributed by providing livestock feed that meets specific needs, such as tropical alfalfa iegume (Medicago sativa cv Kacang Ratu BW) with PVT number 929/PPVT/2021, napler grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv Gama Umami) with PVT number 889/PVHP/2020 and chicory (Cichorium intybus) which is still in the process of being submitted for PVT.
“Chicory has currently even undergone multilocation trials and has been planted in 10 Research Institutes for Superior Livestock and Animal Feed Forage or Balai Penelitian Ternak Unggul dan Hijauan Pakan Ternak (BPTU HPT) spread across Indonesian regions. The good news is that the result is that it can grow and adapt very well, and will be local Indonesian local livestock feed innovation,” explained a researcher from HMTP Laboratory, Prof. Ir. Nafiatul Umami, S.Pt., M.P., Ph.D., IPM, ASEAN Eng, during Fapet Menyapa, Wednesday (14/1).
Other researchers from HMTP Laboratory also attended this event. They are Dr. Ir. Miftahus Shiratul Haq, S.Pt, IPP, Prof. Dr. Ir. Bambang Suhartanto, DEA. and Dr. Ir. Agussalim, S.Pt, M.Sc, IPP, ASEAN Eng.
Nafiatul Umami added that the research developed at the HMTP Laboratory is not merely focused on those two types. The HMTP Laboratory does conduct more research on ruminants, but without leaving out opportunities for research on poultry. “Tropical alfalfa and chicory can not only be used for ruminants but also for poultry,” she said.
Furthermore, Prof. Dr. Ir. Bambang Suhartanto, DEA further noted that the farming production system in Indonesia is considered inefficient (high-cost) because it is intensive, with feed being provided, while an efficient livestock production system is one that uses grazing land. In contrast to Australia, Indonesia does not have a dedicated land policy for grazing land. However, Indonesia possesses various types of land with high potential for use as grazing land within an integrated system.
“Integration opportunities include integration of cattle with oil palm plantations that have more than 15 million hectares of land, integration of various other types of plantations with suitable livestock, and even integration with bees. Besides having experts in the integration of large livestock with plantations, HMTP Laboratory also has bee farming experts (Trigona, Apis mellifera)”, Bambang added.
The HMTP Laboratory team assessed that in livestock production systems, feed can account for 50–70% of total production costs (excluding the cost of the livestock themselves). Meanwhile, forage feed in general is a source of fiber for ruminants with a relatively low cost per unit.
Because forage alone can meet the nutritional needs of livestock, even intensive livestock production systems will be cost-efficient. In this era, high-nutrient forage innovation has been initiated.
Original article: https://fapet.ugm.ac.id/terobosan-fapet-ugm-hadirkan-pakan-hijaun-produksi-dan-bernutrisi-tinggi-dengan-harga-terjangkau/
Translated by: Merlin Fatika Ramadhani