Since 2015, Faculty of Animal Sciences UGM has established cooperation with developers of grass seed and legume, Cropmark Seed Company New Zealand.
After testing 30 grass seed and legume from Cropmark New Zealand, the Faculty has selected 3 potential types that are adaptive to Indonesia’s agroecology condition. One of them is forbs Chicory.
Chicory is a type of forbs, herbaceous feed that is often found in grazing pastures. The plant is important to increase productivity of pastures. The research done by the Faculty found that Chicory Intybus was potential in Indonesia as the production may reach 2—3 times of its origin country.
“Our research found that Chicory could adapt well here with high protein content (25,5% BK) and low crude fibres (26.0% BK). Compared to other legumes normally grown in Indonesia, the nutrient content is far better,” said Dean, Prof. Dr. Ir. Ali Agus, DAA., DEA., IPU, when contacted on Tuesday (8/12).
Ali Agus added Chicory to be grown by UGM would produce up to 55 tonnes/hectare with a 18% water level.
“If harvest is done each month, the production in the dry season may reach 330 tonnes/hectares/year or 60 tonnes of dry grain product/hectare/year,” he said.
According to Ali Agus, the production here was far higher than that in New Zealand which is 8 – 19% of dry grain product, crude protein 20 – 26% and crude fibre 20 – 30%. In New Zealand, the dry grain product reaches 8-16 tonnes/hectare/year.
“This means that the production may reach 3- 4 times higher than in the origin country. The fertile soil of Java is one of the supporting factors for high production,” he said.
Similar views were shared by researchers Ir. Nafiatul Umami, S.Pt., M.P., Ph.D., IPM., Dr. Ir. Bambang Suhartanto, DEA, Slamet Widodo, S.Pt, and Dr. Tim Cookson and Brian Thorrington, representatives from Cropmark Seed Company New Zealand. They said that Chicory was suitable to be grown in Indonesia believing that it would contribute to the cattle feed development in the country.