Animal production in recent decades has been increasing dramatically, to satisfy the demand of an ever-growing human population and economy. However, this rapid growth has also led to a rise in the environmental impact associated with animal production. Indeed, animal farming produces a large amount of waste, contributes to deforestation and the loss of habitats, and generates to various problems including stress and diseases. This is problematic as it leads to a greater demand for land and other resources, further exacerbating the issue of food security. Moreover, animal farms can be relatively inefficient at utilizing available resources due to their reliance on conventional agricultural practices, such as the use of extensive arable land and large numbers of poor-quality pastures and forages for feeding their animal. In addition, the demand of halal food is increasing sharply due to the spread of Moslem population. These issues are interesting to be intensively discussed by various experts in related fields dealing with sustainable animal productivity and environmental footprint toward global halal and food security.
Faculty News
Faculty of Animal Science Universitas Gadjah Mada held a training event for farmers and livestock breeders titled “Training on Forage Land Management Towards Gama Umami Feed Bank” on August 22. This event is part of the activities funded by the Kedaireka Matching Fund grant from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology – Directorate General of Higher Education of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemendikbudristek – Dikti RI).
The event was held at Faculty of Animal Science Auditorium and attended by 100 livestock breeders and farmers from the Sleman Regency (dairy farmers who were involved in the Kedaireka activities of Faculty of Animal Science), as well as additional participants from Bantul, Kulonprogo, Gunung Kidul, and other regions such as Depok, Pacitan, Pati, and Kendal. This training is part of an effort to ensure feed security available throughout the season through land management and cultivation. The event opened with a speech by Prof. Ir. Budi Guntoro, S.Pt., M.Sc., Ph.D., IPU., ASEAN Eng., Dean of the Faculty of Animal Science at Universitas Gadjah Mada. In his speech, he emphasized the Faculty’s commitment to contributing and assisting the community in the field of animal science, particularly feed. The symbolic handover of Gama Umami seedlings was carried out by the Dean to the representative breeders in attendance.
Faculty of Animal Science at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) proudly announces the inauguration of its 40th professor, Prof. Ir. Dyah Maharani, S.Pt., MP., Ph.D., IPM, in the field of Genetics and Animal Breeding, held on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, at the Universitas Gadjah Mada Senate Hall.
During the inauguration, Prof. Dyah Maharani delivered a speech titled “Breeding Models and Programs for Local Livestock in Indonesia.” The speech highlighted the importance of the quality and availability of breeding stock in determining productivity in the livestock sector. Dyah explained that achieving superior breeding stock quality requires an integrated and comprehensive breeding model and program.
As part of a series of UGM Inauguration (PPSMB) activities, the Faculty of Animal Science UGM hold Pioneer Inauguration of Rancher 2023 which lasts for 2 days on 2-3 August 2023. Successful Learner Training for Freshmen or better known as PPSMB is an activity Official campus orientation and introduction for new students at UGM. With the theme “Young Rancher Synergy with Critical and Adaptive Character, Towards Dynamic Global Development” as many as 309 new students of the Faculty of Animal Science class of 2023 participated in a series of activities for two days with great enthusiasm.
The Indonesia Australia Red Meat and Cattle Partnership is again holding a “Small Scale Commercial Cattle Farming Business Management Training” in collaboration with the Faculty of Animal Science Universitas Gadjah Mada and the Faculty of Animal Science, Hasanuddin University. This training was held in Makassar on 24 – 29 July 2023. The target participants in this training were farmers in Kalimantan and Sulawesi with a minimum number of private ownerships of 10 head of cattle and who were commercially oriented.