Faculty of Animal Science (FAS) UGM becomes an expert team for livestock development in West Bangka Regency. After conducting the study for 2 months, the study result presentation was carried out on Tuesday (30/7) in front of of the Head of the West Bangka Regional Development Planning Agency, Dr. Muhammad Shaleh, in the West Bangka Regency Government office.
“The result of the study shows that the potential for livestock development in West Bangka is supported by the existing landscape. There is still a lot of large land containing grass, some in the form of rubber plantations, and some in the form of palm oil plantations,” said Vice Dean for Research, Community Service and Cooperation of FAS UGM, Ir. Bambang Suwignyo, S.Pt., M.P., Ph.D., IPM as chairman of the research team.
Bambang added, the potential of grass from under palm oil plantations could be more than 61 thousand livestock units or equivalent of 46 thousand head of cattle weighing 300 kg or equivalent of 77 thousand sheep.
“The development potential is seen from the trend over the last 5 years before 2018 which tends to increase convincing that the integration of cow-palm which is formulated with supporting regulations will accelerate its development,” said Bambang who has expertise in the field of pasture.
Chairman of the Center for Livestock Development Study of FAS UGM, Dr. Ir. Sigit Bintara, M.Sc., IPM who also participated in the group said that the growth of industries related to the livestock sector such as feedmil made from palm oil industry by products will complement the economic movement of the livestock sector.
Head of West Bangka Regional Development Planning Agency hopes that the FAS UGM Team study will become a recommendation that can be followed up by the West Bangka Regional Government.
“If there are things that need further study, we ask for another assistance from FAS UGM,” said Shaleh. (Nadia)