To support ruminant livestock (cattle, buffaloes, goats and sheep), forage crops are a must. Indonesia has the potential of land especially outside Java for pasture. Grassland management with superior and productive grass species will sustain the success of ruminant livestock businesses.
Chicory is a type of forbs, which are herbaceous (non-wood) wide-leaf and not grass-like plants that do not belong to the grass or legume category. Many of these plants are found in grazing fields, can live 2 years or more. Some dominate the grazing fields. This plant is important for increasing the productivity of grazing fields. In their home country, New Zealand, Chicory plants are a mainstay for dairy cows and sheep in the pasture.
Since 2015, the Faculty of Animal Science (FAS) UGM has collaborated with the grass and legume development industry called Cropmark Seed Company New Zealand. The Cropmark Seed Company is one of the leading industries of grass seed and legume exporters worldwide.
Initially, FAS UGM conducted trials on more than 30 types of grass and legumes from Cropmark New Zealand to evaluate its development potential in Indonesia. From the results of the preliminary study, 3 types were found that were very potential and adaptive to Indonesia’s agroecological conditions. One of them is Chicory forbs plant.
FAS UGM is very optimistic that the Chicory Intibus plant can become a superior feed in Indonesia. Research conducted by FAS UGM and Cropmark Seed Company New Zealand shows that Chicory production in Indonesia is greater 2-3 times compared to production in its home country, New Zealand.
“We carry out research to develop these plants in Indonesia. Chicory is able to adapt well here with high crude protein content (25.5% BK) and low crude fiber (26.0% BK). Compared with legume feed plants that are commonly cultivated in Indonesia, the nutrient content is much better. “This is the main advantage of Chicory plants,” said the Dean of FAS UGM, Prof. Dr. Ir. Ali Agus, DAA., DEA., IPU, when contacted on Tuesday (8/12).
The Dean added, Chicory planted in the FAS UGM lawn can produce fresh production of 55 tons/hectare at the age of 30 days with a moisture content of around 18%. In the dry season (August 2017 – February 2018), Chicory can produce forage production as much as 27.5 tons/hectare each time harvest. If the harvest is done every month, then Chicory production in the dry season can reach 330 tons/hectare/year or around 60 tons of dry matter/hectare/year.
“This production is much higher compared to Chicory which is grown in New Zealand with dry ingredients ranging from 8-19% with crude protein 20-26% and crude fiber content of 20-30%. In New Zealand, the production of dry matter produced is 8-16 tons/hectare/year,” explained the Dean. This means that production is 3 to 4 times higher than in his home country. Land fertility in Java is one of the factors supporting high productivity. Besides the Dean, the research team consisting of Ir. Nafiatul Umami, S.Pt., M.P., Ph.D., IPM., Dr. Ir. Bambang Suhartanto, DEA, Slamet Widodo, S.Pt, Dr. Tim Cookson, and Brian Thorrington from the Cropmark Seed Company New Zealand stated that Chicory is very suitable to be developed in Indonesia and is sure to be able to contribute to the progress of Indonesian animal feed. (*)
Source: https://krjogja.com/web/news/read/88175/Fapet_UGM_Kembangkan_Tanaman_Pakan_Chicory
Related Links:
https://www.suaramerdeka.com/news/baca/159199/fapet-ugm-kembangkan-tanaman-pakan-chicory
https://jogjapolitan.harianjogja.com/read/2019/01/10/512/964165/ugm-kembangkan-tanaman-pakan-chicory
http://www.majalahinfovet.com/2019/01/fapet-ugm-optimis-tanaman-chicory-jadi.html?m=1
https://www.ristekdikti.go.id/info-iptek-dikti/fapet-ugm-kembangkan-tanaman-pakan-chicory/