President Prabowo Subianto has established 77 National Strategic Projects (PSN), as outlined in the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) for the 2025–2029 period.
One of the PSNs in the livestock sector is to increase meat and dairy production.
Regarding efforts to boost meat and dairy production, a livestock breeding expert from the Faculty of Animal Science at Universitas Gadjah Mada (Animal Science UGM), Professor Dyah Maharani, offered several ideas to enhance cattle meat and milk production in Indonesia.
One of them is encouraging the acceleration of artificial insemination (AI) and embryo transfer (ET) programs based on superior genetics from both local and exotic livestock, which has already been implemented in several breeding source areas.
She noted that this program can be synergized with various stakeholders to support national food security and reduce dependence on imported meat and milk.
This program is expected to quickly increase the livestock population and improve the quality of local cattle through reproductive technology.
“This program is expected to produce more productive cattle for both meat and milk production,” she stated at the Faculty of Animal Science UGM on Monday (Mar. 10).
To support the success of this program, she further mentioned the importance of strengthening and developing selection and breeding programs for dairy and beef cattle based on genetic data across designated breeding source areas.
She said that by building a national genetic database, farmers can select superior livestock based on productivity and quality.
This national genetic database can be established using livestock recording applications, whether Android-based or web-based.
Professor Maharani mentioned several applications currently in development, including Sidik Peternakan, Aifarm, FIKKIA Animal MicroChip (FANCHIP), REKS-EL (Rekording Sapi Elektronik), and e-Recording.
“These applications should be integrated into a single national livestock genetic database, so the implementation of this digital monitoring system will assist stakeholders, including the government, in shaping policies regarding livestock breeding development in Indonesia in the future,” explained the member of ARPENAS (National Association of Animal Reproduction and Breeding Experts).
She also highlighted the importance of a reproductive efficiency improvement program through nutritional and health management, which should be considered to support reproductive success.
This program emphasizes optimizing feed based on local potential, applying heat and pregnancy detection technologies, and implementing preventive health systems to reduce cattle miscarriage and infertility rates.
As part of a long-term strategy, Professor Maharani proposed strengthening partnership programs with farmers in superior cattle breeding.
Several partnership models already in place need to be expanded, such as the partnership with palm oil companies through the SISKA program, the Bali cattle fattening partnership in East Nusa Tenggara in collaboration with PUSKUD (Village Unit Cooperative Center), and the dairy cattle partnership in Magelang, Central Java, with PT Nestle.
Additionally, the nucleus plasma partnership between farmers in West Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan, with PT Sulung Ranch-CBI group, and the cattle fattening business partnership at PT Great Giant Livestock (GGL) in Central Lampung, among others, require ongoing support and expansion in other regions.
The distribution of superior cattle can be more evenly spread by establishing regional-based cattle breeding groups.
“Partnerships between the government, cooperatives, academics, and the livestock industry are also key in providing high-quality breeding stock,” she said.
According to the professor, these various proposals align with the government’s goal of increasing national animal protein production and supporting the sustainability of livestock farming in Indonesia.
The synergy between the government and experts in the livestock sector, especially reproduction and breeding experts, is expected to support and accelerate the achievement of meat and milk self-sufficiency targets in the coming years.
Reporter: Animal Science UGM/Satria
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya