The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKH UGM), in collaboration with PT Charoen Pokphand Indonesia (PT CPI), has established a Closed House Layer facility in Dengok Village, Gunungkidul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta.
This facility, situated in the Smart Veterinary Teaching Farm (SVTF) area, serves as a practical learning medium for veterinary students interested in the poultry sector.
A Closed House Layer is a modern poultry housing system with a fully enclosed structure, designed to optimize the environmental conditions for layer chickens by regulating ventilation, temperature, and humidity.
The groundbreaking ceremony was conducted on Thursday (May 15) by the President Director of PT CPI, Tomas Effendi, Agricultural Product Downstream Expert Staff to the Minister of Agriculture Professor Ali Agus, UGM Vice-Rector for Planning, Assets, and Information Systems Dr. Arif Setiawan Budi Nugroho, Dean of FKH UGM Professor Teguh Budipitojo, and Vice Regent of Gunungkidul Joko Parwoto.
Additionally, PT CPI awarded scholarships to 10 FKH UGM students.
Professor Budipitojo expressed his hope that the new Closed House Layer facility at SVTF would provide hands-on field experience for veterinary students in both livestock management and animal health.
He also emphasized that the establishment of this facility aims to spark student interest, particularly among FKH graduates, in the poultry industry.
“Interest in the poultry sector has been declining year by year, especially over the last ten years. This trend is not limited to UGM but is also observed across the 13 universities with faculties of veterinary medicine,” he said in Gunungkidul on Thursday (May 15), during the groundbreaking ceremony.
As Chair of the Indonesian Association of Veterinary Medicine Faculties, Professor Budipitojo expressed concern that only 15 percent of students or graduates enter the poultry field, while 65 percent prefer to pursue private practice.
To address this, he stated, the construction of the Closed House Layer is intended to bring the current poultry industry closer to the academic environment, allowing students to observe and understand its advanced development.
“Again, the hope is to reignite interest in the poultry sector. It’s important to know that poultry accounts for 75–80 percent of the national meat supply, so veterinarians must be willing to engage in this sector. Why? Because veterinarians are the ones who maintain animal health,” he explained.
PT CPI President Director Tomas Effendi stated that the Closed House Layer at FKH UGM’s Teaching Farm will serve as a platform for research, poultry farming practice, applied science, and as a miniature model of the industry.
This Teaching Farm program is part of PT CPI’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, supporting the government’s efforts to build synergy between industry and academia, in line with the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) program.
“This partnership with UGM is part of our sustainable CSR program. We have a dedicated institution managing CSR, with a strong focus on education as a mutually beneficial long-term solution. We’ve been active in CSR since 1984, including a foster child program that funds education from elementary school to university,” said Effendi.
Currently, he added, PT CPI is funding 463 students from 23 universities and has donated Closed House Layer facilities to 14 campuses across Indonesia.
“The facility at FKH UGM will have a capacity of up to 5,000 chickens and can be used for research, teaching, and even as an income-generating unit,” he said.
Effendi expressed high hopes that veterinary and animal science graduates would master the latest poultry technologies. He stressed the importance of students becoming familiar with chicken behavior and other practical aspects during their studies.
“For research purposes, I really hope universities can allocate funds to create mini farms, allowing for various interventions without risking large, commercially operational farms,” he added.
Vice Regent of Gunungkidul Joko Parwoto welcomed the development, calling it a strategic step in advancing livestock farming and veterinary education in the region.
“This is not just about constructing a building. It symbolizes a major collaboration between education, industry, and the community. The Gunungkidul Regency Government fully supports and appreciates this initiative,” said Parwoto.
Professor Ali Agus, Agricultural Product Downstream Expert Staff to the Minister of Agriculture, added that private sector support is essential for food security programs.
Through initiatives such as the development of layer chicken teaching farms, he hopes to see advancements in research and development in this field.
“I’m confident this will be meaningful and beneficial not only for the university but also for the surrounding community, particularly in Gunungkidul Regency,” he concluded.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya
Photographer: Donnie Trisfian