A research team from the Faculty of Animal Science at Universitas Gadjah Mada (Animal Science UGM) has launched high-yield and high-nutrient green fodder products at affordable prices to support livestock productivity in Indonesia.
Through the Forage and Pasture Laboratory (Laboratorium Hijauan Makanan Ternak dan Pastura/HMTP), the team has developed three innovative green feed products, namely Tropical Alfalfa legume (Medicago sativa) with Plant Variety Protection (PVT) No. 929/PPVT/2021, elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) with PVT No. 889/PVHP/2020, and chicory (Cichorium intybus), which is currently in the process of PVT registration.
Professor Nafiatul Umami, a member of the research team, explained that most of the research products developed at the HMTP Laboratory focus on ruminant feed. Nevertheless, the team has also researched poultry feed.
“Tropical Alfalfa and chicory can be used not only for ruminants but also for poultry,” she said on Thursday (Jan. 15).
Meanwhile, Professor Bambang Suhartanto, who was also present at the event, assessed that livestock production systems in Indonesia are inefficient.
According to him, they are even high-cost due to their intensive nature, with feed provided in full. In fact, he argued that efficient livestock production systems should be based on grazing.
He further noted that Indonesia does not yet have policies designating dedicated grazing land, as is the case in countries such as Australia.
However, Indonesia has various types of land with potential for use as grazing areas through integrated systems.
“Oil palm-cattle integration alone offers land potential of more than 15 million hectares, as do other plantation types with appropriate livestock, and even integration with beekeeping. The HMTP Laboratory not only has experts in integrating large livestock with plantations, but also specialists in beekeeping,” Professor Suhartanto said.
Reporter: Animal Science UGM/Satria
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photographs: Animal Science UGM