Four students of Animal Sciences UGM have developed a formula to prevent inflammation of the udders of dairy cows. The students (Etis Etika Cahyani, Amelia Rahmawati S, Elyda Febriana, Denies Chrispatra Ningtyas) use cacao peel waste as antiseptic to prevent mastitis.
Denies said the cacao peel contains flavonoid compounds or polymerised tannin known to have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammation natures.
“The compound contents give us opportunities to make a useful product to prevent mastitis in dairy cows,” she said on Wednesday (8/6) at Faculty of Animal Sciences UGM.
Mastitis in cows will bring a great loss to farmers as it can decrease milk production and quality.
“Cows that get mastitis, let alone clinical, are difficult to cure. The milk can no longer be produced which is very disadvantaging the farmers,” she said.
The students then process the cacao peel waste, making it into spray through maceration methods. Next, activity test is done on the bacterial growth by applying the cacao spray into it.
“The result showed that the spray from the cacao peel can effectively prevent the mastitis in dairy cows,” Etis added.
They all hope the research can provide a scientific information to society, especially farmers related to the prevention of mastitis in dairy cows. Further research remains to be conducted to know the effectivity of the spray to the cows.