Cow manure, typically used to make organic fertilizer or compost, has been innovatively repurposed by Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) students into eco-friendly bricks named Batako Bawono.
The “Batako Bawono” program was initiated by collaborating with three UGM study programs: Veterinary Technology, Animal Science and Industry, and Civil Infrastructure Management and Maintenance Engineering.
Animal science lecturer Annisa Qurrotun A’yun supervises the team, which consists of Dinda Ramadhan, Zaenal Arif, Nauziyah Azuardini, Yossi Dyah Listiana, and Muhammad Rakan Arrandhi.
These UGM students collaborated with the Kulwaru youth organization in Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta, to implement this innovative solution for livestock waste.
The community was introduced to processing cow manure into bricks through empowerment activities.
“This program successfully attracted community interest and received positive responses as an innovative solution,” Ramadhan stated in a press release on Monday (Aug. 19).
Ramadhan explained that the residents of Kulwaru often face challenges in managing cow manure despite the village being an agriculturally and economically active area.
“The cow manure produced daily is not well-processed, making it difficult for residents to maintain a clean and pleasant environment,” she said.
According to a profile of Kulwaru, Ramadhan mentioned that about 80% of the population works as farmers and livestock breeders. The village raises various types of livestock, including cows, goats, chickens, catfish, and others.
While the community is familiar with processing cow manure into organic fertilizer, this solution has not been sufficient to manage all the manure produced.
The student team calculated that a cow can produce 8-10 kilograms of manure daily, or 2.6-3.6 tons per year. This means a livestock area can produce over 100 kilograms of waste daily.
The cow manure brick innovation offers a new alternative for waste management. The production of Batako Bawono can absorb 61.8% of the manure generated each day.
The Kulwaru community has warmly received this innovative approach. Encouraged by the positive response, Ramadhan and her team are committed to further empowering the community through the Batako Bawono Program.
The local youth organization, Karya Muda Wetan, which actively participated in the program, will be trained to develop the Batako Bawono business.
Additionally, the organization is planning to become a learning center for making cow manure-based bricks in Yogyakarta.
The innovation and community empowerment in the Batako Bawono Program have received recognition from the Ministry of Education through the Student Creativity Program in Community Service.
Author: Tasya
Editor: Gusti Grehenson