Professor of Faculty of Animal Science (Fapet) IPB University Offers Three Strategies to Answer Challenges in Productivity, Meat Quality, and Environmental Emissions in Ruminant Farming
Professor of Faculty of Animal Science (Fapet) IPB University, Prof Sri Suharti explained the strategy of developing sustainable broiler ruminants. This strategy is focused on the integration of microbial-based nutritional engineering and phytogenic additives to answer the challenges of productivity, meat quality, and environmental emissions in the ruminant livestock system in Indonesia.
Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) shows that over the past five years, Indonesia has experienced a deficit in beef and buffalo meat supply. In 2024, the deficit reached 263,42 thousand tons.
“This condition encourages the government to import broiler cattle and buffalo meat. On the other hand, although the population of goats and sheep is high, it has not been optimized as the main supplier of national meat,” said Prof Sri in the Press Conference of Pre Scientific Oration of Professor of IPB University through Zoom Meeting (7/10).
Prof Sri revealed a number of major problems in local cattle farming. One of them is the low growth performance, which is only 0,4-0,8 kg/head/day due to high-fiber waste-based feed. As a comparison, imported cattle such as Brahman Cross can reach 1,2 kg/head/day.
Other issues of concern are meat quality and methane emissions from rumen fermentation. “Ruminants account for about 27 percent of global methane production, with dairy and beef cattle contributing about 65 percent of total enteric methane,” she explained.
To overcome these challenges, Prof Sri offers three main strategies, namely:
1. Development of Local Cellulitic Microbial Probiotics
The first strategy is to develop microbial isolates from Indonesia’s endemic herbivores and local livestock such as Madura cattle and buffalo. These microbial isolates are able to improve fiber digestibility of agricultural waste-based feed.
For example, Enterococcus faecium bacteria isolated from herbivore feces and tested in vitro showed an increase in rumen bacterial population, dry matter digestibility, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production. Giving probiotics to Madura cattle increased daily body weight by 49 percent, from 0,43 to 0,64 kg per day.
To overcome the storage problem of live probiotics, an encapsulation technique was used. “Probiotic encapsulation maintains microbial viability for 28 days at room temperature and increases protein degradation efficiency and VFA production,” added Prof Sri.
2. Utilization of Phytogenic Additives
Phytogenic additives are additives from natural plants that improve animal health and productivity. Plants such as lerak, Moringa, and lamtoro contain saponins and tannins that are proven to suppress methane gas production.
Lerak extract, for example, can reduce methane emissions by up to 11 percent through the mechanism of inhibiting rumen protozoa. Another innovation in the form of herbal mineral blocks was developed as a practical supplement for livestock, which contains a combination of minerals and phytogenic additives.
However, Prof Sri admits there are still challenges in mass production of active phytogenic compounds. “The extraction process is still expensive and complicated. The compounds are also volatile, so they need protection through protein and carbohydrate-based encapsulation,” she explained.
3. Improving Meat Quality Through Unsaturated Fatty Acid Protection
Prof Sri said, another problem in ruminant meat is the high level of saturated fatty acids due to biohydrogenation in the rumen. For this reason, a protection technique using calcium soap from soybean oil and flaxseed is carried out to maintain the content of unsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic.
“With this protection, the meat produced becomes healthier and has high economic value in the premium market,” said Prof Sri. (dr) (IAAS/ASY)
