Prof Idat Galih Permana: Local Feed Protein Engineering as a Strategy to Increase National Milk Production
Prof Idat Galih Permana, Professor at the Faculty of Animal Science, emphasized that the application of precision nutrition engineering has been proven to increase milk production by around 15 percent and improve milk quality, especially its protein content.
In his Scientific Oration at IPB University (8/30), he said that with a dairy cow population of around 485.000, national milk production is currently stagnant. As a result, more than 80 percent of the industrial milk raw material needs still have to be met through imports.
“The average production of Friesian Holstein (FH) cows in Indonesia is only 12-14 liters per cow per day, even though their genetic potential can reach 20-25 liters. So the main problem is not just the number of cows, but their productivity,” said Prof Idat.
He added that the quality of feed in tropical regions is the cause of low productivity. High crude fiber content, low protein, and heat stress cause dairy cows to experience nutrient deficiencies. A survey on the island of Java even showed that nearly 90 percent of dairy cows do not get enough energy, protein, and minerals.
On the other hand, milk consumption in Indonesia still lags far behind neighboring countries. Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) in 2023 shows that the average national milk consumption is only 16,5 liters per capita per year, far below Thailand (33 liters), Malaysia (50 liters), and even developed countries that exceed 100 liters.
“This situation makes our animal food security vulnerable. If not addressed immediately, dependence on milk imports will continue to grow,” emphasized Prof Idat, who is also Dean of the Faculty of Animal Science at IPB University.
To address this challenge, Prof Idat proposes a precision nutrition engineering approach that emphasizes feed utilization efficiency through three main strategies.
First, nutrient synchronization in the rumen, which involves balancing the availability of nitrogen from protein with non-fiber carbohydrate energy to enable rumen microbes to function optimally in producing high-quality protein.
Second, protein protection, which involves safeguarding high-quality protein from degradation in the rumen. This can be achieved through controlled heating, chemical treatment, or the use of natural tannins. “This way, nitrogen is not wasted and can be absorbed in the small intestine as rumen undegradable protein (RUP),” he explained.
Third, precision supplementation, which is the provision of a complete nutritional package that considers the balance of protein, carbohydrates, and essential minerals such as sulfur.
According to him, the combination of local feed ingredients is also key. Legumes such as indigofera, for example, are high in protein but degrade quickly, so they need to be combined with other feeds for optimal protein utilization.
“If widely implemented, this strategy could increase dairy cow productivity in tropical regions by around 15 percent, reduce import dependency, and become a milestone for the national dairy industry’s self-reliance,” he concluded. (Fj) (IAAS/STD)
