Prof Muhammad Ridla Highlights 20 Percent Feed Loss, Causing IDR 29 Trillion in Damages
Prof Muhammad Ridla, Professor at the Faculty of Animal Science, IPB University, presented solutions for improving feed quality and sustainable livestock production through the application of feed biotechnology.
He explained that enzyme-based technologies and functional microbes can significantly enhance nutrient utilization by breaking down complex components in feed ingredients.
“This approach improves feed digestibility, nutrient fulfillment, and supports sustainable growth and health of livestock,” he said.
Prof Ridla noted that Indonesia’s national feed production in 2024 reached 18,5 million tons, valued at IDR 148 trillion. At the same time, a 20 percent feed loss resulted in losses of up to IDR 29 trillion. “A 10 percent increase in digestibility through biotechnology could save around IDR 14,5 trillion,” he added.
He explained that commercial feed mills in Indonesia have generally adopted enzymes and probiotics to improve nutrient digestibility, support gut health, and reduce ammonia emissions in barns through more efficient nitrogen utilization.
However, he emphasized that smallholder farmers’ understanding of feed biotechnology remains limited. Many small-scale farmers are still unfamiliar with enzymes, probiotics, prebiotics, fermented feed, and biotechnology-based manure processing.
Prof Ridla elaborated that feed biotechnology includes the use of various enzymes, such as phytase, which helps reduce environmental pollution. For example, in broiler chickens, phytase can reduce the requirement for available phosphorus from 0,40 percent to 0,21 percent.
“Protease enzymes also enhance protein digestion efficiency with a single-dose supplementation in corn–soybean meal diets can increase protein digestibility by 11 percent and nitrogen retention by 4 percent,” he explained.
Meanwhile, carbohydrase enzymes can increase metabolizable energy by 100–250 kcal/kg and improve protein digestibility by about 5 percent.
In addition to enzymes, lactic acid bacteria probiotics play an essential role in maintaining gut health, which forms the foundation of nutrient efficiency. Their use has been proven to improve intestinal histology, increase feed intake and body weight, and reduce the feed conversion ratio (FCR).
Prof Ridla added that fermentation and enzymatic treatments are also effective in reducing antinutritional compounds in feed ingredients, thereby improving overall ration quality. (dh) (IAAS/TIR)
