Outreach on Feed Formulation for Sheep in Candipuro Village by One of the Doctor Mengabdi Teams of Universitas Brawijaya 2024 with Members:
- Andien Zsalvabilla Ardilainy
- Shofia Auliya’ Ennoanda
- Dewi Poedjawati
- Putri Ariesta
- Linus Osama Asya Putra
- Muhamad Firman Ataullah
A group of students from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya (FKH UB), conducted a Community Service Programme (KKN) with activities focused on outreach regarding the utilisation and formulation of sheep feed based on the abundant local feed resources available around Lumajang. This was delivered to a community of farmers in Candipuro Village, Candipuro District, Lumajang Regency, on Friday (12/08/2024).
The outreach and feed formulation activities were conducted under the guidance of Drh. Widi Nugroho, Ph.D., from FKH UB and funded by the DRTPM Community Service Grant from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of Indonesia (Kemendikbud Ristek RI) 2024.
The student group conveyed that proper and effective feed formulation using potential feed ingredients from the Lumajang area is crucial for local farmers to maximise sheep growth, fulfil nutritional needs, and support optimal and sustainable farm management. Moreover, the utilisation of abundant local feed resources is highly beneficial for farmers, encouraging them to make use of by-products from factory or agricultural waste, such as odot grass, fine rice bran, tofu pulp, and pollard. This approach helps reduce feeding costs while achieving optimal daily weight gain in sheep.
Currently, many traditional sheep farmers in Indonesia prioritise feeding to fill the animal’s stomach rather than focusing on the nutritional needs of the livestock. This can lead to suboptimal livestock results, such as stunting, reducing the market value of local sheep.
“Therefore, this outreach and training on sheep feed formulation is crucial, especially for sheep aged 3-4 months, which require protein-rich feed for daily growth and weight gain,” explained Andien, the KKN group leader. “The importance of paying attention to the nutrition of pregnant ewes must also be considered to improve milk quality and the health of lambs born, thereby achieving maximum productivity,” added Enno, a group member who observed the growth of pregnant ewes.
The event, held at Srikandi Jaya Farm, was attended by 20 local farmers from Candipuro Hamlet, Lumajang, each owning approximately 100 sheep, and Drh. Yusuf, a veterinarian from Pasirian, who also provided guidance during the outreach.
This outreach was conducted after the KKN students, guided by Drh. Widi Nugroho, collected daily weight gain data for 14 days on sheep (male, post-weaning lambs, female, and pregnant females) using the formulated feed, which was consulted with the Food and Agriculture Office of Lumajang. The use of Odot Grass, Pollard, and Fine Rice Bran in the feed formulation for post-weaning lambs resulted in significant daily weight gain compared to the traditional feed usually given by local farmers.
The event also emphasised the importance of using agricultural and factory processing waste, such as rice bran and tofu pulp, as alternative livestock feed. Utilising abundant local resources can reduce production costs and support sustainable farm management.
Erman, the owner of Srikandi Jaya Farm, expressed his appreciation for the KKN programme and the outreach held by FKH UB students. “We are greatly helped by this activity. Farmers here have become more aware of the importance of proper feed formulation to improve livestock outcomes,” he stated.
This outreach aims to encourage traditional farmers to pay more attention to the nutritional aspects of their feed management, thereby increasing the productivity and quality of sheep and supporting efforts to improve the marketability of local sheep. The event concluded with an interactive discussion between students, farmers, and local veterinarians. Farmers received practical guidance and tips on formulating effective feed using available resources in their surroundings, hoping to positively impact the farming community in Candipuro Village and beyond, while supporting the welfare of farmers through better and sustainable feed management.