UNS — Utilizing the local potential, Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta students held training for concentrate and silage production for cattle farmers in Gonggang Village, Poncol, Magetan District. The training was held because, according to the village record, the majority of people in the village work as farmers and cattle farmers.
The person in charge of this Student Community Service Program (KKN), Ervyana Rendasari, stated that the local farmers were challenged by the high concentrate price. Therefore, the training program aimed to educate local people to produce their own concentrate at affordable prices to increase local farmers’ profits.
“Each household has cattle they raise at home. Therefore, the yield is high, but the concentrate price is high. The concentrate has relatively low crude fibers and is easy to digest by cattle,” Ervyana explained on Wednesday (16/3/2022).
The concentrate was made from both natural and premade materials. The production process started with preparing the formula for the ration according to the available materials, nutritional values of the ration, cattle’s needs, and prices. The materials were then mixed following the prepared composition and rations. “The mixing process started from the lowest proportion to ensure the homogeneity of the mixture,” Ervyana explained.
Besides concentrate production, the Group also held training for silage production by preserving forage or grains that farmers could use when it is difficult to find animals’ feeds. Both programs were positively appraised by Gonggang Village Chief Agus Susanto, S.E.
“Through these programs, the people, especially cattle farmers, could apply the technology to produce concentrate and silage and increases their profit from cattle farming,” Agus stated.
The field supervisor for the Group provided a similar notion. Eksa Rusdiyana, M.Sc., added that the training was in line with the local community’s needs as the result of discussion between the team and the local people. “We hoped the result of this training could be applied continuously,” Eksa hoped. Humas UNS
Reporter: Bayu Aji Prasetya
Editor: Dwi Hastuti