UB Faculty of Animal Science Lecturers Participate in Discussing the 2022 SIKOMANDAN to Increase Cattle and Buffalo Productivity

Through the Ministry of Agriculture, the Indonesian government issues a regulation regarding Special Efforts to Accelerate the Increase of Pregnant Cattle and Buffalo Populations (UPSUS SIWAB). However, in 2020 it changed its name to the National Mainstay Commodity Buffalo Cow, abbreviated as SIKOMANDAN.

The goal is to increase the productivity of cattle and buffalo, which are the mainstay of meat-producing livestock. By introducing artificial insemination (IB) in productive female cows and buffalo. So that it can increase the population of cattle and buffalo to meet the community’s need for animal protein from meat and milk, at the same time improving the standard of living and welfare of farmers.

Discussing the program, the Director-General of Livestock held a meeting with the Directorate of Breeding, the Director-General of Animal Husbandry, the leaders of the national and regional Artificial Insemination Centers (BIB), as well as practitioners from universities, namely representatives of the Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB) and Universitas Brawijaya (UB). In addition, the event was held offline according to health protocols, Thursday (13/01/2022) to discuss the availability and distribution of frozen semen.

The meeting was also attended by UB’s Faculty of Animal Science (Fapet) lecturer, Prof. Trinil Susilawati. Although he gave directions in its implementation, what needs to be considered is the success of IB is not only the distribution of frozen semen. In addition, socialization and education to the heads of regional offices about the importance of AI using local cattle.

The average service perception in East Java (the province with the most beef cattle) shows a high pregnancy failure rate in Limousin and Simental crosses, even though IB has been carried out more than twice.

“The failure was due to the high blood content of limousine cows, due to the breeding (PO cattle) being crossed with limousine cows so that 75% of the blood in the calves is limousine blood. In addition, the feed given is below standard,” explains Trinil

 “The combination of these two factors results in persistent corpus luteum, cystic follicles, and premature embryonic death.” continued.

Therefore, it is expected that providing superior male local cattle and local cattle frozen semen is the type of Brahman, Ongole, Bali and more able to adapt to heat/tropical and low-quality feed. The use of frozen semen for AI requires liquid nitrogen to dilute it, but for areas where there is no liquid nitrogen, liquid cement can be used.

“Then, for areas where livestock rearing is released in (extensive) pastures, the natural mating system (INKA) should not be forced to use AI. While in cage rearing (intensive) other than IB, the twinning program can be introduced (twins), thus it is hoped that it can accelerate the increase in population and national beef production,” she concluded (nien/dta)