Increasing the Economic Value of Goat Manure to Become Organic Fertilizer

Livestock manure can cause air pollution, reduce aesthetics, and cause health problems for the surrounding environment. However, if it is managed properly, it will increase economic value, provide benefits, and eliminate sources of disease. The processing of livestock waste has become a hot issue due to the increasing population day by day and increasing public awareness of the need for air and water free of contamination by waste. 

This was conveyed by a Lecturer of the Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Brawijaya (Fapet UB), Dr. Ita Wahju Nursita when giving counseling on livestock waste processing, Sunday (11/13/2022). The reason is that he and other Fapet UB lecturers such as Nur Cholis, M.Sc, Dr. Dyah Lestari Yulianti, Hanief Eko Sulistyo, MP.,  Prof. M. Junus, and Dr. Hary Nugroho conducted community service for the Bangelan Village livestock group in Wonosari District, Malang Regency. In its implementation, they involved undergraduate students in the animal husbandry program consisting of Ilham Hibatullah Adicandra, Rizanis Rizki Ausa, Hardianti Damanik, and Rafli Firmansyah.

Dr. Ita said that the majority of Bangelan Village residents work as coffee farmers, besides that almost every house has Ettawa goats. Based on the narrative of Dadang (head of the local goat livestock group) so far there has been no special technological treatment added to goat manure. It is only collected from the pens of the goat breeders and then sold to consumers in bags. 

“Breeders really want to get guidance from university academics to introduce goat manure processing technology to produce quality fertilizer.” said Ita 

 She explained that the available technologies include composting with the addition of fast decomposers and nutrient enrichment with other nutrient sources or other protein-rich organic matter, as well as nitrogen or phosphate fixing bacteria. Compost technology is the recycling of livestock waste (recycle and reuse) which in the hierarchy of waste management technology has a higher position than the technology for its utilization as a source of methane gas (CH4). Meanwhile, compost technology does not produce any more waste that must be managed. The higher the hierarchical level of a waste management technology, the friendlier it will be to the environment.

“Through this program it is hoped that members of the Bangelan Village cattle group can apply this technology in handling their goat manure. So as to produce quality products and increase their income.” she concluded (dta)