After PMK, UB Faculty of Animal Science Lecturer Provides Assistance to Dairy Cattle Farmers

  The case of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) which attacked ruminants was a frightening thing that traumatized a number of farmers. The reason is that in 2022 the FMD case had become a pandemic which attacked cattle in all corners of Indonesia, especially East Java. This has an impact on the farmer’s economy.

  Therefore Lecturer of the Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Brawijaya (Fapet UB) as an academic community, initiated the Post PMK mentoring program. The goal is sharing and transferring knowledge to affected breeders. The activity was carried out in Blandit Village, Singosari District, Malang Regency, Saturday (07/15/2023) by Puji Akhiroh, M.Sc., Dr. M.B. Hariyono, and Hari Dwi Utami, Ph.D..

Puji, et al conducted interactive discussions with 15 dairy farmers regarding the complaints they were experiencing. As well as the delivery of post-PMK economic recovery theory.  The head of the local hamlet farmer group said that after the PMK, milk production dropped dramatically. Once it even produced only 2 liters/day, besides that the price of cattle is now dropping.

“We need the right way of processing milk in order to increase income. As well as effective processing of feed to save on expenses for feed”. he said

  Responding to this, M. B. Hariyono and Hari Dwi revealed that PMK has now turned endemic. This means that there is still an outbreak but the transmission is not severe, so breeders must be more careful in meeting the nutritional needs of their livestock. So that the feed can be digested properly and produce maximum milk production.

Apart from that, the lecturer team also provided additional knowledge about Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) and anthrax which breeders also need to watch out for.

“LSD disease is not often found in Malang, but we must always be alert to this epidemic. Prevention can be done by starting proper sanitation of the stable environment and meeting the nutritional needs of cattle.” said Praise 

It is hoped that the assistance activities will be able to provide insight and knowledge for breeders to remain alert to the presence of other disease outbreaks that can attack livestock at any time. As well as giving encouragement to breeders to get up and restore the economy after the FMD outbreak. (tim/dta)