UNAIR NEWS- The Covid-19 outbreak in Indonesia has had a major impact on all areas of life, especially the health and economic sector, including livestock farming. The farmers encounter several obstacles, such as the implementation of the Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM), which inhibit farmers from carrying out their normal activities.
Some farmers confirmed with for Covid-19 must then self-isolate themselves, and so their livestock business cannot run properly. Under conditions of PPKM and self-isolation, animal feed is the basic need for a business’ sustainability.
Responding to this issue, the lecturers of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FKH) Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) on Tuesday, July 27, 2021, held a community service activity in Kalipuro Sub-district, Banyuwangi Regency. Under the leadership of Dr. Iwan Sahrial Hamid, drh., M. Si., this year’s community service promoted the use of probiotics for animal feed.
The community service activities were carried out on a limited basis, attended only by several farmers’ representatives while still implementing the health and safety protocols by wearing masks, washing hands with soaps with running water, and maintaining a safe distance.
“Livestock production will be our goal to help improve the welfare of farmers and the independence of Indonesian livestock,” said Doctor Iwan.
Furthermore, the Vice Dean II of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FKH) explained that they have carried out various research to develop a product that is beneficial for farmers. This probiotic, he said, is an outcome that they hope will provide benefits for all breeders in Indonesia.
It is important to know that probiotics are good bacteria that can be used as supplements to help, protect, and maintain the health of the digestive system, especially in the stomach and intestines.
After the presentation and the screening of a tutorial video on probiotics, farmers were also taught to practice on making animal feed with probiotics. The enthusiasm of the participants was high, considering the importance of animal feed innovation in pandemic conditions.
In this community service activity, the lecturers also donated probiotics and staple food to farmers to ease the farmers’ economic burden.
“We hope this activity can be useful and can be applied by farmers. Through video tutorials and manuals, farmers can learn more about it. Stay healthy, and hopefully, this pandemic will end soon,” concluded doctor Iwan. (*)
Author: Muhammad Suryadiningrat
Editor: Nuri Hermawan (AC/AP)
