The UGM student team developed Rumen Undegradable Nutrient, a ruminant feed supplement using protection technology so that it is not degraded or digested by rumen microbes.
This supplement was developed to meet the nutritional needs that are important for optimizing livestock productivity.
“Feed has a big role in livestock productivity. However, most of the feed given to ruminants comes from liquid waste with low quality, high fiber, and low protein,” explained Muhammad Evan Magistrama, a student at the UGM Faculty of Animal Science, Wednesday (15/9).
He developed this supplement through the Student Creativity Program with three other students, Rizqi Rahadian Pramana and Jason Saut Hamonangan Siregar from the Faculty of Animal Science and Almas Aufar Zhafran Nabil Romala from the Faculty of Agricultural Technology.
He explained that the fiber content in forage animal feed in Indonesia is relatively high, making it difficult for livestock to digest. This leads to the unfulfilled nutritional needs of livestock.
The research conducted by this team consisted of two stages, in vitro research on a scale and in vivo in the form of trials on livestock. Technology development was carried out in the laboratory to determine the level of protection of RUN feed supplements in the rumen.
Nutrients or materials they used are fats derived from Crude Palm Oil and amino acids (arginine, methionine, and lysine). Based on the research, the developed protection technology can reduce nutrient degradation by about 40-50%.
“Of course, fatty acid nutrients and amino acids are not degraded or digested by rumen microbes. Therefore, they can be optimized for livestock productivity,” he said.
The second study was a trial on sheep. RUN feed supplements can increase the sheep’s daily body weight gain (PBBH).
Sheep that were given RUN levels of 2.5 and 5.0% could weigh up to 24% and 30% daily compared to sheep without RUN. In addition to PBBH, the use of RUN in sheep feed can reduce feed conversion values by up to 25-30%.
Evan added that fatty acids from CPO can be a source of energy for livestock. In addition, Arginine has potential in creatine metabolism for muscle building, while methionine and lysine play a role in energy metabolism to support livestock production.
“The economic analysis that we have done showed that RUN technology could increase profits by 50% greater than the control treatment as there was an increase in the efficiency of sheep farming, namely significant PBBH with low feed conversion,” explained Evan.
Dr. Muhsin Al Anas, the supervising lecturer, said that the Student Creativity Program was a place to develop complex problem-solving skills among students. Hopefully, the innovations from students can be a breath of fresh air to unravel these problems.
“This RUN technology can be an innovation to increase the profits of the community’s livestock. We hope that the results of this research will not only be used as research but also be developed into economic value innovations in the form of student start-ups,” he said.
