UGM students have successfully created an IoT (Internet of Things) based tool that can calculate greenhouse gases produced in the livestock sector, especially ruminants. The tool, named Smart Technology in Respiration Chamber, calculates the amount of methane gas production and can be monitored in real-time with technology. This tool can be used to evaluate the production of greenhouse gases in the livestock sector, especially ruminants. The results of this innovation would play an important role in research related to climate change and the effects of global warming.

The head of the research team, Gardika Windar Prahara from the UGM Faculty of Animal Science, said that the innovation of greenhouse gas counters for ruminants has not yet been developed in Indonesia. In addition, methane chamber equipment for livestock research is expensive and relies on imports. Seeing this, he and the team, Auliya Muthiea Dien (Faculty of Animal Science), Andie Gagas Alfrianto (Vocational School), Remarezi Rafsanjani (Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences), and Firlya Lananinggar (Faculty of Animal Husbandry), decided to innovate a detection tool that can assist the development of research in mitigating greenhouse gas production and evaluation of livestock management and feed efficiency.

The Smart Technology in Respiration Chamber device, named GAMA-Sapudi, can measure several levels of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), ammonia (NH3), nitrous oxide (N2O), as well as temperature and humidity in real-time supported by IoT technology. This device utilizes livestock gas output and an Arduino Nano microcontroller connected to various sensors to obtain complete data input. “All the obtained data will be computed and displayed on an LCD located on the outside of the monitoring tool, which will be displayed online with the internet,” said Gardika.

By using online media with the ESP8266 wifi module sent to the user’s Website Dashboards and connected to the internet, the tool can be monitored and regulated in real-time. “Our greenhouse gas counter uses IoT, and the calculation results will be connected to the Dashboards Website, which has been designed so that it can be accessed and monitored easily via a cellphone or computer,” said team leader, Gardika.

Advisory Lecturer for the PKM Team, Dr. Muhsin Al Anas, said Indonesia is one of the countries that produce large amounts of greenhouse gases. Ruminant farms such as cattle, buffalo, sheep, and goats produce methane from the fermentation process in the rumen as a result of converting grass into an energy source. Moreover, the feed given by farmers is mostly agricultural waste with low quality and high fiber content. “This tool can be an innovative breakthrough to improve the quality of research to mitigate the effects of greenhouse gases so that we can develop environmentally friendly and sustainable livestock,” he said.

Source: https://www.ugm.ac.id/id/berita/21684-mahasiswa-ugm-ciptakan-alat-penghitung-emisi-gas-rumah-kaca-ternak-ruminansia

UGM Animal Science in collaboration with Universitas Trunojoyo Madura (UTM) established the Madura Cattle Research and Development Center (Risbang). The center is expected to grow and develop Madura cattle and conduct studies on the socio-economic relationship of Madura cattle with the lives of Madurese people.

“This event is part of Kedaireka activities, a collaboration between the UGM Faculty of Animal Science and the UTM Faculty of Agriculture, in this case, UGM as an expert,” said Dr. Bambang Suwignyo, Deputy Dean of Research, Community Service and Cooperation of the UGM Faculty of Animal Science during the launching of the center on Saturday (11/9).

Bambang explained that 21% of cattle in East Java are Madura cattle and contribute 25% of the national cattle population. Madura cattle are not only Madura’s assets but also one of the important assets of the national cattle germplasm. Many things can be done at the Research and Development Center, including breeding, recording, feed management, feed mill, socio-economics, forming the Sonok Madura cattle community, and down-streaming Madura cattle products.

UTM chancellor, Dr. Moh. Syarif, along with the dean of the UTM Faculty of Agriculture, during his speech gave the challenge to manage Madura cattle according to scientific principles and compete them with cows owned by the community. If we can prove the superiority of science by concrete examples, people will certainly find it easy to follow or adopt these ways.

“Madura cattle is local wisdom that should be preserved. Therefore, in my position as the people’s representative, I will fight for and support UTM-UGM efforts in the development of Madura cattle related to technical and socio-economic aspects,” said Ali Rihdlo, Member of the Indonesian Parliament.

Local farming community leaders also attended the launching of the Madura Cattle Research and Development Center.

Source: https://www.ugm.ac.id/id/berita/21688-fakultas-peternakan-ugm-dan-utm-bentuk-pusat-risbang-sapi-madura