Utilization of Agricultural Waste as Animal Feed with the Silage Method in Gunungkidul

Abstract

he scarcity of feed in the dry season, coupled with the very low quality, leads to severe nutritional deficiencies in livestock, one of the leading causes of death. Apart from grazing, there are actually many other alternative sources which, if used effectively and efficiently, will be able to support a very large number of livestock, especially cattle. Potential alternative feeds are agricultural waste in the form of rice straw and corn, which until now have not been used efficiently as animal feed. In Sembuku Hamlet, Dadapayu Village, Gunungkidul, corn planting areas have the highest yield potential in DIY, so corn stalks, corn husks, straw etc., are very likely to be used as potential animal feed. Apart from that, there is still dry matter of peanut shells for animal feed. So, from pasture and corn straw to rice straw, the livestock population is close to 200 heads. The feed cost component is the largest component in livestock maintenance, varying between 70% -100%. In traditional livestock systems, the time required to forage livestock can be as high as 70% to 90%. Progressive, creative and innovative breeders will try to reduce feed prices without reducing the nutritional value of the feed in question because simple breeders only rely on makeshift skills. With these problems, it is possible to apply the idea of overcoming the scarcity of feed, especially during the dry season, by making silage.