Lecturers from the Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Universitas Brawijaya (Fapet UB) conducted collaborative research to increase the potency and quality of cowhide rambak crackers. The research team was chaired by Dr. Dedes Amertaningtyas, with members Prof. Djalal Rosyidi, Dr. Imam Thohari, Dr. Eny Sri Widyastuti, Dr. Herly Evanuarini and involved five students from batch 2020 who were completing their final project, including Amalia Dzulhaj Mutia Kalle, Deo Rahmat Tri Wicaksono, Taufik Rachman Anshori, Riki Abdillah, and Sintiya.
Activities in the context of implementing the Tri Dharma of Higher Education were carried out with PT. Java Mandiri Wagir, a cowhide processing industry into crackers located in Mendalanwangi Village, Wagir District, Malang Regency. The owner of the industry, Miftachul Huda, said that in a day he is able to process between 30-50 pieces of cowhide purchased from a slaughterhouse in Malang area. Market shares are East Java, Central Java, West Java, Jakarta, Sumatra and Sulawesi.
The team analyzed the raw materials for making crackers, starting from raw skin, skin that has been dried and ready to be fried, to cooked products. The goal is that the quality of the product produced is good, not fishy, crunchy and durable.
According to Dr. Dedes, skins that are suitable for raw material for crackers are skins that are fresh, not dry, not rotten, and not the residue from the tanning industry (processing leather into non-food materials) which contains tanning chemicals.
“This research refers to UB Research Master Plan (RIP) for 2021-2025 to become a leader in the field of Food Security and Self-Reliance, with national, regional and international qualified market targets. Cowhide rambak cracker product produced by PT. Java Mandiri Wagir needs to explore its quality and potential. “In order to become a superior product for Malang Regency by optimizing available local resources,” said Dedes (team/dta/OKY/UB PR/ Trans. Iir)
