Rumen is one part of the stomach of ruminant animals, containing feed ingredients eaten by livestock, in the form of grass/forage and fortifying feed (concentrate). Based on statistical data from the Directorate General of Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry (2020), the number of cattle slaughtered in East Java is 215,843 heads.
The large number of livestock slaughter produces abundant rumen waste. However, the utilization of Slaughterhouse (RPH) waste has not been utilized, causing environmental pollution. On the other hand, the contents of cow’s rumen can be used as additional raw material for feed since there are many microbes as a source of protein in the rumen.
A group of students from the Faculty of Animal Husbandry Universitas Brawijaya (Fapet UB) utilizes the waste as a complete feed for meat rabbits. The product named HERBI FEED, was created by Arlieza Rizki, Ery Vio Verawati, and Rozaan Rofie’ Iskani with their supervisor Dr.Ir. Kuswati, MS.,IPM.,ASEAN Eng.
Herbi Feed is formed into pellets, packed with polyethylene plastic and sealed with a sealing machine. According to Arlieza Rizki, the results of the proximate analysis show that the product made by him and his colleagues has a nutritional content of 15.32% PK, 11.34% water content, 88.66% BK, 14.24% ash content, 3.01% LK, SK 17, 69%, and Ca 1.04%.
Besides that, it has the advantage of being cheaper, practical, available in three types of packaging sizes, and is unique since it utilizes rumen contents as its main raw material. Through Herbi Feed products, Arlieza and the team won a gold medal in the poster exhibition at the 34th National Student Scientific Week (PIMNAS) which was held at the University of North Sumatra from Monday to Friday (25-29/10/2021). (dta/Humas UB/ Trans. Iir)
