Kacang goat is one of the local goat breeds that spread throughout Indonesia. The livestock that are classified as small ruminants are kept by many rural communities because they have a good taste for meat and contribute substantially to total agricultural income.
In terms of production, it also plays an important role in growing the income activities of most small farmers as well as being a source of animal protein that supports national food security.
The increase in consumption of goat meat from year to year needs to be balanced with a significant strengthening of the goat population. This is done so that Kacang goat does not experience extinction due to the increasing number of slaughterhouses to meet market demand.
Conservation efforts can be done by implementing a strategy to use technology to improve the quality of genetic, feed and maintenance management. However, there are obstacles in terms of limited forage, therefore it is necessary to plant legumes and tree plants that are of high quality and have high nutritional value such as gamal, lamtoro, turi, katuk, jackfruit, tamarind, moringa plants, and others.
Lecturer at the Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Husbandry, Kadiri Islamic University (UNISKA) Kediri, Efi Rokana, S.Pt., MP argues that Moringa oleifera Lamm can replace conventional protein source feed ingredients and can be used as a feed supplement to increase poultry production as well as ruminants.
This is because moringa plants contain nutrients, bioactive compounds, proteins, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, selenium, zinc, and vitamin B complex, which are essential nutrients needed by livestock and humans. Meanwhile, dried Moringa leaves contain lots of vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, iron and protein.
“The amino acid content of Moringa leaves is high, so it can be a source of protein as supplementation for ruminants that can replace conventional protein source feed ingredients.” Efi explained.
She described this explanation in a study entitled “The Effect of Feed Substitution with Moringa oleifera Lamm Flour in Concentrate on Improving the Reproductive Performance of Male Goats.”
She used a sample of 16 male Kacang goats aged 1-1.5 years to be given a mixture of feed such as elephant grass, concentrate and moringa leaf flour with a treatment of 0 to 30%. Based on the results of his research, Efi concluded that substitution of Moringa leaf meal in concentrate feed could increase feed efficiency, body weight gain, scrotal circumference and volume, blood profile, sexual behavior, and semen quality of male kacang goats.
Research compiled with Prof. Dr. Sc.Agr. Ir. Suyadi, MS. IPU, ASEAN, Eng, Prof. Dr. Ir. Siti Chuzaemi, MS. IPU, and Dr. Ir. Sri Wahjuningsih, MS has been tested through an open online dissertation exam, Thursday (28/01/2021). Since Efi is listed as a final year student of the Doctoral Program at the Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Universitas Brawijaya (Fapet UB). (dta/ Humas UB/ Trans. Iir)
