MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, MALANG – Students of the Faculty of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) developed a herbal livestock supplement to reduce the use of chemical additives and synthetic antibiotics in animal feed. This innovation also aims to cut the dependence on imported feed supplements.
According to a press release from UMM’s Public Relations on Friday, August 1, many Indonesian farmers rely on feeds that contain chemicals and synthetic antibiotics. This poses risks not only to the animals but also to the consumers who eventually eat their products.
Seeing this problem, the UMM students created Nutri Jamu, a herbal feed for goats and cattle made from local ingredients like temulawak (Java ginger) and papaya leaves.
“Nutri Jamu is more than just a technical formula. It is our way of supporting farmers. We want to give them a healthy and affordable alternative so that they do not have to depend on expensive factory-made feeds,” said Oka Saputra, the team leader.
Temulawak and papaya leaves are known for their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. They also help improve the animals’ appetite and immunity. The students’ innovation is also a critique of how large feed industries often overlook the needs of small-scale farmers.
Nutri Jamu is made by mixing five to ten percent of temulawak and papaya leaves with common feed ingredients like corn, bran, and concentrate. The feed is shaped into pellets, making it practical, easy to store, and long-lasting without needing preservatives. It has a moisture content of no more than 12 percent.
Beyond just being a nutritious feed, Nutri Jamu also addresses serious issues such as antibiotic resistance and chemical residue contamination. Consumers are now more aware of food safety so that it is important for farmers to switch to healthier feed options like the Nutri Jamu.
Another key benefit of Nutri Jamu is that it simplifies the feeding process for small farmers.
“Many small-scale farmers struggle to get the right nutritional mix because they have to measure ingredients manually. Nutri Jamu solves that problem by standardizing the formula,” said Oka.
Oka hoped that Nutri Jamu could become a national model for herbal-based livestock feed, making use of Indonesia’s rich biodiversity. With this approach, local farmers will not need to rely on imported synthetic supplements anymore.
