Production of Box Shaped Hay From Gliricidia Leaves

Apart from market, feed is another important factor in livestock business. Striving for and ensuring the availability of feed throughout the year both in quality and quantity is a challenge in itself, especially industrial-oriented ruminant farms. The productivity of livestock products is largely determined by these feed factors. The important role for livestock is for the growth of young livestock and for maintaining life and producing products (milk, calves/lamb, meat) and power for adult livestock. Another function of feed is to maintain endurance and health. In order for livestock to grow as expected, the type of feed given to livestock must be of good quality and in sufficient quantities.

In addition, livestock productivity itself is influenced a lot by environmental factors, namely up to 70%, while about 30% is genetic factors. And among these environmental factors, the aspect of feed has the greatest influence, which is around 60%, for example superior sheep farming such as the dorper type but if the quality and quantity of feed is not met then the results are also not optimal. Meanwhile, in terms of livestock business, the cost of feed is also the largest production cost, namely 60-80% of the total production cost. So it is very natural that attention or focus on feed issues is very important.

Seeing the above conditions, processing technology for animal feed is important. The purposes of animal feed processing include preserving nutrition and extending shelf life. Drying the leaves of gliricidia or calliandra to a moisture content of about 15% is one such effort or commonly called hay. By making hay the two objectives of processing animal feed above, namely maintaining nutrition and extending the shelf life can be achieved, but with a large volume of dry feed or hay (bulky) it will be inefficient in using space for storage or if it is to be used in other places where need quite far transportation. This is why it is necessary to apply biomass densification technology to solve this problem. Hay compaction into blocks or box shaped is a practical and easy undertaking. The equipment and compaction process into box shaped is also easy and cheap, compared to other biomass compaction technologies such as pellets or briquettes.

A sheep or cow farm should be built near the energy plantation so that they can easily get a source of feed for the gliricidia leaves. The leaves are then made hay and compacted into the blocks / box shaped. And because gliricidia leaves are a source of protein, so to be a complete feed, another source of feed is needed. This can be fulfilled by the surrounding community with community empowerment patterns or for more details, please read here. Sources of feed from the community, for example a source of fiber from grasses or agricultural waste, can also be made hay, so that the farm is available as a complete feed (complete feed) which is safe for the operation of the farm business. And because the estimated leaf production from energy plantations is very abundant, some of the hay that is produced can also be sold elsewhere. 

Technology is basically a tool to achieve a goal. From a technological point of view, namely biomass densification, besides the raw material for glicidia leaves can be made hay, the leaves can also be made into pellets or briquettes. The main difference between pellets and briquettes is only a matter of size, briquettes are bigger than pellets. The form of puck briquettes like the photo above is the best form for animal feed applications. From a technical perspective, pellets and briquettes are also denser or have a higher density than hay. The dust problem in hay can also be reduced by making these pellets or briquettes. But it is true that making pellets or briquettes requires higher investment costs and the production process is more complex.

Satay and Processed Lamb Meat anytime!

Some of our people can enjoy these dishes only during Eid al-Adha. Of course this must continue to be improved because the average meat consumption of the Indonesian population is still low. Even though protein is one of the essential nutrients we really need. And for that lamb meat is the best meat despite many myths that oppose it. In Al Qur'an Surah 6: 143-144, eight pairs of animals (4 pairs) are two (a pair) of sheep, a pair of goats, a pair of camels and a pair of cows. Of the series of livestock mentioned in the verses above, sheep are first mentioned, then goats, camels and cattle.

Eating satay and processed lamb meat products is delicious, so how delicious if you can eat it often.The rules in the Qur'an, the first one has virtue over afterwards. Now, this is where sheep have superiority compared to other livestock mentioned in the verses, although all these animals are halal meat eaten. Other indications of the virtue of sheep can also be found in the Qurban event, namely when Prophet Ibrahim was ordered by Allah SWT to slaughter his son Ismail, then by Allah SWT saved Ismail and replaced him with a large sheep. Then we commemorate this event every year and become the Shari'a of Qurban on the Eid al-Adha feast every year in 10 Dzulhijah. Besides that, all Prophets are sheep shepherd, is another indication that lamb is the best meat and the sheep that are grazed are the best treasures.

The next question that can arise is is there another guide more specific about diet, especially protein? The Qur'an also indicates the source of protein from large livestock occupies the largest portion of poultry and fish. The source of animal protein that is from large livestock is revealed in at least 7 verses or 64%, from fish revealed in 3 verses or 27% and from poultry revealed in 1 verse or 9%. So that the fulfillment of protein needs is the priority of large livestock, especially those that are grazed, because in addition to producing cheap protein, it also fertilizes the land for various human needs. 

So that satay and processed lamb meat can be eaten anytime and anywhere, food innovation is needed. We are certainly familiar with various canned foods so that they can last longer such as gudeg, rendang and so on. Of course this is also very possible for lamb. It is also to further promote the best meat, so that when it is called meat, the community will later associate it to lamb instead of beef or chicken as happened today. If the conditions are like that, then the sheep farming industry will grow rapidly. Sheep farming can be integrated with various large plantations and for more details can be read here.

Wood Pellet Production With Integration of Degraded Land Use For Energy Plantations, Cattle and Biogas Resources

There is a huge demand of wood pellet and on the other hand also the extent of uncultivated land in a number of places in Indonesia potentially be used for energy plantations with an output is wood for raw material of wood pellets. Currently estimated at more than 6 million hectares of unused land in Indonesia. While forage on plants short rotation species such as gliricidae and calliandra be useful as animal feed  of the cows. For every hectare is expected to be a source of cattle feed by approximately 6 tails. If there are 5000 ha of degraded/unused land it will produce around 100,000 tonnes of wet wood as a source of raw material of wood pellets and maintain 30,000 head of cattle. A large number of these cows potential as a source of biogas to meet the energy needs of the business itself.

The roots of the plants short rotation species is able to bind nitrogen that enrich the soil fertility. The root is able to perform a symbiotic relationship with bacteria in the soil, ie Rhizobium spp. Trees provide carbohydrates and energy for rhizobia bacteria, and rhizobia change of atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogen in the soil which can be exploited by tree roots. This process is known as nitrogen fixation, which took place on that form nodules on the roots of trees. Nodule should much, and when it opened in the red or red-pink. If the nodule is green, brown or black, is not binding nodule nitrogen. And plus organic fertilizer from biogas residue so that the land will be fertile and plantations productivity more can be expected to continue its sustainibility. 

Good management supported by a team of professionals will support the future success of your business. Production of wood pellets can be used as first priority , then followed by dairy farms and biogas and organic fertilizer as a supporter. The concept of zero waste, green industry and sustainable implemented in the integration of this business.

Complete Feed Production With Integration of Energy Plantations and Community Empowerment

Feed and markets are the two most important things in the world of livestock. Farmers who are able to get safe, nutritious, affordable, adequate and sustainable feed will produce the best quality and quantity. One of the safe categories is not GMO. For more details, you can read it here. It is possible to make these feeds yourself by utilizing the local potential. The expertise to provide feed is of course very important for professional farms. Likewise, broad market access allows the livestock business to be increasingly profitable. The current era of the internet is also very supportive of gaining such broad market access. Social media such as whatsapp groups, telegram, twitter, youtube and so on can be used for this.

To get complete nutrition so that it becomes a complete feed, of course, cannot be obtained from just one source. Malnutrition which results in decreased quality and livestock production will inevitably occur, if the feed nutrition is inadequate. It is possible that the development of an energy plantation or a biomass plantation with leguminoceae plants such as gliricidia and red calliandra is very likely to be integrated with the livestock business. Sheep, goat and cow farms are the best choices for this farming business. It is also hoped that later progress in the renewable energy sector from energy or biomaterial plantations will be in line with the livestock business. While glicidia leaves or calliandra have the main content in the form of protein which can reach 25%, other sources of nutrients such as sources of fiber, vitamins and minerals can be obtained from the environment around the plantation. Communities around the plantation area can be empowered to plant these nutritional complementary crops or take advantage of their various agricultural wastes such as straw, grass and so on. 

The leaves of gliricidia or calliandra as a source of feed are estimated to be a maximum of 30% of the complete feed. With leaf productivity per hectare of around 30 tonnes / wet year or 18 tonnes / dry year. This means that for every 1000 hectares of gliricidia plantation will produce 18,000 tons / year of dry leaves. If a goat / sheep eats 3 kg / day (30% of the total consumption of complete feed), it means that for 1 year 1 sheep / goat consumes about 1 ton of dry leaves or with a volume of 18,000 tons / year means that it can be sufficient for 18,000 sheep / goats for 1 year.

The animal feed innovation must also be carried out so that the conversion of feed to meat product, milk or breed is high, even the feed formulation should be adjusted to the age level of the livestock. Researches to obtain varied feed formulations or recipes, especially those that are adaptive to local potential, are very important. This includes identifying and developing as many feed sources as possible. The more identified feed sources and feed formulations, it is hoped that the livestock business will grow rapidly. Case studies on gliricidia and calliandra leaves have several anti-nutritional substances, so these substances must also be reduced or even completely eliminated so that the feed nutrients are absorbed effectively. Anti-nutritional substances in gliricidia are dicoumerol, HCN (cyanide acid) and nitrates, while red calliandra is an anti-nutritional substance of tannins. 

Production of Gliricidia Leaf Pellets as a Non-GMO and Sustainable Animal Feed Solution

Food is a top priority compared to feed and energy. This has a consequence of adequate food for humans before animal feed and energy. When food and energy are prioritized over food, there will be various social unrest. The tortilla riots in Mexico some time ago are an example of how energy is prioritized over food, namely corn is prioritized for bioethanol. Likewise, if feed is prioritized so that food supplies will be disrupted. Soybeans, for example, are a source of food but also a source of feed. The largest soybean production from the United States and Brazil. In a number of countries soybeans are a source of food and feed because the oil is extracted into soybean oil and the meal becomes animal feed, but in Indonesia, soybeans are mainly used for food. Vegetable oil in Indonesia is mainly from palm oil and coconut oil. Even in its history, Indonesian coconut oil was destroyed by the American Soybean Association (ASA) with the negative issue that propagated coconut oil as bad oil on the international vegetable oil market, so that until now coconut oil has not revived.

Indonesian animal feed production also mostly relies on protein sources from soybean and palm oil meal. In fact, because of the great need, it also imports soybean meal (SBM). The more developed the livestock industry, the greater the need for feed. Feed in the livestock industry is one of the key components to its success. Adequacy of feed with good nutrition, safe and affordable is very important for livestock business. As the largest palm oil producer in the world, which ranges from 40 million tonnes / year, the production of palm kernel cake is estimated at more than 6.5 million tonnes / year, if all of these palm kernel cakes are optimized for the domestic feed industry, it would be very good. Likewise coconut cake.

Gliricidia leaves are also a source of protein for animal feed, especially ruminants and fisheries. With a protein content of about 20%, gliricidia leaves are very potential as a source of this protein. Moreover, the programs of the feed industry associations are reducing or even eliminating dependence on transgenic raw materials (GMO) such as soybeans and environmental factors in the form of sustainability. With the program of making energy plantationsor biomass plantations which are also increasingly massive for various industries based on renewable and sustainable materials, the production of leaves as a side waste is also increasing. The potential for leaf waste, which is estimated to reach hundreds of thousands of tons, even millions of tons, will be very potential for animal feed, especially reducing feed derived from GMO materials. Environmentally productive efforts like this to meet human needs will further encourage bioeconomics. Halal meat is a very important source of protein for human food, so animal feed production is an integral part of the chain.

The growth rate of the feed industry also varies from country to country. This depends on a number of factors such as a country's food policy, people's purchasing power, availability of raw materials and so on. For example: for countries in Europe, about 20 years ago the average capacity of feed mills in Italy was 11,000 tons / year, while the animal feed industry in the Netherlands has an average capacity of 45,000 tons / year or more than 4 times the feed industry in Italy and has also exceeded the European average capacity today. Currently, the average feed mill in Italy has an average capacity of 29,000 tonnes / year (still about 3 times that of 20 years ago), but at the same time feed mills in the Netherlands already have an average capacity of 140,000 tonnes / year. The majority of animal feed production in the Netherlands is for pig feed, so it would not be suitable for conditions in Indonesia. With majority of Islam in Indonesia, the production of animal feed developed as a top priority is for the halal industry. Based on the potential for raw materials, the potential for land for animal feed production and so on, Indonesia should accelerate its halal industry, one of which is by boosting its animal feed industry. The Netherlands, with its small population and limited land area, is even very strong in developing its research to support the feed industry. We also don't want to lose.

Gliricidia Leaf Feed Pellets Factory to Optimize Biomass / Energy Plantations and Increase National Meat Production

The availability of feed is very important to support and sustain the livestock business. Easy, abundant and cheap feed is important to be pursued. Feed is also the highest cost component in livestock farming, as is fertilizer for a number of plantations and farms. The effort to get a continuous supply of quality feed is an absolute prerequisite for the success of a livestock business. The supply of domestic meat, which is still mostly imported, is certainly not encouraging. For this reason, the national meat production program to self-sufficiency in meat must be encouraged. The scarcity of meat availability, which has driven higher prices, makes it easy for cheap haram meat to enter the market, especially since there is weak supervision and light sanctions for suppliers of this haram meat. As a country with the largest Muslim majority and meat is an important food element in the form of protein, the development of animal husbandry must also be in sync with these conditions. Farms that are made and become the main priority are livestock that support the halal industry. 

Gliricidia leaves, which are waste from energy  or biomass plantations, are a potential source of high nutritious food. The increasing projection of energy or biomass plantation development should also be in line with the utilization of the leaf waste for animal feed. The content of gliricidia leaves which are rich in protein is an important source of nutrition for livestock, especially ruminants such as sheep, goats and cows, so that it needs to be developed and utilized optimally. By utilizing these leaves, all parts of the tree from the energy or biomass plantations can be optimized. Making pellets from these leaves (feed pellets) will also facilitate storage, save transportation, last longer and make it easier to use as animal feed.

Muslims who carry out the Qurban worship every year will need a large supply of livestock in the form of sheep, goats and cows. In addition, during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, there is also a surge in demand for this meat, and it is often found that haram meat such as pork and dog is mixed with the meat above. And when a child is born, a Muslim family is also required to do aqiqah by slaughtering 1 or 2 sheep or goats. Apart from that, basically the supply of meat for daily needs is still minus. These things should be the motivation for the development of a livestock business.

World Animal Feed Production Approximately 1 billion tonnes / year and Potential Gliricidia Leaf Feed Pellets

World animal feed production is currently estimated at 1 billion tonnes per year. As a chain to fulfill human food needs, especially meat, animal feed production is very important and strategic. The major countries for producing world animal feed, namely China with a share of 19.6%, followed by a number of countries, namely America with 17.4%, Brazil 6.8%, then countries such as Mexico, Spain, India, Russia, Japan and Germany as well. are major producers of animal feed. the rest by countries around the world. Or with a combination of China, the United States, Europe and Brazil, accounting for more than 60% of world animal feed production with almost half of the feed production being poultry feed. It is estimated that there are more than 8,550 feed factories in China with a production of 179 million tons, 6,012 feed factories in America with a production of 173 million tons, 1,556 feed factories in Brazil with a production of 68 million tons. With an estimated human population in 2050 reaching 9.6 billion, it is estimated that the need for feed will be huge.

Meat is an important source of protein for humans. But for Muslims consuming meat does not only depend on the protein content of the meat, but the type of livestock, slaughtering, and processing it until it is ready for consumption must comply with Islamic law. The prohibited livestock animals cannot be farmed or even consumed because the law is haram (prohibited) for Muslims. Based on a country's animal feed production, it can also be seen what kind of livestock and meat they consume. For example, the Netherlands with about 75 feed factories, the production of animal feed reaches 12.2 million tons per year, the distribution of 5 million tons of pig feed, 3.7 million tons of beef and dairy cattle, 3.1 million tons of poultry and 0.4 million tons other livestock. Meanwhile, Turkey recorded animal feed production of 10.5 million tons with a composition of 4.2 million tons of feed for dairy and beef cattle, 4.6 million tons of poultry, and 1.5 million tons of other livestock. While globally the composition is as follows: poultry feed production is ranked first with a portion of 45%, followed by pig feed at 11%, three ruminants 10% and the rest, such as fish, domesticated and horse feed. Indonesia with a majority Muslim population should also prioritize developing a halal-based animal feed industry so that it is in line with Islamic law. Halal issues are an important and fundamental problem for Muslims in matters of food.

Sources of feed, especially its availability, are vital for animal feed production. A number of countries even have to import various raw materials for animal feed. Even in Europe and America leftovers are also used as a source of raw material for animal feed, which is estimated at 60% in Europe and 50% in the United States. Although world animal feed production reaches around 1 billion tonnes every year, basically the world's major feed producers who dominate production are not much. Currently, it is estimated that there are around 31 thousand feed factories worldwide, with a distribution of one thousand in Africa, 13 thousand in Asia, 5 thousand in Europe, 3 thousand in Latin America, 6 thousand in North America and 288 in the Middle East. Charoen Pokphand (CP), a company based in Thailand, is among the top 10 global feed mills with a production of around 27 million tonnes / year. Furthermore, the China-based company New Hope with a production of 20 million tons / year, then the American company Cargill ranks third with 19.2 million tons, followed by another American company, namely Purina Animal Nutrition with 12 million tons. Other large companies, BRF (Brazil) 11 million tons / year, Tyson Foods (USA) 10.3 million tons / year, COFCO (China) 8.3 million tons / year, Ja Zen-Noh (Japan) 7, 5 million tons / year, Shaungbaotai Group (China) 6.6 million tons / year, and Wen's Food group (China) 6.5 million tons / year.

The era of bioeconomy, which is getting closer and closer, is increasingly encouraging the use of renewable materials for various human activities such as energy, packaging, clothing and so on. The demand for sustainability is an obligation for various industries in this era, including the animal feed industry. A number of locations in Indonesia have created and launched energy plantations to welcome and be in line with the bioeconomy era. Energy or biomass plantations with the main focus on wood utilization, but have not yet utilized the potential of leaves as a by-product of these plantations. Gliricidia is a plant species that is widely used because it is a fast growing and short rotation coppice crop so that in addition to the fast harvest time there is also no need to replant until a certain time. Gliricidia leaves have high nutrition, no less protein content than palm oil cake, soy bean meal and so on, so they have the potential for animal feed production, especially feed pellets. A number of studies mention the use of gliricidia leaves as animal feed for ruminants or fish, but it is not suitable for the type of poultry.

The availability of safe, quality and affordable feed will encourage intensive livestock business. Currently, we still encounter a number of livestock that are fed in the form of municipal waste in landfills, which of course the resulting meat is not suitable for human consumption. The feed factory also indirectly encourages the improvement of food quality from meat and milk produced from livestock business. Tens of thousands and even hundreds of thousands of hectares of gliricidia plantations will produce abundant leaf waste that can be used as raw material for these feed pellets. Typical feed mill capacity is also proportional to the capacity of the farm or its consumers and also the availability of raw materials, for example in Turkey about 60% of feed mills with a capacity of less than 10 tons / hour, about 25% capacity 11-20 tons / hour and the rest with more capacity. of 20 tons / hour. In the end, it is hoped that with the advancement of livestock, it will be easier and more affordable to get halal meat, improve the quality of food and can be reduced and even eliminated the circulation of haram meat on the market.