The Postgraduate Association of the Faculty of Animal Science UGM held a General Lecture with the theme “Papua Native Pasture and Superior Forage Cultivation.” The meeting was held online on Tuesday, March 23, 2021. Materials were given by two speakers. Evi Warintan Saragih, S.Pt., M.Sc., Ph.D. (Head of the Faculty of Animal Husbandry Department, University of Papua) delivered material related to “Papua native pasture.” Material on superior forage cultivation was delivered by Ir. Nafiatul Umami, S.Pt., M.Sc., Ph.D., IPM., ASEAN Eng. (Head of the Postgraduate Study Program in Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Gadjah Mada).
Evi Warintan Saragih conveyed things related to natural grazing in West Papua. The dominant type of grass in pasture is grass with an amount of more than 5%. Dominant species of grass, legumes, and weeds were also reviewed. Potential grasses and legumes can be studied further for the development of beef cattle, especially in West Papua.
“Forage plants are not only concerned with superior species but also about their management. One of the grass products is Gama Umami grass which is the result of mutation of elephant grass by being irradiated with gamma rays. This grass has a superior quality to its parents. Studies related to forage plants need further development so that it takes into account their management as well so that it can increase the productivity of our livestock, “said Nafiatul Umami.
