UNAIR NEWS – Local beef products have proven to be unable to fulfill national needs. Up to now, the need of the animal protein is still supported by imported products. This condition is worrisome. Especially when in facts, Indonesia natural resources are able to create good atmosphere and nutrition to breed cows.

On the other hand, the phenomenon has aroused the nation’s citizens’ interest of becoming quality cow producers. In terms of quantity as well as quality, Indonesia has to be able to breed cows and capable of supplying national need and better yet, exporting beef. This way, domestic beef price will no longer be expensive and abundant in supplies.

In this regard, based on above condition and spirit, Prof. Dr. I Komang Wiarsa Sardjana drh. has done a number of researches. He hoped the researches would support or hold up national beef self-sufficiency. After conducting a lot of academic researches, he came to a perspective: one way for Indonesia to be successful in becoming a quality beef producer is by knowing a cow’s pregnancy as early as possible. Meaning, the sooner a cow breeder knew whether the cows were pregnant, the better the chance to breed it.

Generally, the majority of Indonesian cow breeders have conventional mindset. As soon as a cow is mated, whether through natural mating or artificial insemination, they have to wait months to be able to see physically whether a female cow is pregnant. One even has to wait nine months ten days! A cow’s pregnancy period is indeed that long, similar to a human being. If during that period a female cow doesn’t bear a calf, then that means the mating has failed. The cow is then re-mated.

“It is a waste of time. Imagine if we are able to know its pregnancy as soon as possible, the next step can be taken immediately. We don’t have to wait for nine months” he explained.

Starting from this concept, Komang thought about how to identify the cow’s pregnancy early on. He was inspired by pregnancy test paperstrip used in human. With his colleagues from the Faculty of Medicine, he researched for a long time about pregnancy test paperstrip for cows, which is later on known as Progesteron Paperstrip. Technically, there are some differences from paperstrip for human.

In human, paperstrip is dipped into urine. In dairy cows, paperstrip is dipped into the milk. In beef cattle, it is dipped in blood taken from its tail or neck. “This test is carried out after 21 days of mating season,” he said.

Once a breeder knows a cow has not been pregnant, re-mating can be performed without having to wait for months. If the cow is pregnant, the cow breeder must pay special attention to its nutrition. This way, its embryo will be strong and healthy until it’s time to bear a calf.

One of the problems in cow breeding is the traditional mindset which rejects technology to step into the breeding process. Or maybe there is an information and technology gap or block. In this case, the government’s role is mandatory in solving the problem.

If the government wants to really solve the beef availability problem, they must supply technology equality in cow breeding sector. They then have to inform the breeders about technology’s advantages and roles in breeding success. At least, the usage of simple technique invented by Komang is to know a cow’s pregnancy early on.

There are many side-advantages derived once the breeders successfully apply the idea. Clearly, their job will be much more effective and efficient. Modernization touch is a must, if this nation wants to have beef industry as modern as Australia, New Zealand or other European countries. So far, the length of birth period and the low chance of pregnancy have become fundamental problems for cow breeders. Especially for those who work traditionally.

Indonesia certainly wants to be independent in all sectors, including cattle breeding. In this sophisticated era, technology utilization cannot be ignored. All elements must realize this. The government has to perform technology optimization in all aspects of their citizen’s lines especially, in the economic aspects and social welfare. “As an academician, I’m ready to do applicative research. One of my products is the Progesteron Paper Strip innovation,” explained Komang. (*)