Unsri’s Faculty of Pharmacy Holds a Technical Training Workshop on the Production of Rabal Probiotics

This community service activity, titled “Quick and Easy Solutions to Increase Chicken Production Using Rabal Classic Probiotics (PRC)” was chaired by Dr. Eli Sahara, SPt, M.Si. This initiative is part of the implementation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education and the transfer of technology from Sriwijaya University to the community.

This activity also involved lecturers Dyah Wahyuni, SPt, MSc; Dr. Meisji Liana Sari, SPt, MSi; and Dr. Mada A. Zuhir, as well as Unsri students, to introduce a new innovation in poultry farming using natural feed additives.

This year, the activity was focused in Pelabuhan Dalam Village, Pemulutan Subdistrict, Ogan Ilir Regency, South Sumatra, and was completed on September 13, 2022. The name “RABAL” is derived from the words “yeast” and “BAL” (lactic acid bacteria), and this probiotic is rich in beneficial lactic acid bacteria that support the health of chickens and ducks. RABAL probiotics create a conducive environment in the digestive tract, thereby optimizing nutrient digestion and absorption.

This initiative was enthusiastically received by the residents of Pelabuhan Dalam Village. During a discussion session attended by the village head, community leaders, and the chairpersons of the farmers’ and livestock breeders’ associations,

Beni Apn stated that this initiative is excellent because it is environmentally friendly and easy for the community to implement, while also shortening the rearing period and accelerating the harvest time.  In addition to leading the activity by providing training on how to make probiotics in front of the community, the team also donated probiotics that had been produced by a team of students from the Department of Animal Husbandry Technology and Industry at the Faculty of Agriculture, Unsri, as well as KUB (high-quality local Balitnak chickens) that were 3 weeks old to be raised and bred in Pelabuhan Dalam Village. 

According to Dr. Eli Sahara, the objective of this initiative is to establish a demonstration and training area for duck farming or the rearing of high-quality local chicken breeds, facilitated through the poultry farmers’ cooperative (Gapoktan), to serve as a market for egg supply and, it is hoped, eventually increase community income.

In practice, this activity involves providing training on chicken husbandry management, covering feed requirements, feed formulation using high-quality local ingredients, methods for preparing fermented rations based on local raw materials to improve digestibility and nutritional value, and disease prevention through the preparation and administration of herbal remedies made by the farmers themselves. In addition, at the start of the program, community members received grants of young Arab chickens (starter and layer stages) as well as vitamins and medications. To ensure the program achieves its intended goals, guidance is provided by the Community Service Team and student assistants through weekly monitoring and meetings throughout the program’s duration.