Polije Lecturer Enhances Dairy Farming Education Through Australia Awards Short Course

In a significant step toward strengthening dairy farming education, Ir. Agus Hadi Prayitno, S.Pt., M.Sc., IPM, a lecturer in the Animal Husbandry Department at Politeknik Negeri Jember (Polije), participated in an Australia Awards Short Course titled “Pasture, Feed and Water Management Practices to Improve Dairy Livestock Productivity.”

The intensive program began with a pre-course workshop held in Malang, bringing together professionals from various backgrounds to build networks and exchange experiences in sustainable dairy farming practices. Agus Hadi presented his award project entitled “Enhancing Student Competence through Strengthening Learning Materials on Forage and Dairy Livestock Production,” aiming to bridge theory and practical application in student education by enriching curriculum content.

Participants received comprehensive training from prominent Australian facilitators, including Dr. Ben Mullen and Dr. Dave Barber. The content encompassed the history and evolution of dairy farming in Australia, sustainable pasture management, nutrient-based feed strategies, and efficient water utilization — all aimed at boosting livestock productivity.

The course included a field visit to Greenfields Wlingi Dairy Farm, a model dairy operation that showcases the integration of advanced technologies and best practices — from animal selection and feed management to waste processing. Agus Hadi remarked that witnessing these innovations firsthand was eye-opening and underscored the importance of efficiency and innovation for future agricultural development.

Looking ahead, Agus Hadi is slated to visit Griffith University in Australia in July 2025 as part of the program’s continued capacity-building efforts and global knowledge exchange. This forward-looking collaboration aims to support the transformation of Indonesia’s dairy education and practices, grounded in scientific evidence and international partnerships.