Infact of Mount Agung Eruption on Forage

Cattle farms in Bali are generally traditional in nature, providing forages depending on current availability. This is caused by fluctuations in forage supply which is affected by the season. Forage foods that are given are generally of low quality characterized by Total Digestible Nutrient (TDN), low  protein, high crude fiber (SK) and low digestibility. Plus the reality on the ground, it is not uncommon for farmers to only provide one type of forage. Although there are farmers who provide a variety of forage feed, but the composition is not right so that the nutritional balance for livestock needs is not achieved. Forage is a feed ingredient that is absolutely necessary both quantitatively and qualitatively throughout the year in ruminant animal production systems. Animal feed consists of grass and beans. The portion of forage in ruminants reaches 40 to 80% of the total dry matter of feed or about 1.5 to 3% of the live weight of livestock. Nutritious food is a source of fiber, even the forage from nuts becomes an additional mineral and cheap protein for ruminants (Abdullah, 2012).

            The eruption of Mount Agung in the 2017-2019 period has an impact on specific plants, the availability of forage for livestock, apart from the ash rain causing contamination of  forage, ash rain also has an impact on the growth of disturbed plants. As a result, livestock, especially ruminants, become short of food. As is known, the eruption of Mount Agung, which is located in Karangasem Regency, Bali Province, not only caused the people to flee, but also their livestock, especially Bali cows, they also had to evacuate. This situation is an irony and is very alarming because it will suppress the population of Bali cattle in Karangasem Regency as the largest Bali cattle population contributor.

            Based on the history of the eruption, Mount Agung first erupted in 1808. In the eruption was thrown a large amount of pumice and volcanic ash. The next activity occurred in 1821. In 1843 Mount Agung erupted again preceded by an earthquake. This eruption also spewed ash, sand and pumice. After resting for 120 years, in 1963 Mount Agung erupted violently again releasing hot clouds, incandescent stones, heavy ash rain and lava flows. According to Kusumadinata (1979) the eruption that occurred in 1963 consisted of five phases: initial symptoms, initial eruption, paroxysism I, paroxysism II, and final activity. In 2017 the volcanic activity of Mount Agung was declared to increase, and until 2019 there had been several eruotions.