Observed the Morphology of Cattle, Sheep and Goat

     Our sixth day as exchange students at IPB University, Indonesia was both lively and insightful—an immersive experience in animal science and livestock management.

     We attended a lecture on “Environment and Livestock Behavior” subject by Mr. Farriz. He emphasized the importance of observing the morphology of cattle, goats, and sheep, especially for animal science students. We learned to identify the external parts of cattle and how to safely handle large animals—highlighting that not all animals are tame, especially when unfamiliar with people. He stressed that proper care, clean facilities, and balanced nutrition are essential to maintain healthy animals used for practical training.

     After the cattle lecture, we moved to the goat and sheep section. While Mr. Farriz continued teaching another group, we observed and interacted with the animals. We even got the chance to feed the goats and sheep. Out of curiosity, I asked about their feed ingredients so I could apply them on my small farm in Guimaras, Philippines. They shared that the morning mix includes chopped dried cassava peels, rice bran, molasses, mungkil palm, soybean skin, and coffee skin. In the afternoon, they are fed dry Napier hay.

     This activity was not just educational but deeply meaningful. As an agriculture student, I gained hands-on knowledge I can bring home and apply to my own farming practices.