INCOME OVER FEED COST FOR SMALL- TO MEDIUM-SCALE BEEF CATTLE FATTENING OPERATIONS IN EAST JAVA
Abstract: An evaluation was
conducted of the returns to fattening cattle of small- and
medium-scaleenterprises in East Java. The objective was to analyze income over
feed costs (IOFC) based on locallyavailable feedstuffs to increase liveweight
gain. The study was conducted during July-September 2010and January-March 2011,
representing relative dry and wet season. The breeds were PO and Limousinand
Simmental crossed with PO (LimPO and SimPO). Small-scale farmers owning 1-2
bulls andmedium-scale farmers fattening 10-20 bulls in one period. Fattening
period was 58 and 46 days,respectively for dry and wet season. Monthly
measurements included liveweight, feed intake, input andoutput prices. Mean
values of growth rates and IOFC were compared using t-tests. The results
indicatedthat, for small-scale operations, SimPO bulls gave a significantly
higher return than either PO or LimPObulls. Likewise, LimPO gave a higher IOFC
than SimPO in medium-scale operations. Small-scalefarmers achieved equal or
higher IOFC for European-cross than medium-scale farmers in both seasons.This
reflects that cash outlays for feed were about two-thirds that of medium-scale
operations whiledaily growth rates were similar. Small-scale fattening
operations using European-cross can befinancially competitive with medium-scale
operations in both wet and dry seasons.
Author: A. Priyanti, I.G.A.P.
Mahendri, F. Cahyadi, R.A. Cramb
Journal Code: jppeternakangg120059
