Endang Baliarti

Unique cultural values of Madura cattle: is cross-breeding a threat?

In Indonesia, cross-breeding local cattle with European beef breeds is widely promoted to stimulate beef production. This cross-breeding is threatening local breeds that have often different functions, including cultural roles. This study analysed the cultural values of Madura cattle and the effects of cross-breeding on local traditions in Madura Island. Bull racing (karapan) and cow conformation contests (sonok) are traditional cultural events on Madura. Since 2001, cross-breeding with Limousin is allowed. The local government also promotes a conformation contest for cross-bred (madrasin) cattle. Quantitative and qualitative information were collected through participatory approaches involving farmers (n = 97), government officials, community groups, key informants and through direct observation of sonok, karapan and madrasin events. Phenotypic characteristics were collected from 184 cows. The Madura cattle population and production systems are not homogeneous. Four cattle types could be distinguished: karapan, sonok, madrasin and conventional Madura cattle. These cattle were found in three discrete areas, differing in land sizes, cropping and cattle keeping in terms of management practices and importance of specific cultural practices. Sonok and madrasin cows were significantly bigger and had higher body condition scores than karapan cows and the conventional Madura cows in the madrasin area. Madura cattle participating in cultural events were valued at prices that were 2–3.5 times higher than Madura cattle not participating in cultural events. Cross-breeding will not directly influence the cultural events or the management practices of Madura cattle in the karapan and sonok areas; however, outside the karapan and sonok areas, crossbreds are rapidly replacing conventional Madura cattle. The present top-down approach towards conservation and breeding strategies has to be turned into bottom-up approaches that consider the needs of the sonok and karapan Madura cattle sub-populations. Monitoring and characterization studies have to collect information at different aggregation levels and have to be aware of the sub-populations. The Madura example shows that the cultural values of livestock can be a main driver for maintaining relatively small populations of local breeds.

Is crossbreeding of cattle beneficial for mixed farming systems in Central Java

From 1980s onwards, Indonesias government has been implementing crossbreeding with European beef breeds through artificial insemination to improve the beef performance of local cattle, in response to the increasing demand for meat. Crossbreeding is promoted and implemented throughout the country, regardless of the various agro-ecological zones, each endowed with different feed resources in the smallholder farming systems. This study analyses the impact at farm level of crossbreeding in the different mixed farming conditions in Central Java. Quantitative and qualitative information was collected through participatory approaches involving famers (n = 252) in four study areas representing three agro-ecological zones: Wet lowlands (subdivided in two areas based on the history of breeding local cattle and crossbreeding), Wet uplands and Dry uplands. Phenotypic characteristics, reproductive performances, and carcass characteristics of Ongole and crossbred cattle were assessed, together with farmers’ reasons for keeping Ongole or crossbred breeding stock, the functions of cattle on the farms and the Gross Margins (GM) of the cattle component on Ongole and crossbred farms. Across different agro-ecological zones, crossbreeding is not changing the farming systems: herd sizes, farm types, experience in cattle keeping and functions of cattle were about the same for Ongole and crossbred farms. The agro-ecological zones differed in the cropping pattern and feed resources; however, they did not differ in amounts of dry matter and crude protein fed to individual animals. Crossbreeding is changing the individual characteristics of cattle and consequently the market prices of animals. In general, mature female crossbred cattle were approximately 25 percent heavier than mature female local cattle. Male crossbred progeny was 16 percent heavier their local counterparts, whereas female crossbred progeny was 24 percent heavier than female local cattle. In terms of reproduction performances, both local and crossbred cows performed well with calf crops ranging between 73 and 86 percent per year. Most farmers preferred crossbred over Ongole cattle. Simmental cross is the most preferred. GM for crossbred and Ongole farms were comparable within the different study areas; selling prices of crossbreds are higher, but feed costs too. Crossbreeding will continue. It is promoted by government policies and farmers are motivated to keep crossbred cattle as body weights and market prices are higher than for Ongole cattle; however, farmers said that they do not prefer upgrading to very high levels of Simmental. A viable Ongole population is needed to reduce the risk of upgrading to too high levels of Simmental.

Postpartum Oestrus Variation of Local Cows at a Village Breeding Centre in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

In order to improve the genetic quality and conserve Ongole cattle as one of the local cattle in Indonesia, the government has been developing village breeding centres in the selected areas. Performances of the cows in the breeding centres should be improved and better than in the conventional farms. Postpartum oestrus (PPE) is one of the indicators of reproductive performance. This study was aimed to investigate the PPE variation of Ongole cows belonging to smallholder farmers in village breeding centres. Thirty heifers in late period of pregnancy were selected and observed at calving until showed their PPE. The background and general information of the farmers, management of cattle keeping, feed intakes, body condition score (BCS), birth body weight and average daily gain of the calves before the cows showed PPE. The results showed that PPE of Ongole cows was largely ranged from 41 to 130 days, with an average of 103.53 ± 25.11 days after calving. If the PPE target is 90 days, only 25% have the standard of PPE. It was concluded that PPE of the Ongole cows in Yogyakarta Province was varied and might be a result from varied managements of cattle keeping by smallholder farmers and growth rate of their calves. If the management of cattle keeping by smallholder farmers didn’t upgrade, to improve the quality of Ongole cows based on PPE for breeding stocks, 75% of the cows have to be replaced with better cows.

Is cross-breeding of cattle beneficial for the environment? The case of mixed farming systems in Central Java, Indonesia

Cross-breeding with European beef breeds has become a standard approach for the intensification of smallholder cattle production in Indonesia. This study assessed the environmental impact of cross-breeding, in terms of Global Warming Potential (GWP) and land use. We sampled 90 local Ongole and 162 cross-bred (Simmental × Ongole) cattle farms in four study areas. Expressed per kilogram of live weight of young stock produced, GWP (26.9 kg CO2–equivalents) and land use (34.2 m2) of farms with Ongole breeding stock were not significantly different from the GWP (28.9 kg CO2–equivalents) and land use (37.4 m2) of cross-bred farms. Cross-bred young stock grew faster, but in general cross-bred cattle required more feed. In the current smallholder production system, the dominant cross-breeding practice of using Simmental semen on Ongole and F1 cross-bred cows does not result in lower greenhouse gas emissions or land use per kilogram of live weight produced compared with farms with Ongole cows. The advantage from the faster growth of cross-breds is counteracted by the higher emissions from feed production for cross-breds.

PENGARUH SUPLEMENTASI PAKAN LOKAL PADA INDUK KAMBING BLIGON BUNTING TUA SAMPAI MENYUSUI UNTUK MENEKAN KEMATIAN ANAK YANG DIPELIHARA DI PADANG SABANA TIMOR BARAT

The research was conducted in Lili savanna at West Timor. Fifteen Bligon does the late gestation were used for ten weeks.Does were randomly devided into 3 groups of treatment such as, R0 = control, does grazed during daylight ; R1 = R0 + 1 % suplement onbody weight basic ; R2 = R0 + 2 % suplement on body weight basic. The aims of the research were to study the effect of local feedsuplement on bligon does at late gestation period to lactation period to decrease kids mortality grazed at Timor savanna. The result of theresearch shows the birth weight and daily gain, colostrum and blood Ig of the kids and milk production score of group R2 (2.42 kg ;106.15 g ; 94.8 mg/ml; 2,13 g/dl, 630,83 g) were significant higher than (P<0.01) R1 (2.25 kg, 79.33 g, 71.2 mg/ml ; 1.87 g/dl, 516.64g) and R0 (1.73 kg, 47,11 g ; 43 mg/ml ; 0,97 g/dl, 409.55 g) except for the birth weight of R2 and R1. Blood components (PVC,leukocyte, erytrocyte, Hb, glucose, protein) as well as neutrofil phagocytosis R2 were higher than R1 and R0. The conclusion of thisresearch is that local feed suplement can increase health status and decrease Bligon kids mortality whose grazed at Timor Savanna.Keywords : Lactation and gestation does, local feed supplement, savanna, kids mortality.

Kinerja Kerbau Betina di Pulau MOA, Maluku (The Productivity of Female Buffaloes at MOA Island, Maluku)

The objectives of the study was to identify the existence, productivity, reproductive performances and its relation on the reproductive efficiency, body measurements and weight of female buffalo at Moa island, Maluku Barat Daya regency, Maluku province. There were 96 farmers used as respondents, 222 female buffaloes and secondary data from Agricultural Department in that area that were observed. Survey method and descriptive analysis were applied to collect all of information required. Body measurement was accompleted by direct measurement on the body, consisted of body length, withers height, chest depth, heart girth, rump height, rump width, and ages of buffaloes evaluated. The results showed that reproduction efficiency (RE) was 70.91±10.84%. Body measurements and weight of female buffaloes at 2-3 year old were body length 88.92±9.94 cm; heart girth 136.69±21.05 cm; withers height 94.77±7.23 cm; rump height 44.77±5.54 cm; and body weight 192.46±29.12 kg. At 3-4 years old of female buffaloes, the body length, heart girth, withers height, rump height, chest depth, rump width and body weight were 106,21±4,19 cm; 163.61±16.40 cm; 110.03±6.14 cm; 109.08±5.88 cm; 65.58±6.69 cm; 46.82±4.62 cm; and 253.45±30.79 kg, respectively. At 4-5 year old, the body length, heart girth, withers height, rump height, chest depth, rump width, and body weight of females buffaloes were 116.14±10.98 cm; 174.04±12.12 cm; 115.07±3.23 cm; 113.07±3.74 cm; 67.36±7.44 cm; 48.07±3.74 cm; and 270,42±27,24 kg, respectively, while for female buffaloes of more than 5 year old, were 121.44±12.22 cm; 180.01±16.63 cm; 120.19±3.76; 119.49±13.74 cm; 79.40±5.52 cm; 58.72±4.88 cm; and 292.09±29.76 kg. It was concluded that productivity of female buffaloes at Moa island have not optimalet, but it has good performances which can be further developed. (Key words: Productivity, Female Buffaloes, Moa Island)