Beef Cattle Development Models in the Selected Transmigration Areas

Abstract

One of the government efforts to optimize available human and natural resources in the dry zone of transmigration areas is using beef cattle development. Several advantages of beef cattle are: increase of family income, provide animal power, improve the quality of natural resources, fulfil the need for food of high quality and increase job opportunity. Beef cattle model for transmigration has not been developed, therefore, this study was conducted. The aims of the study was to design beef cattle model in accordance with agro-ecosystem profile in the study areas. The study was conducted in the four provinces consisting of 10 transmigration rcsettlements i.e. 3 sites in South Sulawesi and in South East Sulawesi and 2 sites in West Nusatenggara and East Nusatenggara provinces.
Rapid Rural Appraisal method was employed. Primary data were collected by direct interview to transmigrans, farmer groups, institutions, and related officers in various levels. Of the 10 locations all have different (conditions in term of topo-
graphical, geographical and socio-economic. They had low livestock population and far below its carrying capacity. Cattle seems to have a greatest potential for increasing income both in short and long tenn. Three basic model for cattle development were identified: cattle for fattening, breeding and combination of the two. These models can be approached through the nucleus estate concept
which increase farmer‘s resource use for more productive activities.