STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTIVITY IN NUSA TENGGARA REGION, INDONESIA

Abstract

Despite its low rainfall (1,000 - 1,500 mm/year) and its long dry season (7-9 months/year) in most parts of the region, Nusa Tenggara is an important cattle production area in Indonesia Most cattle are raised in an extensive grazing system. Bali cattle account for 85 % of the cattle population on the islands of Timor, Flores, Stunbawa and Lombok, while Sumba is recognized for its pure breed of Ongole cattle. In general, cattle productivity relies largely on the native grassland
that subjects to fluctuation due to seasonal changes. During the wet season, cattle can grow at 0.25-0.50 kg/day, while during the dry season the animals can lose as much as 20 % oftheir live weight due to low quality and low pasture intakes. Some research results showed that Bali cattle had a quite high calving rate, varied from 55 to 85 % per year. Improving the productivity of cattle in Nusa Tenggara region can be achieved by solving the major constraints such as feed availability for
both productive and survival measures. This is particularly true to overcome high juvenile mortalities that range from 20 to 45 % per year. Another important factor to be improved is the management practice, which includes strategic feeding for the critical groups of the herds, bull provision, culling tuiprodiictive beasts, diseases control and improved raising system to semi-intensive ways, seem to be promising steps to the optimal production, Seine of these efforts are briefly described in this paper.