Body size of male Bali cow in different maintenance systems in Bima District, West Nusa Tenggara

Abstract

Bali cattle originate from the Indonesian island of Bali and are well known in various regions throughout Indonesia. Bali cattle are known as beef cattle with high carcass proportion and good performance. There are two systems of Balinese cattle raising in Bima Regency, namely extensive and intensive. This study aims to measure the body size of male Bali cattle reared in an intensive and extensive rearing system in Bima Regency, West Nusa Tenggara. A total of 100 male Bali cows are kept using different maintenance systems, in the intensive system there are 50 heads and in the extensive system there are 50 heads, measured by body length, shoulder height, and chest circumference. Quantitative descriptive body size data were used to obtain mean values and standard deviations. The results showed that the body size of male Bali cows in intensive care in Bima Bali Cows was better in extensive maintenance (P <0.05). Thus, the intensive maintenance system for male Bali cattle can be applied to obtain better growth performance and can be used for fattening or selection of cattle of good quality to meet future national demand for beef.