Strategies for Increasing Beef Cattle Production Under Dryland Farming Systems

Abstract

Integrated cattle and dryland farming systems in Indonesia use a range of crop residues and by‐ products to feed cattle through intensive and extensive production systems. Intensive systems use stalls to house cattle and cut‐and‐carry feeding systems, primarily for fattening cattle. Under extensive systems, cattle are free‐grazing. Extensive systems apply only where greater land areas exist and they are used for breeding and fattening cattle. The best strategies for smallholder farmers in Indonesia to improve beef production require farmers to focus on profitability and use proven management strategies, including: using adapted cattle breeds resistant/tolerant to environmental stressors (e.g. parasites, diseases, high temperatures and humidity, poor nutrition) and are inherently more productive than poorly adapted breeds; understand what the markets want and manage cattle to meet market specifications; manage cattle breeding herds based on long‐term average rainfall patterns, aiming to wean a calf from every cow joined within one calendar year. This means: (a) joining cows over the rainy season, so calves are born at the start of the next rainy season; (b) weaning calves before the dry season so cows are not lactating over the dry period; (c) maintaining cows at a body condition score of 3 (on a 1‐5 scale) throughout the year; and d) culling/selling all cows that fail to rear a calf 2 years in succession; keeping good records on all aspects of breeding and fattening activities and using those records for decision‐making; and adjusting stocking rates in extensive systems to match the carrying capacity of the land.