The influence of Artificial Insemination (AI) cost to profitability of beef cattle farming in Banjarnegara District, Central Java Province, Indonesia

Abstract

Banjarnegara district has numbers of poverty problem and beef cattle farming have been contributing to reduce these numbers of poverty. Increasing number of cattle for each farmer will improve profit and welfare of the farmer. High reproductive rate of cow is very essential to gain an economic advantage. However, the increase in the cost of reproduction may influence the lack farm profit. This study aimed to (1) identify the contribution of artificial insemination (AI) cost to the total cost of beef cattle farming (2) analyze the factors influencing profitability of beef cattle farming (age of farmers, education of farmers, experience of farmer, number of cows, AI cost, and feed cost) and (3) analyze the factors affecting the artificial insemination cost (age of farmers, education of farmers, experience of farmer, number of cows). The study was conducted using a survey of 45 respondents whom were selected by a stratified random sampling based on agro ecological zone (low and high land). Data were analyzed using multiple regression test. The results depicted that cost of artificial insemination is not a determinant factor to change the profitability of beef cattle farming (P>0.05). Experience of farmers and number of cows determined the AI cost of beef cattle farming in Banjarnegara District (P<0.05). Increasing the ability of farmers in identifying the signs of estrus is necessary to minimize the cost of artificial insemination.