Input parameters for LiGAPS-beef mechanistic model: An attempt to study Bali cattle production under oil-palm plantation systems

Abstract

In Indonesia, integrated oil-palm plantation (OPP) and cattle production systems has been widely practiced in outside Java Island, as an efficient strategy to meet the demand of meat. A dynamic model, called LiGAPS-beef is then needed to simulate the potential and feed-limited production of Bali cattle. This pre-liminary study was aimed to identify and determine the input parameters of Bali cattle production under oil-palm plantation systems for LiGAPS-beef. Literature review and survey on intensive and semi-intensive OPP-cattle integrated systems (I-OPP and SI-OPP), were done, to identify the parameters which define (potential) and limit (actual) the production of Bali cattle. The general parameters were calf crop (%), weaning age (month), culling rate (%year-1), heat increment of feeding; ME content undergrowth plants, grass, legumes, oil palm by products and, concentrates (MJkg-1 DM); potential production of undergrowth plants, grass, legumes, and oil palm by products (kgDMha-1year-1); percentage of carcass (%) and percentage of beef meat (%).The difference between the potential and actual production then will be simulated using LiGAPS- beef to assess the yield gap of Bali cattle production under OPP systems.