Characteristics of cattle production around teak forest in Bojonegoro, East Java

Abstract

East Java has a large number of cattle and also a wide area of teak forest. It is believed that the existence of teak forest influences cattle production by smallholders. The objective of the study was to get insight into characteristics of cattle production which are kept by smallholders who living near to teak forests. We interviewed 33 and 27 respondents in Napis and Windu hamlets, Bojonegoro Regency, East Java. The cattle production system was still traditional in the study area. The average herd size was 2.07 0.9 head per household with breeding as the most production type (80%). Peranakan Ongole (PO) cattle were the common cattle breed kept by respondents (90%) with about 86.7% of cattle were their ownership. Cut and carry system was the common feeding practice. Forest land is the major source of fodder. The teak forest also provided land for crop production for respondents. Artificial insemination was started used by cattle smallholders to mate their cattle since rarely bull kept by farmers. Saving was the common motivation of smallholders to keep cattle. Government programs to improve cattle reproduction performance are strongly needed.