Factors Affecting Bull Breed Choices of Smallholder Farmers in Lombok Tengah Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the factors affecting the decision-making process of beef cattle farmers in choosing bull semen for artificial insemination (AI) in Lombok Tengah Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. The bull semen choice was classified into three categories: Bali cattle, exotic cattle, and both. Respondent selection was carried out using a purposive sampling method, with 95 respondents. Data were collected through interviews using a structured questionnaire that had been tested for validity and reliability. Data were analyzed descriptively and pearson correlation to ascertain the relationship betweens these social, technical, and economic factors with the choice bull breed. The results showed that 51.58% of farmers prefer frozen semen from exotic cattle breeds, aiming to produce larger calves with a market price 90–110% higher than Bali calves. In contrast, 22.11% of respondents chose frozen semen from Bali cattle to purify the Bali cattle breed. Farmers’ decision-making process in choosing bull breeds for AI mating showed a positive correlation with total cows owned (rs = 0.24), cow breed (rs = 0.51), and AI cost (rs = 0.47). Hence, it can be concluded that farmers’ decision-making in choosing frozen semen for beef cattle is influenced significantly by social (total cows owned), technical (breed of cows), and economic (AI cost) factors.