Optimization of Farmers Working Hours through Increasing the Farm Size of Beef Cattle Production in Rural Area

Abstract

This study aims were to (1) identify the working hours of farmers in beef cattle farming (2) formulate the number of beef cattle that can be maintained by subsistence farmers as a side business. The study was done in rural area of Tegal Regency using survey method. 100 beef cattle farmers were selected as respondents using multistage sampling. Data was analyzed by descriptive statistics to describe the average working hours of farmers per Animal Unit (AU) and the potential time remaining by the farmers. The farmers in Tegal Regency had an average farm size of cattle of 2.40 AU. Various maintenance activities for cattle production were grazing, cleaning cattle housing, feeding and drinking, bathing the cattle. It was done by farmers for 1.75-5.10 hours/day, with an average of 3.89 hours/day. Farmers devoted the most of their time (56.04%) to take forage and grazing. Beef cattle farmers in Tegal Regency had a maximum capacity of maintaining 4.22 AU beef cattle or equivalent to 4 heads of cow.