Production and reproduction performances of Bali cattle in Southeast Sulawesi-Indonesia

Abstract

Bali cattle is predominant cattle breed raised by smallholder farmer who lives in villages across Southeast Sulawesi region. Besides keeping Bali cattle, they also grow various crops for supporting their livelihood, so they are not really the livestock farmer. However, the existence of Bali cattle for farmers has been a main pillar of the family economy when they need a lot of cash either for the educational needs of children or ceremonial events of religion and culture. Cattle production management in Southeast Sulawesi is quite diverse because it depends on the habit of the farmer. In transmigration settlements, Bali cattle are generally kept by farmer in a semi-intensive system and some even kept intensively, especially for fattening purposes. Whereas in local community settlements (indigenous people), cattle are generally kept extensively or semi-intensively. The smallholder farmer kept cattle on a small scale (2-5 heads/household, on average). However, in areas with extensive management systems (natural ranch), they can even keep a hundred cattle per farmer. According to livestock statistical data, beef cattle population in Southeast Sulawesi increased about 15% per year during 2013-2017 but it decreased about 19% during 2017-2018. However, the preliminary data in 2019 cattle population in Southeast Sulawesi increased again about 41%. Bali cattle breed is about ±95% (90%-99%) of beef cattle population in Southeast Sulawesi. The other cattle breeds were crossbreed between Bali cattle and Limousine, Simmental, Brahman Cross or Ongole Cross. Based on cattle population data (December 2018), the cow population is more than bull population. The fertility of Bali cow are diverse with calving interval ranged between 1-3 years because of several factors such as bull availability, nutrition, poor understanding of estrus sign, disease etc. However, in the area where Bali bull is always available or in the area that artificial insemination applied well, the fertility of Bali cow is good, indicated by short period of anestrus post parturition (40-60 days) or calving interval about 12-13 months. Moreover, Bali cow has long reproductive periods, she still has fair fertility up to 13-15 years of age. Bali cattle are also kept for fattening purposes. Young bull of Bali cattle could have daily gain up to 0.7kg/day when they are fed by grass plus concentrate compared to pasture fattening in which daily gain only ranged between 0.2-0.4kg/day. Those production and reproduction performances of Bali cattle in Southeast Sulawesi will be elaborated in this article.