Feeding and management strategies for improved reproductive efficiency in cattle

• Balai Penelitian Ternak, Indonesia
• Balai Penelitian Ternak, Indonesia

Low calving rates and low calf growth rates for beef cattle are a problem in Indonesia and other climatically similar regions in northern Australia, sub-Saharan Africa and in regions of Southeast and South Asia. This problem is due to seasonal fluctuations in the quantity and quality of feed and the absence of appropriate feeding and management strategies particularly in the post-partum period for the breeder cow and in the growth period of the weaner calf.

In Indonesia, beef demand is expected to outstrip supply by 565 000 tonnes by the year 2000. An increase in cattle numbers of around 54 000 head per year from 1991 is required to meet this conservative estimate for beef demand. According to 1983 figures, over 95% of Indonesia's 9 million beef cattle herd were managed by 4 million smallholder farming households, making an estimated 20 million people reliant on beef cattle for income.

The overall aim of this project is to improve the efficiency of beef production by Indonesian smallholder farmers through:

. improving reproductive efficiency of Bos indicus (Brahman) beef cattle by improving feeding strategies and improving bull, cow and calf management;

. developing suitable feeding strategies for early-weaned beef calves; and

. assisting in the implementation of these strategies by Indonesian smallholder farmers.

These studies will be carried out in controlled and on-farm studies to generate reliable information which will be rapidly implemented by cooperative farmers at the village level.

The study will encompass the establishment of plots of shrub/tree legumes to provide high protein/energy feed for use in short-term (surge) feeding of cows post-partum stimulating an earlier return to oestrus by these animals. The shrub/tree legumes chosen for planting will be known varieties which are disease- and insect-resistant with a proven record as fodders. An estimated 12 000 plants or 0.4 hectares of legumes per village would be required, based on five cows from the village in need of surge feeding at any one time.

The feasibility of incorporating an early-weaning/restricted suckling system into feeding and management will also be examined along with a socioeconomic assessment.

The nutrient dynamics and metabolism of the surge fed Bos indicus and Bos sondaicus cows will be examined to establish feed formulations which give positive ovarian responses and the differences in responses in the two breeds. The reproductive capacity of bulls and bull to cow ratios would also be surveyed to determine reproductive capacity of the herd.

The farm studies will be carried out in East Java and West Timor and the controlled studies sited at James Cook University (Townsville), at Sub-Balai Penelitian Ternak (Grati) and Sumlili, DGLS (West Timor).