Strategies to increase growth of the weaned Bali calf

The project commenced in December 2005, with a project planning meeting with partners from the University of Mataram (Lombok), the University of Tadulako (Central Sulawesi), the University of Nusa Cendana (Timor), the Beef Cattle Research Institute (East Java), the Indonesian Centre for Animal Research and Development (ICARD) and the University of Queensland. A comprehensive review of existing knowledge of feeding options available for Bali cattle was prepared and submitted for presentation at the Indonesian National Livestock Conference in September 2006. A range of available feeding options to improve growth rates of weaned Bali calves were decided to be evaluated in a series of on-station feeding studies at each site. An experimental design to evaluate these feeding options was established and facilities at each site were inspected. A second group meeting of all partners was held in February 2006 to establish the experimental protocols to be implemented at all sites throughout the project.

Each site will conduct 3 on-station feeding experiments, evaluating the suitability of 3-4 feedstuffs per experiment for raising early weaned Bali calves. The main parameters measured will be live weight gain, feed intake and digestibility of feed stuffs. Local farmers will visit the sites during the experimental activities and will be interviewed to determine their current practices and their perceptions of the experimental treatments and results. On completion of the feeding studies an economic analysis will be conducted and the best-bet options demonstrated on-farm.

All sites have completed their first experiment, with live weight gain, feed intake and digestibility of a range of feedstuffs evaluated. The feedstuffs evaluated in the first experiment include grasses (native grass and elephant grass), tree legumes (leucaena and sesbania) and industry by-products (rice bran, copra meal and palm pith) and combinations of all three. The information generated will be used both for extension materials and the development of animal models specific for Bali cattle. Materials for extension purposes, such as videos and photographs, have been prepared throughout all stages of the experiments demonstrating Bali calves consuming 'novel' feedstuffs and animal growth. Local farmers have visited the first experiment at all sites.

A method of building the capacity of Indonesian scientists to conduct farmer relevant research has been developed. At each site junior scientists are employed on the project to work closely with a senior scientist and staff from the University of Queensland. Further, four honours students are also working on each experiment at each site and will prepare thesis' from this work, including an abstract presented in English.

The Australian component of this work involves measuring microbial protein production in cattle fed forages varying in quality and single cell protein supplements. An Indonesian scientist studying for a PhD. at the University of Queensland (John Allwright Fellow) is conducting this work and has completed two experiments.

The primary focus of the project activities over the period July 2006 to July 2007 has been the conduct of on-station studies to develop feeding strategies to improve the growth of weaned Bali calves in eastern Indonesia. A total of nine feeding and growth rate studies have been completed by partner organisations in East Java (Beef Cattle Research Institute, Grati), Lombok (University of Mataram), Central Sulawesi (University of Tadulako) and West Timor (University of Nusa Cendana). Each experiment has evaluated the suitability of three to four feeding strategies to enhance the growth rates of weaned Bali calves. The main parameters measured include live weight gain, feed and water intake, digestibility and nutrient composition of feeds. The results suggest that feedstuffs, such as local grasses, commonly fed to growing Bali calves may not provide sufficient protein to maximise growth of the six month old weaners. It was determined that feeding six month old Bali calves a diet above 16.5% crude protein maximises live weight gain. Some examples of the growth rates achieved to date include native grass, 0.08 kg/day; native grass + rice bran and copra meal, 0.25 kg/day; elephant grass hay, 0.14 kg/day; sesbania hay, 0.43 kg/day; leucaena hay 0.39 kg/day; high protein concentrate diet 0.6 kg/day. Materials for extension purposes have been prepared throughout all stages of the experiments and local farmers have visited the experiments in progress at all sites.

All project participants met in December 2006 at Grati to present and discuss results to date and plan the in-village demonstration of the project results. Based on the results from each site a best-bet feeding strategy was devised to be implemented in villages in each region. The in-village demonstration work involves the introduction of feeding strategies to Bali calves weaned at six months of age, with their growth monitored in-village until twelve months of age in comparison to growth of control calves, where no intervention has been introduced. The early results are promising, with treatment calves, fed a copra meal and rice bran supplement, growing at 0.43 kg/day compared with control calves growing at 0.29 kg/day, over a period of six months in villages in Central Sulawesi.

In August 2006, the project was expanded to include additional feeding studies to assess the suitability of new forage options (evaluated in LPS 2004 005, Improving smallholder crop-livestock systems in eastern Indonesia and SMAR 2006 003, Integrating forage legumes into the maize cropping systems of West Timor). In March 2007, BPTP NTT joined the project to assist with the conduct of the additional feeding studies in West Timor. In April 2007, the project was further expanded to investigate the opportunities to utilize residues from the cocoa industry for beef cattle production in South East Sulawesi, in conjunction with BPTP Sultra and the University of Haluoleo, and to establish the long-term growth path of Bali calves on Lombok (SMAR 2007 013). The growth path study has been in progress for four months, while the cocoa by-product work, focusing on form and level of feeding and simple village processing systems, will commence in August 2007.

At each site 'junior scientists', under the guidance of senior scientists, are now responsible for the day to day operations of project activities. Further, forty undergraduate students and one post-graduate student have been involved in the experiments as part of their honours and masters projects, respectively. The Australian component of this work involves measuring microbial protein production in cattle fed forages varying in quality and various forms of protein supplements. An Indonesian scientist studying for a PhD. at the University of Queensland (John Allwright Fellow) is conducting this work and is presently completing his fourth and final experiment.

The period between June 2007 and June 2008 saw the completion of the on-station feeding studies and the continued implementation, demonstration and monitoring of best-bet feeding strategies in villages. A total of 14 on-station feeding studies were successfully completed at West Nusa Tenggara, East Java, Central Sulawesi and East Nusa Tenggara. Each experiment used a similar design and experimental protocol to evaluate the growth response and feed intake of early weaned, 6 month old Bali cattle to a range of locally available feed resources. A total of 52 different feeding strategies (treatments) were evaluated, with a live weight gain response measured for each strategy, and associated measurements of feed and water intake, nutrient composition of the feedstuffs and digestibility conducted. The laboratory and statistical analysis of this component of the project are in progress. The results suggest that feedstuffs commonly fed to young Bali calves in villages may not provide sufficient protein to maximise growth of the early weaned, 6 month old Bali calf. The range in live weight gain in response to the various treatments was from less than 0.1 kg/day, for local cut and carry grasses, to over 0.6 kg/day for leucaena fed with a small amount of rice bran. It has been demonstrated that the inclusion of tree legumes (e.g. Leucaena spp, Sesbania spp) or other protein sources (copra meal), at low levels will promote growth of early weaned, 6 month old Bali calves. Further, in situations where a high protein diet is available, such as leucaena ad libitum, the provision of an energy source, such as rice bran or maize grain, will further enhance growth rates.

At each site, best-bet feeding strategies from the on-station feeding studies have been implemented in villages and monitoring is in progress. To date the results indicate that the targeted use of locally available protein supplements, such as a copra meal/rice bran mixture in Central Sulawesi or leucaena in East Java (both fed at 1% of live weight on a dry matter basis), increased growth rates of early weaned, 6 month old Bali calves from 0.29 to 0.42 kg/day and 0.18 to 0.42 kg/day, respectively, over a 6 month period. The increased live weight gain evident from the introduced feeding strategies resulted in Bali cattle, weaned at 6 months of age, being 27.6 and 43.2 kg heavier, after 6 months of feeding, at Central Sulawesi and East Java, respectively. Similar activities are in progress in West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara. These results demonstrate that it is possible to extend, implement, adapt and monitor on-station research findings in a village management system in eastern Indonesia.

Attitudes of farmers to the feeding strategies have been evaluated at farmer visits during the on-station experiments and during the demonstration and monitoring activities conducted in the villages and are currently been collated. In addition, cost-benefit analysis of the feeding strategies is also in progress.

A joint, two day project workshop was held with partners from LPS 2004 023 and SMAR 2007 013 at the University of Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, in December 2007 to present and discuss project results to date. One session during the workshop was dedicated to the development of researchable issues to further develop and improve the productivity of the Indonesian beef cattle industry. The meeting also incorporated a visit to Tandek and Kelebuh villages, demonstrating the integrated village management system for Bali cattle in West Nusa Tenggara. The project has continued to support the development of young scientists, through the involvement of undergraduate students in on-station feeding studies and the appointment of junior scientists at each site. Further, the careers of senior scientists continue to be supported through attendance at international conferences and training workshops. In addition, an Indonesian scientist studying strategies to increase microbial protein production in cattle for his PhD at the University of Queensland (John Allwright Fellow) will submit his thesis in June 2008.