Seminar Nasional Teknologi Peternakan dan Veteriner 2001

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2 BALI CATTLE PERFORMANCE: CURRENT POPULATION DYNAMICS AND PERFORMANCE AND SOME STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVEMENT (A PRELIMINARY REPORT) K. ENTWISTLE 1, C. TALIB 2, A. R. SIREGAR 2, S. BUDIARTI 2, W. TURNER 3, and D. LINDSAY 4 1 Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, University of New England, Armidale, 2 Central Research Institute for Animal Science, Bogor, 3 Director General Livestock Services, Jakarta, 4 Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, University of Western Australia, Perth INTRODUCTION Bali cattle (Bos sondaicus) occupy an extremely important production niche in the livestock industries of Indonesia and are the most predominant genotype within the Eastern Islands. This well adapted genotype forms the basis for many smallholder enterprises in the region but in recent times there have been considerable pressures placed on the Bali cattle population because of high demands for slaughter animals, and a probable decline in the genetic resources of the genotype. In contrast to many other more extensive tropical cattle production systems which rely on the production and adaptational traits of Bos indicus genotypes, the Bali cattle industry is characterised by a smallholder farming system with a heavy dependence on the survival traits of the genotype which is extremely important in the frequently harsh and lowinput/low output management system typical of the region. The fact that the genotype does not appear to respond to intensive highinput management as well as other cattle is largely irrelevant to the smallholder, who simply can not afford the cash inputs required to exploit the production potential of nonindigenous cattle. Productive traits of Bali cattle in Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia have been reviewed by a number of authors (DEVENDRA et al., 1977; KIRBY, 1979; LIWA, 1990; MCCOOL, 1992; WIRDAHAYATI, 1994; WIRYOSUHANTO, 1996) and these details will not be discussed here other than in the context of the projects to be described. However work by WIRDAHAYATI (1994) indicates that the genotype can be more productive than a Bos indicus genotype, the Ongole, under conditions of poor nutrition and low levels of management. Within Indonesia, Bali cattle have been widely distributed throughout the Eastern Islands outside Bali, to form two major foci in South Sulawesi and Nusa Tenggara and numbers there now exceed those in Bali (SIREGAR et al., 1985). In the past three decades Bali cattle populations have also been established in the Lampung region of Southern Sumatra. Demand for meat in Indonesia is growing at 68% per annum with demand greatest in the densely populated and more urbanised areas of Java. Records over the past decade indicate that the Bali cattle herd size is declining in most areas of the Eastern Islands as export demand exceeds replacement rates. There is also a widespread view amongst many animal scientists that the genetic merit of the genotype may be declining as a consequence of regular and sustained disposal of larger (genetically superior) bulls. The average weight of these exported bulls is decreasing (TALIB et al., 2000) and this, combined with increasing numbers of exported females, is putting increasing pressure on the Bali cattle herds. Thus both the size and quality of the genetic pool may be decreasing. 32

3 In some areas the shortage of mature bulls also appears to be an impediment to herd improvement success (WIRDAHAYATI and BAMUALIM, 1990) and while Al (Artificial Insemination) is promoted widely and used extensively in some areas (TALIB et al., 2000) success levels appear variable depending upon local husbandry practices and environmental conditions. Current IndonesianAustralian collaborative programs on Bali Cattle Following discussions between Indonesian agencies and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) during 1999/2000, agreement was reached on the need to support several collaborative and integrated projects involving scientists from both countries which had, as their primary objectives, the development of a range of strategies and options for improvement of Bali cattle in Eastern Indonesia. One project, based on Lombok and Sumbawa, is designed to develop and evaluate a range of management and nutritional strategies which may contribute to enhanced performance of Bali cattle in typical smallholder systems in those regions. This project involves scientists from IPPTP Mataram, Universitas Mataram, and Universitas Nusa Cendana in collaboration with Australian colleagues from the University of Queensland and the Department of Primary Industries, Queensland. As with the project to be described, this project is in its preliminary stages, having commenced in early The project, the subject of this preliminary report, has as its main objective the development of appropriate options for the genetic improvement of the Bali cattle herd in the Eastern Islands of Indonesia. Input is from scientists in the Indonesian Central Research Institute for Animal Science (CRIAS), Directorate General for Livestock Services (DGLS), and regional Directors and staff of IPPTP s and BPTPs. Australian coordination and input is from the Universities of New England and Western Australia, with collaboration from several other Australian groups. The project commenced in March 2001 with an initial planning visit to Indonesia by the Australian team, followed by a second visit in June 2001, when the combined team visited a number of areas in the Eastern Islands to gather information on population dynamics and production data of Bali cattle under several different management regimes. Close contact has been established with personnel in the other ACIAR funded project mentioned above, and exchange of data and progress reports, together with joint participation in workshops will occur. As this project has only been in existence for some six months at time of writing, the brief data presented here is a preliminary report only. The authors, and others involved look forward to critique, input, suggestions and feedback on the project, recommendations from which will be developed and finalised at a workshop to be held in Indonesia in February

4 RESULTS Population Dynamics in Bali Cattle Recent Trends Population dynamics were calculated from published statistical information on Indonesian livestock, and are summarised in Table 1. Bali cattle, of which there were some 2.9 million in 2000, comprise some 19% of the total Indonesian cattle herd of 15.5 million. However, between 1998 and 2000, Bali cattle numbers declined by 3.2%. There were wide variations in population decline between provinces, the decline being greatest in NTT (30%), with significant decreases around 12% in NTB and South Sulawesi. These data confirm anecdotal comments and earlier reports of declines in numbers of Bali cattle across Indonesia, but also highlight differences between provinces in the rate of change occurring. There seems little doubt that a continuing population decline at rates similar to this three year period, will result in a critically low herd size for Bali cattle in the near future. This situation will, if it occurs, seriously impact on Indonesian beef production capacity, on the economic wellbeing of many Indonesian smallholders relying on cattle as an income source, and will constrain opportunities for improvement of this genotype. Table 1. Population dynamics of Bali cattle, Year Location Population Change NTT TNTB Bali South Sulawesi Lampung Total Indonesia Reasons for this population decline are many and varied, and have been discussed in a number of previous reports. However, data for 2000 on slaughter rates, numbers exported, mortality rates, and calculated calving numbers, summarised in table 2, provides partial explanations for this shift in population size. Table 2. Information by province for 2000 on slaughter, export and mortality numbers in Bali cattle together with estimated calvings of the herd. Numbers in parentheses are percentages of total population Province Population Slaughterings and *Calving numbers Mortalities Export estimated NTT NTB Bali South Sulawesi Lampung Total (21.1) (4.9) Keterangan: * Calving rate of population extrapolated from research data and from female Bali cattle population statistics. Data are estimates only and should be viewed with some caution 34

5 Combined slaughter and export rates ranged from 1364% of the total population in 2000, the higher figure of 64% being from Lampung. To date the project team have not been able to analyse in any detail the reasons for this high offtake from this province. However, the close proximity of the province to high density populations in West Java, where demand for beef is increasing, and where major meat processing plants are located, may be an explanation. On the basis of the data of Table 2, it can be calculated that, at least for 2000, some 21% of the total Bali cattle population was either slaughtered or exported (for growout, for breeding, for slaughter ). Mortalities also accounted for further declines in cattle numbers, representing an overall loss of almost 5%. For reasons the team has not yet had time to explore, mortality rates were especially high in NTT (16%), but in other provinces ranged from 23%. The combination of slaughterings, exports and mortalities represent a total population offtake of almost 26%. Whilst some of this offtake probably represents export of breeding animals, nevertheless the overall rate is extremely high by production standards in developed country cattle industries. These offtake rates are unlikely to be sustainable in the short to medium term without serious damage to the national economy, to the Indonesian cattle industry and to the well being of individual smallholders. Some caution is needed in interpreting the estimated calving numbers shown in Table 2. These are extrapolated data from research results on reproductive performance, usually calculated from small numbers of animals, and then calculated for each province from estimated cow numbers. Hence they probably have a large error variance, and their use for comparative purposes needs to be approached cautiously. Additional population dynamic data is provided in Table 3, where slaughterings were dissected by animal gender. The ratio of cow to bull slaughter rates ranged from 3:1 to 20:1, with on average four times the number of cows slaughtered than bulls. Depending on the proportion of productive (reproductively active/pregnant) cows being sent to slaughter, then impacts on future population dynamics may vary. Table 3. Bali cattle slaughterings in 2000 broken down by sex, assessment of percentage of cows in population and ratio of female/male slaughterings Province Bulls Cows % Cows in population Ratio Female/male Slaughterings NTT NTB Bali South Sulawesi Lampung Total There is limited data available on the proportion of productive (reproductively active/pregnant) cows slaughtered. These slaughterings represent potential losses in terms of offspring for replacement or later slaughter. For NTT, NTB, Bali and South Sulawesi, our data indicate that such animals represent 30,15,69 and 35% respectively of all cow slaughterings. Over all these provinces the mean figure is 34% or onethird of all cows slaughtered. If this data is extrapolated to the entire Bali cattle population in Indonesia, of which approximately 43% are cows, then the potential for 35

6 increasing herd reproductive performance and changing herd dynamic patterns by limiting slaughter of pregnant females becomes apparent. In summary, the population dynamics data presented here confirms earlier reports of a significant and serious decline in Bali cattle numbers. Should these trends be allowed to continue, then a number of adverse impacts, discussed above, will occur, which will have unfortunate national consequences. A range of options, both genetic and nongenetic need to be developed to counter these adverse trends and to enable smallholders to continue to utilise and benefit from the use of this well adapted and valuable genotype. Current productive performance One of the key tasks of the current ACIAR project is the collation of available data on productive performance of Bali cattle in those provinces where they are the most important/dominant genotype. This data is essential as a prerequisite to the development of future strategies to improve the productivity of the Bali cattle herd. Productivity data collection for the project commenced in May 2001, and has involved an exhaustive review of published information on the genotype, which was followed by a detailed survey at the provincial level which was undertaken by the team in late June The team met with a wide range of research and extension groups at provincial and national levels, with staff at Universities in NTT, NTB, Bali and South Sulawesi, and with farmers at a number of localities. Data was collected using a standard format, and is currently being processed and analysed. The data presented here should be seen as preliminary data only, and care needs to be taken in interpreting the information at this point in time. Summarised data on weight traits in Bali cattle by province are presented in Table 4. Table 4. Production performance of Bali cattle preliminary data from ACIAR Project, 2001 Production trait Province Birth Weight (kg) Weaning Weight (kg) Yearling Weight (kg) 2 Yr Weight (kg) Mature cow Weight (kg) Weight at Puberty (kg) NTT 11.9± ± ± ± ±14 NTB 12.7± ± ± ± ± Bali 16.8± ± ± South Sulawesi 12.3± ± ± ± ± ±18.4 There are some apparent variations between provinces in this data which probably reflect the impact of variable environmental and management conditions, particularly nutrition, on performance levels. Mature cow weights are lower in NTT and South Sulawesi, than in either Bali or NTB. If one compares this data with other published estimates for weight traits (Table 5), then the current data set is at about the midpoint of the range for mature cow weights of Bali cattle in Indonesia. 36

7 Table 5. Published estimates for mature cow and bull weights for Bali Cattle Location Mature weights (kg) Cows Bulls Reference Malaysia 264 Devendra et al Sulawesi, NTT, NTB Astawa 1989 Bali Pane 1990 NTT, NTB Wirdahayati 1994 NTT, NTB, Bali, Sulawesi Current study Australia McCosker & Eggington 1984 Preliminary survey data on reproductive performance traits and milk production in Bali cattle is summarised in Table 6. Data from Lampung has yet to be collated and cannot be included. Again the estimates derived here are not that dissimilar to those summarised by WIRDAHAYATI (1994). The data highlight the fact that under the harsh conditions and generally poor nutritional regime, reproductive performance is moderate (calving rates 5067%). In a previous study in NTT and NTB (WIRDAHAYATI, 1994) calving rates ranged from 6378%. As for earlier reports, milk production was extremely low, and is no doubt a contributing factor to low calf growth rates and high calf mortalities. Calf mortality rates were a feature of the survey data and ranged from 848%, levels similar to those found in Timor (2047%) by WIRDAHAYATI and BAMAULIM (1990), but higher than another study (WIRDAHAYATI 1994) in NTT and NTB of 9%. Table 6. Reproductive performance and milk production data in Bali Cattle preliminary data from ACIAR Project Province Age at puberty (year) Mean calving age (month) ICI (month) Calving rate (%) Calf mortality rate (%) Milk prod (kg/6 month) NTT NTB Bali South Sulawesi It is anticipated that full analyses of the data set will be completed in the next few months, and the material prepared for publication. Current management and breeding strategies While the vast majority of Bali cattle are naturally mated, AI has been used extensively in some areas and offers the only short term solution to implementation of breeding strategies for genetic improvement. Embryo transfer because of its cost and complexity under smallholder environments, is not a realistic option in most situations. Tables 7 and 8 summarise information on existing breeding practices, and there is wide variation across provinces. 37

8 Table 7. Existing breeding practices based on breeding objective NTT NTB Bali South Sulawesi Lampung Conservation (Cs) Purebreeding (P) Crossbreeding (Cb) (Ongole cattle) (Bali cattle) (Brangus) (Bali cattle) (Bali cattle) (Bali cattle) Table 8. Existing breeding practice based on the project operations NTT NTB Bali South Sulawesi Lampung Village breeding centre Cattle breeding institute P3Bali Semen for AI in Bali cattle is produced at the AI Centre at Singosari, East Java and distributed throughout the Eastern Islands. The team were of the view that the small number of Bali bulls maintained at Singosari may be a constraint to genetic progress since there appeared to be few objective selection criteria used. This is an area which needs to be examined. Data for 1998 indicate that some doses of Bali semen were produced and distributed, but information on performance of offspring from AI versus natural mating has been difficult to obtain. NEXT STAGES OF THE PROJECT Data collection, analyses and interpretation is expected to be completed shortly and this data will be presented at a planning meeting in Australia in late September, involving a number of Australian animal breeding specialists together with the Indonesian and Australian members of the team. A planned outcome of this meeting will be the development of a number of options for breeding objectives relevant to the Bali cattle industry of the Eastern Islands. This meeting will be followed by a workshop to be held in Indonesia in February 2002, involving an extensive number of participants from Indonesia and Australia where these options will be considered and prioritised, and where firm proposals for breeding plans to enhance the productivity of Bali cattle will be developed and fine tuned. Implementation of these proposals is expected to be a staged process over the following twothree years, involving a range of central and provincial agencies. The team look forward to collaboration with a range of colleagues in Indonesia and Australia as the project progresses. 38

9 REFERENCES DEVENDRA C., CHOC T.L.K., and PATHMASINGAM M Malaysian Agric J. 49: KIRBY G.W.M. (1979) Wild Anim Rev 31: LIWA A.M. (1990) PhD Thesis, IPB, Bogor. MCCOOL C. (1992) Trop Anim Hlth & Prod 24: MCCOSKER T.J., and EGGINGTON R.R. (1984) Proc Aust Soc Anim Prod 15: PANE I. (1990) In Proc Bali Cattle Meeting, 1990, Denpasar p. A42. SIREGAR A.R., TALIB C., DIWYANTO K., SITEPU P. KUSNADI U., PRASETYO H. and SITORUS P. (1985) Ditjennak and Balitnak, Jakarta. TALIB C., SIREGAR A.R., KUSWANDI and HARYANTO B. (2000) Proc ARM, CRIAS (unpublished). WIRDAHAYATI R.B. (1994) PhD Thesis, Univ Qld, Australia. WIRDAHAYATI R.B. and BAMUALIM A. (1990) In Proc Bali Cattle Meeting, 1996, Denpasar, p. C1. WIRYOSUHANTO S. (1996) In Proc Workshop 1996, ACIAR, Canberra pp