Breeding Bos Javanicus d’Alton cattle in eastern Indonesia cattle control, diets, draught use and feeding

Abstract

Cut-and-carry systems diets of monitored Bali cattle (Bos javanicus d’Alton) were 80% grass in Lombok villages (Kelebuh and Tandek); up to half was rice straw at Kelebuh. Adults were offered 30–40 kg and 20–25 kg during the wet and dry seasons, respectively. Diet collection took 2.5-3.0 hours, but 1.5-2.0 hours when rice straw was fed at Kelebuh. At Tandek, collection took in average of 1.5-2.0 and 2.5-3.0 hours during the wet and dry seasons, respectively. Feed offered was 50-100% above expected voluntary feed intake. Cattle grazed in Sumbawa (Boak and Simu villages) where diet management averaged 0.2–0.3 hours daily and rice straw was up to 50% of the diet in the dry season. Daily draught power use on Lombok was usually up to 4 hours. Cattle are used more for trampling than draught in preparing fields for crops in Sumbawa.