Factors Affecting the Adoption of Agricultural By-Products as Feed by Beef Cattle Farmers in Maros Regency of South Sulawesi, Indonesia

An appropriate understanding towards preference of small-scale dairy producers can improve technology adoption. The objective of this study was to understand potential, problem and need of small-scale dairy producers including farmer and his wife. The method used was modification of participatory rural appraisal (PRA) like participatory mapping to detect potential, and Preference ranking to understand problem and need priority. PRA applications were six times during April-September 2009 at central area and non-central area in Enrekang regency. Preference of farmer and his wife toward potential and problem were not different. Only feed technology need was different. Forage sources at central area were more diverse than non-central area but concentrate sources at non-central area were more than central area. Lack of knowledge for feed and concentrate formulation and nutritional requirements, less known of feed use, and low feed quality at dry season were the main problems at central area. At non-central area, lack of knowledge for preserving feed, lack of labour, and feed shortage at dry season were main problem faced by farmers. Knowledge improvement for local feed and complete-feed formulation are priority technology at central area. At non-central area, agricultural waste and forage preserving and complete-feed are needed by farmer. Key words: dairy cattle, feed technology, participatory rural appraisal, small scale

Context: Native chicken farming has potential for development in several areas in Indonesia, because it is a very familiar practice and has specific community value. Both men and women have a role in raising native chickens. Aims: To construct a profile of the poultry system and determine the potential socio-economic impacts for meeting community needs as a basis for the development of future native chicken enterprises. Methods: The study was conducted in five areas in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, including Barru, Enrekang, Jeneponto, Maros, and Soppeng regencies. Interviews included 385 respondents (55.06% men and 44.94% women), most of whom were in the productive-age category (defined as 31–62 years of age) and were elementary school graduates. The number of family members was low, as was the number of chickens owned, being up to 25 chickens raised per year. Key results: Native chicken farming was determined to have a moderate socio-economic impact on communities, as the number of chickens owned was relatively low. Native chickens are used for consumption, income generation and savings, and as complements in religious and traditional ceremonies. The potential target markets for native chickens are diverse, including individual end consumers, restaurants, local markets, and inter-regional markets. The amount of income from selling chickens varies depending on the quantity sold and the price. The price of chicken will rise under certain conditions, such as during religious and traditional events. Technical production constraints to market development include inadequate housing, lack of sanitation, non-optimal disease management, and low use of vaccinations. The primary market constraint is that the rearing locations can be far from the city centre, and the number of chickens that can be produced for sale is low. Conclusions: Poultry management dynamics, such as feeding, housing, and sanitation, must be considered to expand native chicken production. It is essential to identify solutions for selling native chickens to significantly increase household income. Native chickens have a socio-economic impact, raising the family income, as complements in religious and traditional ceremonies, and affecting the social status of breeders. Implications: Information regarding the potential and prospects of native chicken farming from a socio-economic perspective can encourage communities to maintain and develop livestock enterprises to support the provision of animal protein for consumption and traditional uses, and to increase household incomes.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of nitrogen fertilizer level on growth, dry matter yield and nodulation of Indigofera zollingeriana plant at during the nursery. The experiments were arranged in a complete randomized design consisting of four treatments and four replications. The utilized four levels of the nitrogen fertilizer were 0 (P0), 100 (P1), 150 (P2) and 200 kg N/ha (P3) equivalent to 0, 0.15, 0.23 and 0.30 g N/polybag respectively. The variables in this study included the plant height, stem diameter, number of petioles per plant, length of petiole, number of leaves per plant, root length for each plant and dry matter yield. The results showed that the fertilizer doses increased the plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves per plant, and dry matter yield of leaf, leaf petiole, stem, root and nodule. It could be concluded that nitrogen fertilization was effective in stimulating growth, production and nodulation at early nursery stage, yet higher nitrogen doses (200 Kg N/ha) are ineffective and have inhibitory effects of growth and production. Therefore, high-dose nitrogen fertilizers in legume plants should be avoided because Indigofera zollingeriana is able to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere as in other legumes.

The problem facing dairy cow producers in tropical area is the low availability of proper nutrition, especially during the dry season. One solution to overcome this problem is to utilize technology of Complete Feed (CF) silage using ensiled several local abundant ingredients from agricultural wastes. This study aimed to find a formulation of CF silage from agricultural wastes as forage substitution for dairy cows to increase yield and quality of the milk. The study was conducted on dairy farms in Enrekang District, South Sulawesi of Indonesia. The formulations of CF silage used in the study were tested both in vitro and in vivo and compared with the farmer's practices that using elephant grass plus rice bran. A total of 20 Holstein Friesian dairy cows in 4-5 months lactation with a lactation period of 3rd-5th were used for in vivo study. The treatments were Elephant Grass + Rice Bran (EG-RB), Elephant Grass + Concentrate (EG-CON), Complete Feed Silage made from straws (CF-S) and complete feed silage made from straws and vegetable wastes (CF-VW). The results of this study showed that the dry matter intake and milk yield of dairy cow were higher in EG-CON, CF-S and CF-VW compared to EG-RB and were not different among EG-CON, CF-S and CF-VW. The crude protein, lactose, calcium and phosphorus of the milk were higher in the EG-CON, CF-S and CF-VW than EG-RB and were not different among EG-CON, CF-S and CF-VW. Fat content, density and pH of the milk were not different among treatments. In conclusion, in order to maintain and to improve the yield and quality of milk in dairy cows, the agriculture wastes, such as straws and vegetable wastes can be used as the basal feed of dairy cows for fodder substitution in the form of CF silage.

Land use conflict among agriculture and animal husbandry caused beef cattle must be keptintensively. The objective of this research was to identify adoption level of beef cattle intensive rearingand some factors that affecting farmers adoption. Research design was survey with 90 respondents froma total of 578 farmers. Data were obtained through interview and observations using questionnare withclose question. The data were analyzed with multiple regression models. The level of intensive rearingadoption (dependent variable) was measured based on housing system, feeding, reproduction, healthmanagement and feces utilization. While, independent variables were based on the intensity ofextension, relative adventage, subjective norm, control of behavior, attitude, age, land area and scale ofbusiness. Level of housing system, feeding, reproduction and health management were in the medium level (average >50% of farmers), while feces utilization was in the lowest level. Factors that positivelyaffected farmer adoption in Wajo regency were the ability of the farmers to control their behavior(p<0.01), farmer position in social community or subjective norm and relative adventage weresignificant with p<0.05. Another case with contact to the extension, age, attitude, land area and scale ofbusiness were no significant affected farmers adoption. To enforce adoption of intensive rearingtechnology, extension program should be developed to influence farmers psychology such profit level ofintensive rearing and convenience on cattle handling.