This paper reviews the current status of Bali cattle in Indonesia based on national and regional statistical records and research and subjective information from government and university officers and farming groups in the regions where Bali cattle are produced. The research found that Bali cattle are the predominant beef cattle in the Eastern Islands of Indonesia, amounting to around 80 per cent of the total 2.95 million Bali cattle in the country. Overall numbers have declined in three of the last four years, which is believed to be a long-term trend.

This paper explores the development of livestock production in Indonesia, with a focus on issues of autonomy. It maintains that the effort to develop livestock production is strongly related to decisions made by institutions in various fields and sectors in a given area or region. The opportunity to develop animal production results from interactions between commodity, sectoral and location factors as well as between the proper use of human resources and related factors in development such as technology, socioeconomic conditions and variations in ecosystems within a particular area.

This report presents the findings of a rapid assessment of the beef value chain in seven provinces in Indonesia. Data was collected through interviews with key stakeholders in the public and private sectors at all levels of the value chain. The findings reveal that the productivity of the beef breeding herd in Indonesia is low compared to other meat exporting countries in the region.

Early weaning of Bali calves at six months of age increases herd reproductive efficiency and offers beef smallholders an opportunity to increase productivity and cash flow. This report assesses numerous feeding strategies aimed at increasing the growth rate of early weaned Bali calves in Sulawesi Tengah, East Java, West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara. Results demonstrate that simple feeding strategies available to farmers could increase growth rates from 0.1-0.2kg/d to over 0.4kg/d by including high protein feeds such a leucaena, sesbania or copra meal.

This paper examines the economic feasibility of best-bet feeding strategies to increase live weight gain of early weaned Bali calves to identify opportunities for increased profit above feed costs on-farm. The research evaluates 53 feeding strategies in 14 on-station experiments in Central Sulawesi, East Java, East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara. The best-bet feeding strategy at each site was implemented, monitored and adapted on-farm in villages for six months.

In this paper, Priyanti et al. examine the nature and potential of small-scale cattle production in East Java, with a particular focus on the relation between crop and cattle production. A study was carried out in 2010 with 194 cattle producers across two sites (irrigated lowlands and rain-fed uplands) to explore constraints facing cattle producers in these environments and potential means to enhance their production systems and incomes.

Small-scale beef cattle production in East Java, Indonesia, is mostly undertaken to generate household income to meet current farm-household needs. This article presents research undertaken to understand the factors affecting the prices, hence the incomes, received by small-scale cattle producers in East Java. Research was conducted in two sites (one irrigated lowland and one rain-fed upland) in 2010-11, involving monthly monitoring with 184 farmers. Data was recorded for each of the 353 cattle sold during the two-year period. Cattle were sold in the village to local or district traders.

This article presents an overview of a management system that was established to monitor Bali cattle performance on the islands of Lombok and Sumbawa. Research was carried out over a three-year period in two villages on each island—one village adopting new management and the other retaining prevailing management. The primary components of new management were: controlled seasonal natural mating using a selected bull, calf weaning at 5-6 months of age and managing weaner diets.

This report examines the cattle marketing chain in Bali and Lombok and describes the role of its various stakeholders. It also identifies the role that farmer groups play in assisting smallholders to link to the market chain, and the characteristics of farmer groups and their leaders that result in greater access to markets. The research uses a mix of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, the latter involving two multiple regression analyses.

In this paper, the authors describe the successful implementation of an integrated village management system to improve reproductive efficiency in beef cattle production. They also review the results of a range of studies conducted to develop feeding strategies to increase growth of early weaned Bali cattle across eastern Indonesia, as well as the potential use of crop residues, including rice straw, as a basal diet for reproducing females.