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.

Beef production is a major industry in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) and, given the high rate of poverty, future development of the industry has the potential to significantly contribute to poverty reduction. This report outlines the potential of the NTT beef industry, the main value chain issues and options for possible interventions to improve smallholder returns. The author details numerous opportunities for improved productivity and development of the beef industry given the strong demand for NTT beef, established trading systems and the potential for expansion of grazing land area.

This report presents the results of an ACIAR-funded research project that provides a comparative analysis of the beef supply chain through benchmarking to inform future activities in the beef sector. It covers the supply chain of beef products from on-farm cattle production to the consumer in four regions of eastern Indonesia (East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi and East Java) and Jakarta.