Indonesian breeding cattle demonstration

Summary

The Indonesian government’s policy objective to become self-sufficient in beef production could become a reality if a vast untapped resource of pruned palm fronds from palm oil plantations can be fully utilised to support an additional 4.5 million breeder cattle, which could all potentially be sourced from northern Australia. However, while palm fronds are palatable, they are of low nutrient value and the additional nutritional inputs to achieve acceptable breeding results still need to be determined.
An MLA funded project studying the reproductive performance of 50 Brahman heifers on a palm frond basal diet produced conception rates of 100%; calving to conception intervals of 13.1 weeks; and calf losses of only 4%. While the exercise was not cost effective in the 50 head project feedlot (loss of $458/head, but breeders were fed to excess with tapioca waste), it was hypothesized that a 300 head model, with retention of weaners until slaughter, could produce a return on investment of 3.7% after 7 years; the real profits are achieved in the grow-out phase.
This project has generated considerable interest and support with approximately 100 government officials and plantation owners attending a symposium on the concept. Additionally, the manure produced as a by-product provides additional incentive to create sustainable farming ecosystems. More research is required to develop better rations at a reduced cost and to explore the social, environmental and political opportunities of this breeding model. This project has, however, unequivocally demonstrated that Australian Brahman breeders can perform at the highest level of reproductive efficiency expected in a well-managed breeder operation in an Indonesian palm oil plantation.