The research was aimed to observe the influence of the breed and the initial body weight on the daily gain of Simmental Ongole crossbred (SimPO) and Ongole grade (PO) cattle in a feedlot system. The research was conducted for three months, used 12 SimPO and 12 PO (age ranged at 1.5-2.5 y), fed by concentrates and King grass. Cattle were grouped as: (I) SimPO <300 kg; (II) SimPO >300 kg; (III) PO < 300 kg; and (IV) PO >300 kg. Feed consumption, average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and feed cost per gain were observed and analyzed using ANOVA. The results showed that ADG, FCR, and feed cost per gain were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by different breeds and initial body weight, while feed consumption was significantly (P<0.05) influenced by initial body weight. There were interactions between breed and initial body weight on feed consumption, FCR, and feed cost per gain. The highest FCR and feed cost per gain showed in group IV. SimPO had higher ADG than PO. Cattle < 300 kg had higher ADG than > 300 kg. Ongole grade > 300 kg were less efficient to be used as feeder cattle in feedlot system.

The development of cattle in the area of oil palm plantations has the potential to become an agribusiness, but it still needs to be studied in-depth because the cattle business requires a long period with a significant investment. One study that needs to do is the calf production per year because it is directly related to input-output calculations. This study aims to find out the calf production of Bali cows which maintained integrated with oil palm plantations in Riau province, as one of the provinces that has the largest oil palm plantation area in Indonesia. Twenty-three Bali cows grazed with males in a colony were used as research samples. Livestock is kept semi-intensive by grazing in the plantation area from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. then housed without additional feeding. The study conducted from 2016 to 2018; the data recorded for calculating the calf crop is the calving interval, birth rate, and calf mortality. During three years of observation, the calving interval, calving percentage, and calf mortality were 370-421 days, 86-100%, and 10-34% respectively. The calculation obtained that the calf production was 64-72%/year. It concluded that the development of Bali cattle with an integrated system with oil palm plantations has the potential to be an agribusiness opportunity in terms of the calf crop to be obtained.

No abstract

This study was conducted to determine the sexual behaviors of Ongole crossbreed bulls and cows with colony housing systems. Bull sexual behaviors was observed, including Oro-Nasal Contact (ONC), Flehmen, Mounts Orientation Response (MOR), Mounts, and Services. Cows sexual behaviors were: Mounting, Standing-to-be-mounted (STBM), and vulvar appearance (color, swelling, secretion of mucus). Sexual behaviors were observed in 24 hours, with the estrous cycle stage was determined by changes in the character of the vaginal epithelial cells. The data was analyzed by using statistic varian one-way method. The result showed that Ongole crossbreed bulls had sexual behaviors (ONC, Flehmen, MOR, Mounts, and Services) significantly higher than cows with estrous phase (P<0.01). The intensity of bull sexual behaviors had been influenced by the phase of estrous of the cows. At the time of estrus, the cows had the response of mounting (25%), STBM (100%), reddening vulva (75%), swelling vulva (75%), and mucus secretion (100%) that could be a factor of high sexual behavior intensity of the bulls. The conclusion of this study was bulls and cows that kept with the colony housing system had increased sexual behaviors when the cows at the estrous phase.

The development of the beef cattle population in Indonesia can be done by increasing the cows’ performance keeping by oil palm farmers. The research aimed to study Bali cows’ production system and performance maintained by oil palm farmers in Karya Mulya Village, Rambah Samo District, Rokan Hulu Regency, Riau. Fifteen farmers as respondent with 33 of their Bali cows were the subjects of observation. This research was conducted using the interview method, focused on the production system, body size, and reproductive performance. Data were analyzed descriptively, quantitative, and qualitative. The study results on body size showed that the Bali cows had a chest circumference of 156.68±7.07 cm, shoulder height 112.73±8.86 cm, absolute body length 113.77±5.26 cm, relative body length 105±6.89 cm, body weight 253.65±28.64 kg, and body condition score 2.91±0.50. Reproductive performance includes the calving interval is 376.96±77.65 days, weaning time is 7.74±1.16 months, postpartum estrus 72.00±36.81 days, postpartum mating 72.00±36.81 days, service per conception 1.23±0.8, calf mortality 6.25%, calf weaning weight at 205 days is 97.59±22.88 kg, cows reproductive index 0.96 ± 0.26 and productivity 68.23 ± 46.89. It concluded that Bali cows raised by oil palm farmers in Rokan Hulu, Riau had good performance and body size.