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

Abstract

The utilization of crop residue as a feed is very important because the arable land area is relatively limited. The study was aimed to examine the influence of adoption of crop-residue product as a feed. The research was conducted in Maros District by using survey methods from March to August 2015. The number of respondents was 96 farmers scattered throughout the Districts of Bantimurung and Camba as centers of rice, corn plant, and cattle productions. Questionnaires were used to collect data conducted by a trained enumerator. Survey was arranged using a logistic regression model to identify socio economic factors influencing the adoption of crop residue as a feed. Work perception (X2), contact with extension workers (X4), rice cultivated areas (X5), the number of livestock (X6), subjective norm (X7), and difficulty (X8) were socio-economic variables influencing the adoption of crop residue as a feed. However, the variables age (X1), farmer experiences (X3), and the number of family members (X9) had no effect on the adoption of this technology. In conclusion, extension workers play an important role in increasing the adoption of technology by using rice and corn straws as a feed. Likewise, not only the number of livestocks, but also the good perception of the farmers increased along with the increase of feed availability, such as utilization of rice and corn straws.

A study on farmers’ choice in integrating paddy and cattle farming as farm management practices

“…It revealed that most farmers from both partial integration and full integration category used unprocessed manures as fertilizer (64.7%) and fresh paddy straw as cattle feed (76.6%). Some studies revealed that the main reason for farmers utilized manure as fertilizer was the ability of manure that could improve the soil fertility, while the main reason for farmers utilized straw as feed was farmers holding limited land fodder (Case et al, 2017;Baba et al, 2019). The present study showed that 59.1% of farmers cultivated elephant grass or king grass on the rice fields' edge, and 29.8% of farmers did not have land fodder.…”

Adoption of Innovation among Beef Cattle Farmers in Peninsular Malaysia

“…On the other hand, extension service either from the DVS or among the farmer's association plays as the main actor to ensure the increase in cattle production and sustain in this sector. Their active role among farmer's community is essential to help them know about the current innovation and practice it at their farm (Baba et al, 2019;Paul et al, 2017). Some of the farmers were more comfortable with the farmer's association than the DVS extension worker.…”

“…Many studies conducted by researcher on introducing the innovations in beef cattle farming, but unfortunately, those introduced innovations do not well assist by the extension workers, and farmers are financially unstable to invest in particular innovation (Baba, Dagong, & Risal, 2014;Baba et al, 2019;Wahyudi, 2017). Thus, this study aims to bridge the knowledge gap in the adoption of innovation among beef cattle farmers.…”

“…Meanwhile, cattle feed from agricultural waste such as corn and rice straw will minimise the farming cost and maximise the profit. Baba et al (2019) mentioned that farmers in Maros Regency, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, get influenced to produce cattle feed from crop residues by many factors such as contact with extension and the number of cattle.…”

“…However, adopting innovation is one of the alternatives which practised by individual farmers to control the farm cost on cattle feed. The usage of agricultural waste, such as corn and rice straws, can reduce beef cattle spending (Baba, Dagong, Sohrah, & Utamy, 2019). Meanwhile, the use of silage or fermented silage can also overcome cattle feed problems during drought and flood season.…”