The Effect of Feed Management on Increasing Body Weight and Production Efficiency of Beef Cattle

Abstract

The productivity of beef cattle is greatly influenced by the quality and management of feed provided during the maintenance process. Feed is the largest component of production costs in the livestock business, so proper feed management not only impacts livestock growth but also determines the level of production efficiency. In the practice of smallholder farming, feed management is often not carried out optimally, both in terms of nutritional quality, number of feedings, and frequency of feeding. This condition can cause the growth of livestock body weight to be not optimal and the maintenance time to be longer. This study aims to analyze the influence of feed management on increasing body weight and production efficiency of beef cattle. The research method uses a qualitative approach with case studies on several beef cattle farms that apply different feed management systems. Data collection was carried out through field observations, interviews with farmers, and analysis of livestock production data. The results of the study show that the implementation of planned feed management based on livestock nutrition needs can significantly increase body weight gain and increase the efficiency of feed use in the production process. These findings confirm that good feed management is an important factor in increasing the productivity of beef cattle farming business in a sustainable manner.