Sustainability Status of Biology Dimension of Local Beef Cattle Development in the Dryland Region, Indonesia

Abstract

The study examined the sustainability of local beef cattle production the dryland area of Kupang Regency. The aims of the study were (1) to determine the sustainability status of Biology Dimension, (2) to determine sensitive attributes influencing the index value and status of biological Dimension Sustainability and, (3) to formulate policy priority that can be implemented to development of local beef cattle in the dryland environment of Kupang Regency Indonesia. To obtain data, several steps were done i.e. interviewed respondents using questionnaires, focus group discussion and observations. The Rap-UTSP-Laker was used to examine the sustainability status of the local beef cattle development system both in lowland and upland farming systems.  Results of the study revealed that the Biological Dimension is in less sustainability category with the sustainability index of 40.77 % for upland and 40.40% for lowland systems. The result also indicated that among 10 attributes, 5 attributes were considered to be very sensitive and the most critical attribute was number of trade out cattle.

Keywords: beef cattle, biology dimension, farming systems, lowland, upland, dryland, sustainability