In today’s market, cattle fattening is a lucrative agricultural business opportunity. It is strongly recommended that if you are thinking of working in this area you attend training courses or form a business partnership with an established cattle farmer.
This will serve as an invaluable learning experience and help mitigate any potential financial losses that may arise in the future. The key to success in cattle fattening lies in a farmer’s ability to increase the weight of the cattle during the rearing process.
To ensure profitability, farmers should aim to achieve a minimum weight gain of 100 kg over for 4 months. To achieve this goal, farmers can provide a diet rich in carbohydrates and fats. Concentrates should be fed at 7-8 kg per head per day, while grass can be provided at a rate of 30-35 kg per head per day. Additionally, incorporating feed ingredients such as tofu pulp and soya pulp is essential.
By combining these feeds, farmers can achieve a daily weight gain of at least 0.9-1 kg. One of the challenges in cattle fattening is the difficulty in sourcing feeder cattle. Even when available, the prices can be exorbitant. Over the past decade, feeder cattle prices in the country have ranged from IDR7 million to IDR10 million per head for cattle aged 1.5-2 years.
Another challenge is the availability of feed, as it often competes with other livestock. Marketing is also a critical aspect to consider. While cattle can be easily sold to the market or slaughterhouses, the prices often decrease by approximately 8-12% from the standard rate.
Selling through intermediaries requires caution to avoid falling victim to fraud. Therefore, attention to detail and careful consideration of all aspects of production and marketing are crucial for the success of this business.
