Unlocking premium beef production potential in East Java, Indonesia: An analysis of cattle population dynamics

Abstract East Java Province plays a central role in Indonesia’s beef cattle sector, contributing substantially to the national beef supply. This study examines the province’s potential for producing premium-quality beef through an analysis of cattle population dynamics. Data from the East Java Agency for Statistics and the East Java Agency for Livestock were used to assess population trends from 2019 to 2023. Key metrics examined include natural increase (NI), net replacement rate (NRR), and cattle output. The study was conducted from April to May 2024. Results indicate a cattle population growth of 1.47%. NI was 19.18%, with NRR showing a negative rate for males (-37.03%) and a positive rate for females (86.55%). The slaughter rate for beef production was 4.20% for males and 14.81% for females, totaling 19.01% of the population. A total of 935,792 head of cattle assumed at 350 kg slaughter weight and 3.5 body condition score, production yields 168.81 thousand tons of carcass and 116.09 thousand tons of beef, contributing 23.06% to national beef output. Notably, 40.63 thousand tons are premium beef. This underscores East Java’s significant role in national beef production and its potential for premium beef production.