Resource analysis of small-scale dairy production system in an Indonesian village - a case study

A study on resource acquisition and availability was carried out in an Indonesian village in relation to small-scale dairy production system. Despite the important role of local biological resources in providing low cost inputs like forages and firewood, lack of privately owned source of inputs among the majority of dairy farmers has resulted in great dependency on imported resources. The study indicates that forest and plantations are major source of diverse plant species of various nutritive values to fulfil the need of forages. Energetic analysis suggests that the contribution of imported energy is higher than that provided from local resources. A total of 96.4 × 106 kcal is estimated to enter a typical dairy farm annually; only about 22% of the energy originated from local resources. Dairy farm operation produced a by-product mainly in the form of fresh manure equivalent to about 21.5 × 109 kcal per year, but its use is still limited. This waste is in fact an important local resource that could support the establishment of sustainable agricultural practice within the context of crop-animal-based production systems and rural energy development.