Small-scale Cattle Production – Cattle Raising in the Philippines

Small-scale cattle production is a vital part of the Philippine livestock industry, with 75 to 90 percent of total cattle raised in backyard systems. This practice offers numerous benefits, from supplementing farm income to promoting sustainable agriculture.

Raising cattle on farms enhances integration with crops, trees, and soil, supporting efficient nutrient cycling. Crop residues, which are unsuitable for human consumption, are converted into valuable products like milk and meat. Additionally, cattle manure serves as an organic fertilizer for high-value crops, contributing to soil fertility. Typically, farmers raise one to five heads of cattle in backyard systems.

Challenges in Backyard Cattle Production

The biggest challenge in small-scale cattle raising is the poor quality or inadequate availability of feed. Native pastures and grasslands often provide only enough nutrients for maintenance, falling short of supporting optimal reproduction and growth. Feed quality is more critical than just quantity for ensuring productivity.

Selecting Feeder Stock

Choosing the right feeder cattle is essential for success in backyard production. Farmers typically prefer Zebu-breed grade bulls or steers, weighing around 180 kg and aged about three years. At this stage, cattle grow more efficiently and can reach the ideal market weight of 275 kg within a shorter fattening period. A daily weight gain of 0.5 to 0.8 kg is achievable with proper feeding.

Key Traits of Healthy Feeder Cattle:

• Bright eyes and a moist muzzle
• Soft, smooth hair coat
• Square-shaped body with well-sprung ribs
• Straight legs for good mobility
• Avoid animals that are blind, lame, or have rough, dull hair coats

Common Production Methods

1. Tethering or Staking

This method is widely used among small farmers with limited land. Cattle are tied to a stake and moved multiple times daily to fresh grazing areas. However, the rise in mono-cropping and large-scale cash crop farming has reduced available pasture areas.

2. Stall Feeding (Zero Grazing)

Also known as the Cut-and-Carry System, this method involves keeping cattle confined in stalls, where they are fed with harvested forage. Advantages include:

• Efficient land use – Farmers can allocate land for both cash crop production and forage farming.
• Improved nutrient cycling – Manure from confined cattle can be used to fertilize crops.

Housing Requirements

Cattle sheds should be built using readily available materials like bamboo, nipa, and coco lumber. Key considerations for cattle housing include:

• Space requirements – At least 1.5 square meters per animal
• Exercise area – A 5-square-meter fenced space is recommended
• Proper drainage – Cemented or elevated flooring helps with waste management
• Adequate roofing – Sheds should be at least 3 meters high to provide good ventilation
• Feeding and watering stations should be accessible at all times

For zero-grazing systems, each stall should measure 1.5 × 4 meters to accommodate the cattle throughout the fattening period.

Feeding Strategies for Optimal Growth

The most cost-effective feed source for cattle is quality forage or roughage. Common farm by-products like corn stover, rice straw, and sugarcane tops can be supplemented with concentrates to improve nutrition.

Nutritional Needs:

• Good quality grass contains 8% crude protein, but growing cattle require 12% crude protein for proper growth.
• Legumes provide 20% crude protein and are rich in calcium.
• Cattle should consume 2% of their body weight in dry matter feed per day.
• Younger cattle require higher feed intake percentages than older animals.

Supplemental Feeds:

• Concentrates should be added at 1 to 1.5% of body weight.
• Molasses enhances feed palatability and increases energy intake.
• A diet containing 15-25% concentrate and 75-85% roughage supports efficient weight gain.
• Salt (30-50g per day per head) and clean water must be available at all times.

Cattle Facts and Industry Insights

• Each head of cattle excretes 60 kg of nitrogen, 4 kg of phosphorus, and 18 kg of potassium annually, making manure a valuable organic fertilizer.
• A cow reaches puberty at 18 months, with a gestation period of 283 days and an estrous cycle of 18-24 days.
• Cattle serve multiple purposes, including transporting goods, water, and farm produce.
• It takes approximately 1,000 days to raise cattle to a butchering weight of 400-500 kg.
• On average, Filipinos consume only 2 kg of beef per year, while cattle supply continues to decline.

Conclusion

Small-scale cattle raising in the Philippines presents a profitable and sustainable opportunity for farmers. By ensuring proper feed quality, housing, and health management, backyard cattle production can contribute significantly to livelihood improvement and food security. Whether for personal consumption or market sale, investing in small-scale cattle farming can be both rewarding and environmentally beneficial.

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