Abstract :
This paper aims to explore farmers’ preferences for sheep or goats based on feeding practices,
animal and flock performances and economic benefits of sheep and goats in different
agro-ecological zones in Central Java, Indonesia. In total, 150 smallholder farmers were
selected from three agro-ecological zones: the lowlands, the middle zone, and the uplands.
Feeding and performance parameters were estimated through weekly farm visits and farm
records, from September 2001 to August 2003. In the lowlands, small ruminants were fed
mainly with field grass and crop residues, whereas in the middle zone and uplands feeds
fed were mainly field grass and leaves. Sheep were given more opportunities to graze than
goats, however, grazing was not a major component in the diets. In the lowlands and the
middle zone the differences in feed intakes, ADG and reproductive performances between
sheep and goats were small. In all zones, does had significantly larger litters than ewes. In
the uplands, goats had a significantly higher DMI, grew slightly faster, and had a higher
weaning rate than sheep. Consequently, in the uplands, the total economic benefits from
goat flocks were 25% higher than from sheep flocks. The major differences in agro-ecological
conditions that affect the choice for sheep or goats were the availability of cassava peels in
the lowlands, favouring a choice for sheep, and the abundance of leaves in the middle zone
and uplands, which favours keeping goats. The promotion of goats by the government, the
family tradition of keeping sheep or goats, the preference for sacrificing sheep for religious
festivities, and the high initial investment needed to buy goat breeding stock could be other
important motives to keep sheep or goats. Sheep fattening based on rice bran supplementation
could be a feasible innovation in the lowlands. In the middle zone and uplands goat
breeding could make a positive contribution to rural livelihoods.
