General overview of Agrabinta District, South Cianjur
Agrabinta District, located in South Cianjur Regency, West Java, is a coastal region with diverse topography ranging from lowlands to hilly areas. Its main economic potentials lie in agriculture, plantation and fisheries sectors. The richness of local natural resources offers great opportunities for sustainable development based on local wisdom.
This southern coastal area of West Java has a tropical climate with two seasons: dry and rainy. The ideal temperature for Pasundan cattle ranges between 21-26°C, with annual rainfall reaching approximately 2,288 mm. The normal body temperature for Pasundan cattle is between 38-39°C, while the ideal humidity level for raising them is around 80%
(Husna et al., 2024).
Agrabinta, South Cianjur, is characterized by a humid tropical climate with a minimum temperature of approximately 18°C, typically occurring in March-April and a maximum temperature of up to 34°C during June-August, with relative humidity ranging between 72% and 80%. The geographical location of Agrabinta, South Cianjur, is presented in Fig 1. Rainfall in Cianjur Regency varies considerably, with an average annual precipitation ranging from 1,120.4 mm to 3,543 mm in the coastal areas. In contrast, rainfall in the Agrabinta-Sindangbarang subdistricts is generally higher, reaching 3,000-4,000 mm per year (
Cianjur Regency Goverment, 2024).
Farmers’ characteristics in Agrabinta, Southern Cianjur
Based on Table 1, most pasundan cattle farmers fall within the age range of 51-60 years, at 36.67%, followed by those aged 41-50 years, at 26.67%. Meanwhile, the proportion of farmers aged over 60 years remains relatively high, at 16.67%. In contrast, young farmers aged 21-30 years represent only 6.67% and those aged 31-40 years represent 13.33%. Elderly farmers currently dominate Pasundan cattle farming activities in the southern coastal region of Cianjur.
Amam (2021), smallholder livestock farming is predominantly carried out by elderly farmers. According to
Brown et al., (2019), older farmers are generally more reluctant to change land use practices or adopt technological innovations in feed management. In contrast, younger farmers tend to be more receptive to change and more willing to adopt new technologies, as they are less risk-averse.
The productive age of farmers is typically assessed based on their physical capacity to perform fieldwork.
Yulisdisantari et al., (2024) state that farmers aged 31-60 years, classified as being in their productive years, generally possess better physical condition compared to those over 60 years of age. Furthermore, older farmers face physical limitations that may hinder their full participation in livestock activities
(Andarwati et al., 2025). Halim (2017) stated that farmers in their productive age tend to develop their livestock enterprises more effectively because they possess sufficient energy and experience to support the management of their farming activities.
Based on Table 2, Pasundan cattle farmers in Agrabinta District mostly completed education only up to the elementary school level, representing for 73.33%. About 10% of farmers attained junior high school education and 13.33% reached senior high school, while 3.33% had never attended formal education. None of the farmers had completed higher education (S1).
Agricultural systems have undergone significant transformation over time as a result of technological progress and recent developments (
Vyas and Singh, 2025). Education plays a crucial role in livestock development
(Aisyah et al., 2022). It is positively correlated with a farmer’s willingness to take risks, where farmers with lower educational attainment tend to engage in livestock farming as a cultural tradition (
Brown et al., 2019). Education level also influences a farmer’s ability to communicate effectively, broaden perspectives and accept technological innovations more readily (
Elisia and Febri, 2022). Therefore, extension services are essential in improving farmers’ knowledge, skills and field practices. Farmers also tend to prefer half-day workshops as a practical approach to enhancing their understanding and insights
(Gerdes et al., 2020).
The farming experience of Pasundan cattle farmers shows that 40% have been engaged in the business for 5-10 years, followed by 33.33% with 11-20 years of experience (Table 3), indicating that their level of experience is fairly good. This experience reflects that farmers have developed a solid understanding and local wisdom in managing Pasundan cattle farming.
The longer farmers are involved in Pasundan cattle farming, the more persistent they tend to be in maintaining their businesses, including in recovering from past losses, which ultimately supports better farm development
(Aisyah et al., 2022). Extensive farming experience also reflects the growth of knowledge and skills, particularly in animal husbandry and livestock management (
Efu and Simamora, 2020). The findings of this study are consistent with those reported by
Hardy et al., (2025), who found that coastal communities in Burguey, Cagayan, Philippines, were predominantly composed of male, married, adult household heads with elementary-level education and an average household size of four members.
The absence of farmers with 31-40 years of experience may also reflect challenges in the sustainability of Pasundan cattle farming. According to
Yunasaf et al. (2024), farmers face challenges related to uncertainties in meeting the production requirements of beef cattle farming. Furthermore,
Lahnamäki-Kivelä and Kuhmonen (2022) emphasize that some farmers more or less disregard global megatrends (urbanization, digitalization, globalization, climate change), while others adapt to or benefit from these trends.
Land area
Based on Table 4 that farmers in Agrabinta, South Cianjur, have access to both rice fields (14.99 ha) and forage land (11.50 ha). The rice fields are productive, with an average yield of 4.0 tons per year, while the forage land is dominated by natural grasses, which are commonly used as feed for ruminants in traditional grazing systems.
During the rainy season, the production of fresh biomass from these natural pastures is relatively high
(Hawolambani et al., 2015), making them a reliable feed source
(Aulia et al., 2024). The availability of land for both food crops and forage presents a favorable condition for the development of Pasundan cattle. The relatively low annual land rent (Rp. 1.196.316 for rice fields and Rp. 463.158 for forage land) makes land use economically accessible for smallholder farmers. Grazing systems also provide an opportunity for farmers with limited land to utilize available communal or underused land resources
(Quaicoe et al., 2024).
Cattle ownership profile
The average age of cattle owned by farmers in Agrabinta, South Cianjur is 5.25 years, farmers are maintaining cattle for extended periods, possibly for reproductive purposes. The sex ratio of 17 males to 58 females shows a female-dominated herd structure, which aligns with smallholder breeding strategies aimed at sustaining calving and herd replacement. Farmers raise a mix of breeds including Pasundan, PO, Simmental, Brahman, Limousin and Ongole. This diversity suggests efforts to improve productivity or adaptability, while the dominance of Pasundan cattle reflects their suitability to local conditions and traditional management systems.
Pasundan cattle dominate the population, representing for 76% of the total 150 recorded cattle. This indicates a strong preference for or local adaptation to the Pasundan breed. Other breeds identified in smaller proportions include Simmental (11.33%), Ongole (4%), Brahman (4%), Limousin (3.33%) and PO (1.33%), based on Table 5.
The dominance of Pasundan cattle also highlights their potential as a local genetic resource that aligns well with the region’s ecological conditions. According to farmer perceptions, Pasundan cattle offer several advantages, such as high reproductive performance, resistance to tropical diseases, relatively low maintenance costs and the ability to maintain good production performance even when fed with low-quality, inexpensive and locally available feed (
Arifin and Sulasmi, 2019). Pasundan cattle are considered suitable for development as a local genetic resource in West Java due to their ability to adapt well to both physical and social environments
(Elsadina et al., 2021).
According to
Suherman et al., (2021), the small scale of livestock farming among local farmers is driven by limited financial resources, a shortage of labor and traditional management practices. Similarly,
Sirappa et al., (2017) state that owning 1-4 cattle under the category of small-scale farming, with income generated being just enough to meet daily needs. This reflects the farmers’ constraints in production factors, management skills and the simplicity of their livestock care systems.
Most Pasundan cattle farmers in the Agrabinta region of South Cianjur own a relatively small number of livestock. As presented in Table 6, the majority of farmers (53.33%) raise ≤4 cattle, followed by 30% who own 5-7 cattle and only 16.67% who keep 8-10 cattle. This indicates that Pasundan cattle farming in this area is still on a small or household scale, likely due to limited capital, land and feed availability.
Mating system
Farmers in the southern region of Cianjur still predominantly rely on colony mating as the primary breeding method for Pasundan cattle. This method is perceived as more practical and economically feasible by farmers, especially when compared to artificial insemination (AI), which costs approximately IDR 250,000 per service. Based on interviews with farmers in Agrabinta, South Cianjur, 23 out of 30 respondents reported not utilizing AI technology. In addition to economic considerations, the long distance between farmers and inseminators (20-30 km) was also cited as a major constraint, discouraging the adoption of AI as the main breeding strategy. Farmers prefer to use natural mating techniques for breeding management in their cattle
(Warman et al., 2024).
According to questionnaire results from the same area, the average age of sexual maturity in female cattle was 25±2.08 months (Table 7). This finding is consistent with
Nurcholis and Salamony (2019), who reported the average age at first mating in female cattle to be 24.50± 0.008 months (Table 7). Similarly,
Mahasanti et al., (2021) found the average age of puberty in female cattle to be 22.09±6.01 months.
The average culling age of female cattle at Agrabinta farms is 12.7±1.47 years (Table 7). Culling decisions are based on factors such as age, health and reproductive performance. According to
Sessim et al., (2020), cattle culled at the age of 13 years demonstrate good economic efficiency for farmers.
Clasen et al., (2023) state that the most common and primary reasons for culling female cattle are declining fertility and low productivity.
Feed management
The data of Table 8, indicate that the predominant feeding method used by farmers in Agrabinta, South Cianjur is grazing, with animals feeding ad libitum, meaning they are allowed to graze freely without strict rationing. Feed processing is not practiced and the drinking frequency ranges from once to twice each day.
Sulasmi et al., (2017) reported that Pasundan cattle in the southern coastal region of West Java are grazed from morning until evening in coastal sand dune areas. This is consistent with the findings of
Saputra et al., (2021), who noted that cattle in coastal areas are typically grazed during the day and then sheltered in pens in the evening, where additional feed is provided at night.
Cattle health
Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a viral disease caused by a virus belonging to the Aphthovirus genus within the Picornaviridae family. FMD poses a significant threat to both local and national economies, often leading to reduced livestock productivity
(Rahman et al., 2025). Based on the data, there were no reported cases of FMD in cattle within the southern coastal region of Cianjur. This indicates a relatively strong level of biosecurity, suggesting that the area remains well protected from FMD viral exposure.
Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) a viral disease affecting cattle and buffalo was present, with 44 cases recorded (Table 9). LSD causes nodular skin lesions and can affect other body systems, leading to decreased milk production, weight loss, fertility problems and reduced livestock export potential
(Haider et al., 2024). Despite these risks, the recovery rate among affected cattle was relatively high, with an average recovery score of 2.86±0.35 (on a scale of 1 to 3) (Table 9), indicating effective disease management.
Preventive measures have been actively implemented by farmers in Agrabinta, South Cianjur, including routine administration of vaccines, vitamins and deworming agents. This reflects a commendable level of awareness and commitment to livestock health management by both farmers and local authorities. Animal health officers in Agrabinta routinely carry out FMD vaccination programs, along with the provision of Vitvac vitamin, Vitamin B12 and Wormzole Bolus dewormers.