OPTIMALISASI PRODUKTIVITAS SAPI POTONG LOKAL MANGGARAI MELALUI PERSILANGAN GENETIK DENGAN SAPI SIMENTAL

Abstract

Genetic breeding is an effective strategy for increasing the productivity of beef cattle, particularly local Manggarai cattle, which have high adaptability but limited productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the growth performance of offspring resulting from crossbreeding between local Manggarai cattle and Simmental cattle, known for their superior growth and meat quality. The study results showed that the crossbred offspring exhibited faster body weight gain, better feed efficiency, and improved meat quality compared to purebred local cattle. Furthermore, the offspring retained the unique environmental adaptations of local Manggarai cattle. The implementation of this crossbreeding is expected to be a solution for optimizing beef cattle production in the Manggarai region, while simultaneously maintaining the sustainability of local livestock farming and improving the welfare of farmers.