A successful program to establish a breeder herd of cattle in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, has recently been completed. 

The Department of Primary Industry and Resources (DPIR) has been assisting the government of the Indonesian province of East Kalimantan since 2015 with their program of importing 2,000 Australian breeding cattle and distributing them to 1,000 small-holder farmers.

DPIR’s Director Livestock Industries Development, Neil MacDonald said the project had proven a great success with Australian breeders which in turn had provided ongoing benefits to the community.

“The condition of the cattle consistently improved over the life of the program and almost all the cows are now in excellent condition, and pregnancy and calving rates are high,” he said.

“We also had a project manager who supported the Indonesian farmers throughout the program, providing training and support on the ground as well as offering advice on the importance of nutrition to the health of their herd.

“The cows and bulls matured over the period of the program, the cows moving out of their difficult heifer phase, and the Indonesian Government veterinarians improved their artificial insemination practices.”

The program has been funded by the Australian Government on behalf of the Indonesia-Australia Partnership on Food Security in the Red Meat and Cattle Sector.

The Indonesia–Australia Partnership on Food Security in the Red Meat and Cattle Sector is part of the Australian Government's $60 million assistance package to foster a deeper partnership between the meat industries in Australia and Indonesia.