Beef Cattle Production and Market of Beef Cattle Farmer in Lamphun Province

Abstract

      The objectives of this research were to study: 1) beef cattle production of farmers, 2) beef cattle markets in Lamphun province, and 3) problems and recommendations on beef cattle production in Lamphun province. The research samples consisted of two groups. Group 1, for quantitative research, were 210 beef cattle farmers in Lamphun province who had more than 21 head of beef cattle each. The data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed by descriptive statistics as percentage, mean, maximum, minimum and standard deviation. Group 2, for qualitative research, were 13 key informants who were representatives of beef cattle farmers and stakeholders in beef cattle production and market in Lamphun province. The data were collected by in-depth interview and analyzed by content analysis. The results showed that: 1) Most of farmer were male (about 93.33 %) with average ages of 42±34.58 years. Approximately 43.81 % were educated at primary level and had 35±26.15 years of experience in beef cattle production. Lamphun province had two types of beef cattle production which were 95.24% independent beef cattle farmers and 4.76% beef cattle community enterprise members. Farmers raised 4 types of beef cattle which were purebred beef cattle (50.71%), fattening beef cattle (31.44%), culled beef cattle (13.31%) and fattening quality beef cattle (4.54%). 2) Beef cattle markets in Lamphun province included beef cattle markets and beef markets. Beef cattle were sold at the farms, at beef cattle and buffalo markets and beef cattle fattening market, while butchered beef was sold through local markets in Lamphun province. And 3) the problems in beef cattle production were in beef cattle breeds, feed and farm management. The recommendations for beef cattle production were that beef cattle farmers should establish collaborative groups to develop beef cattle fattening quality production, and relevant agencies should advise and help farmers in farm management, implementing standard slaughterhouse and sources for selling beef cattle.