Producing Quality Beef from Cattle in Phrae Province: An Assessment of the Conditions, Problems, and Opportunities

Abstract

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The objectives of this research were to: 1) study the socio-economic conditions of beef farmers, 2) study the livestock raising conditions and farm management practices on the cattle farms, 3) examine major constraints faced by beef farmers, and 4) perform a SWOT analysis of the beef cattle industry in Phrae province. Data were collected from 200 beef cattle farmers by semi-structured interview, and the data were statistically analyzed using frequency, percentage, and mean. Study 1: Most of the farmers were male (81.00%), had an average age about 50.83±10.64 years old, had achieved a primary school education (45.00%), and raised beef cattle as a secondary career (76.00%). Study 2: The farmers (47.00%) have had about 5 years of experience in raising beef cattle, and their main purpose in raising cattle is to produce cattle calves for selling (47.33%). Some of them operate small scale farms (35.50%), rear the animals in semi-intensive systems (79.00%), and stock rice straw in summer (84.00%). The majority of farmers raise cows to produce calves (53.67%). The cattle are Brahman x Thai native crossbred cattle (67.20%), Angus x Thai native crossbred cattle (15.51%), and Charolais x Thai native crossbred cattle (12.21%). In the areas of beef cattle mating methods, and diseases and farm sanitation, farmers used artificial insemination (AI) to breed their cattle (67.50%) and many have this done by the authorities from department of livestock (93.33%). Most had their beef cattle vaccinated (81.00%), and the vaccination program included vaccines for the diseases foot and mouth disease (FMD), haemorrhagic septicemia, tuberculosis, and others (91.36%, 4.32%, 2.47% and 1.85%, respectively). Study 3: The main problems and obstacles facing the farmers in raising beef cattle were lack of cattle feed roughage in summer, inadequate credit facilities, outbreaks of diseases, lack of knowledge about farm management, and selling price fluctuation (23.61%, 12.50%, 12.04%,10.19% and 9.72%, respectively). Study 4: SWOT analysis was used to analyze possibilities and opportunities for beef cattle production in Phrae province. One strength is that the farmers in this area have set up cooperatives that have assisted in the production of good quality beef. A number of opportunities presented from the study. The creation of an identity for locally grown beef should assist in beef sales. Furthermore, increasing demand for premium meat in neighboring countries combined with the opening of the ASEAN Economic Community, which is implementing standard slaughterhouse practices, should increase the opportunities in the future for all involved in the beef cattle industry in Phrae province, Thailand.