Production, Botani Composition and Carrying Capacity of East Sumba Regency Livestock Ranch in Maubokul Village

Abstract

Grassland areas must be managed and existing conditions must be due to a source of cheap and easily obtained animal feed. This experiment was conducted on the ranch pasture owned by the Livestock Service Office of East Sumba Regency in Maubokul Village. This experiment aimed to determine the production, botanical composition, and carrying capacity at the beginning of the rainy season. The method used in this experiment was a survey and measurement method and direct observation in the field. Measurement of forage production using the “actual weight estimate” method using a 1 x 1 meter frame or quadrant. Data collected was then analyzed to find out forage production, botanical composition, and carrying capacity. The results showed that the ranch pasture of the Livestock Service Office of East Sumba Regency in Maubokul Village had fresh matter production of grass 3,721.90 kg/ha, legumes 915.91 kg/ha, weeds 494.06 kg/ha, while dry matter production of grass was 2,379.73 kg/ha, legumes 585.62 kg/ha, weeds 315.89 kg/ha. The summed Dominance Ratio (SDR) value of grass is 72.53%, legumes 17.85%, and weeds 9.63%. This grassland also has a carrying capacity of 0.57 UT/ha/year. The conclusion can be formulated that the pasture area at the Ranch owned by the Livestock Service Office of East Sumba Regency was dominated by natural grass and carrying capacity was high.