[:id]Performance Testing is an initial selection of males based on qualitative and quantitative traits that include measurement, weighing, and observation. In 2011, a performance test was conducted on 61 Bali Cattle by Patmawati, Ni Wayan, and colleagues. The Performance Testing was carried out on rapidly growing male cattle (1 year old) by comparing individual performance with the group's average performance. The number of animals subjected to performance testing. Based on the results of the performance test, the three best performances with scores of 113.30, 109.46, and 104.20 were selected as potential breeding bulls for further Zurait testing (progeny test). These three animals were recommended as potential breeding bulls for Zuriat testing (progeny test).

 

Performance testing is one of the methods used in livestock to assess the extent of cattle performance to achieve optimal performance, which is then passed on to their offspring during subsequent tests (progeny tests). At this stage, the tested male cattle are in the age range of 1 to 2 years, entering the early stage of optimal growth before reaching sexual maturity. By understanding the development and growth of the cattle during the test, a picture of potential breeding bulls with high and quality productivity can be obtained. The testing method involves selecting seed cattle based on qualitative and quantitative traits, including (1) measurements such as body length, hump height, and chest circumference, (2) weighing such as body weight, birth weight, weaning weight (205 days), one-year weight, and two-year weight, (3) observations including hair color, skeletal structure, head shape, leg shape, hoof shape, scrotum shape, and other abnormalities like bushy tail, wattle, and hump. Cattle that pass the performance test are recommended to undergo further testing in progeny tests (Anon, 2007). The characteristics that pure Bali Cattle must have include white color on the back of the thigh, upper lip edge, and on the lower legs from tarsus to carpus to the upper edge of the hoof, black hair at the tip of the tail, white hair in the middle of the ear, a ridge line on the back, a curve-shaped horn that initially grows slightly upward and then curves outwards at the tip, and black horns (Hardjosubroto, 1994).

Considering this reality, in the effort to develop Bali Cattle in a specific region, it's important to have a genetic improvement plan (Samariyanto, 2004). Performance Testing is essential to prepare and introduce superior livestock in potential breeding source areas by preparing superior males (Sitorus et al., 1995). (DRw)

 

REFERENCES

Patmawati, Ni Wayan., Trinayani, Ni Nyoman., Siswanto, Mahmud., Wandia, I Nengah., Puja, I Ketut., Early Selection of Bali Cattle Stud Based on Performance Test., Journal of Animal Science and Health, February 2013

Harjosubroto.1994. Application of Animal Breeding in the Field. PT. Gramedia Widiasarana Indonesia, Jakarta

Samariyanto. 2004. Alternative policies for beef cattle breeding in the era of regional autonomy. National Workshop on Beef Cattle. Retrieved from https://balitnak.litbang.deptan.go.id

Sitorus P, Subandriyo, Prasetyo LH, Rachmawati S, Tambing SN, Gunawan A, and Setiadi B. 1995. The Effect of Spreading Various Types of Cattle Development through Artificial Insemination on the Distribution and Development of Cattle in Indonesia. Center for Livestock Research and Development. Bogor.

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