Alfian1, Jamila2, Abdul Alim Yamin2, Ichlasul Amal3 and Jasmal Ahmari Syamsu2,4,*
1Center for Agricultural Modernization Application, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia; 2Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar, Indonesia; 3Faculty of Vocational Science, Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar, Indonesia; 4Center of Research and Development for Livestock Resources and Tropical Animals, Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar, Indonesia
*Corresponding author: jasmal.syamsu@unhas.ac.id
This study aimed to compare rice straw production, nutrient quality, and feed carrying capacity for beef cattle between manual and mechanical (combine harvester) harvesting systems in Palangga District, South Konawe Regency, Indonesia. Rice straw production was measured using a 5×5 m quadrat method across four representative villages under both harvesting systems. Proximate and fiber fraction analyses were conducted to determine nutrient composition, while carrying capacity was estimated based on dry matter (DM) production. The results showed that manual harvesting produced significantly (P<0.05) higher yields of fresh straw (8.27 tons/ha), air-dried straw (3.73 tons/ha), and DM (1.40 tons/ha) compared to the combine harvester system (3.90, 1.74, and 0.65 tons/ha, respectively). Although rice straw from combine harvesting contained higher crude protein (5.84%) than manual harvesting (4.54%), it also exhibited increased crude fiber, NDF, and ADF contents, which may reduce digestibility. Total DM production of rice straw was 2,739.10 tons/year under manual harvesting and 1,271.73 tons/year under combine harvesting, with corresponding feed carrying capacities of 1,201.36 and 557.77 AU (approximately 46.4%). The index of feed carrying capacity (IFCC) was generally moderate across most villages, except Aosole Village, which was categorized as high. These findings indicate that harvest mechanization reduces the availability of recoverable rice straw as a feed resource; therefore, integrated strategies for straw collection and post-harvest management are essential to sustain feed availability in rice-based livestock systems.