Factors Affecting the Adoption of Agricultural By-Products as Feed by Beef Cattle Farmers in Maros Regency of South Sulawesi, Indonesia

The utilization of crop residue as a feed is very important because the arable land area is relatively limited. The study was aimed to examine the influence of adoption of crop-residue product as a feed. The research was conducted in Maros District by using survey methods from March to August 2015. The number of respondents was 96 farmers scattered throughout the Districts of Bantimurung and Camba as centers of rice, corn plant, and cattle productions. Questionnaires were used to collect data conducted by a trained enumerator. Survey was arranged using a logistic regression model to identify socio economic factors influencing the adoption of crop residue as a feed. Work perception (X2), contact with extension workers (X4), rice cultivated areas (X5), the number of livestock (X6), subjective norm (X7), and difficulty (X8) were socio-economic variables influencing the adoption of crop residue as a feed. However, the variables age (X1), farmer experiences (X3), and the number of family members (X9) had no effect on the adoption of this technology. In conclusion, extension workers play an important role in increasing the adoption of technology by using rice and corn straws as a feed. Likewise, not only the number of livestocks, but also the good perception of the farmers increased along with the increase of feed availability, such as utilization of rice and corn straws.