Farmers’ perceptions of the accessibility of cattle feed in Aceh Tamiang Regency

The purpose of the study was to determine the accessibility of the ease or difficulty of cow farmers in obtaining animal feed. The research was conducted in Air Tenang Village, Karang Baru District, Aceh Tamiang Regency, Aceh Province, from January-December 2019. The method of purposive sampling is a method of taking with a specific purpose, considering that the breeder’s sample has the necessary information for its research. Respondents were thirty-five farmers, with the provision of ownership of 3-5 cow, and had at least two years of breeding experience. Accessibility to the observed feed source is related to the origin of the feed, the distance of the location of the feed source and or travel time, the purchase of feed, the availability of labour and the time required to find feed. The results of the study are reported descriptively. The results showed that the average of the five changes observed, namely the origin of the feed, distance and travel time, labour availability, and time for finding and purchasing feed, obtained a consecutive score of 0.79; 0.78 ; 0.83; 0.80 and 0.83 with a total score of 4.02. From the results of the study conducted, it was found that accessibility to cow feed sources in Air Tenang Village, Karang Baru District, Tamiang Regency was categorized as easy.


Introduction
The demand for animal protein-based products is increasing along with the increasing number of human populations which are growing very rapidly.Animal products generally account for about a third of global human protein consumption [1], with ruminant-based products becoming a supplier of proteinrich products [2].In Aceh Province, especially Aceh Tamiang, large livestock such as beef cattle have a very important role in people's lives.One form of livestock business that has the potential to be developed is beef cattle [3].Some of the driving factors in the beef cattle development business are the increasing market demand for beef, the existence of government policies that support beef cattle development efforts, the availability of labour, forage feed and agricultural byproducts available throughout the year, and local cattle farming businesses are not affected by global economic crisis [4].
Previous research conducted by Yusriani et al [5] taking place in Karang Baru District, Aceh Tamiang Regency showed that the by-product potential that had not been utilized was 2,718.23 tons/year and a carrying capacity of 2,384.41(ST/year) for cattle and buffalo.This is an opportunity for the development of beef cattle in the district.The purpose of the study was to determine the accessibility of the ease or difficulty of cow farmers in obtaining animal feed.The research was conducted in Air Tenang Village, Karang Baru District, Aceh Tamiang Regency, Aceh Province.

Material and methods
The research was carried out from January to December 2019 with the research location in AirTenang Village, Karang Baru District, Aceh Tamiang Regency, Aceh Province.

Data collection technique
Respondent's farmers consist of 35 people who own 3-5 cows and have more than 2 years of experience raising livestock.The method of intentionally sampling breeders (purposive sampling) is a method of taking with a specific purpose, considering that the sample of farmers has the information needed for research.Determination of the number of respondents carried out with consideration of location access (technically, it can be used as a sampling location), time, effort, and cost, as well as following a participatory research model so that with certain conditions determined from the number of respondents it has been able to provide a picture that is close to the truth.

Research instrument
Each instrument must have a scale to measure the value of the variables studied in producing accurate qualitative data.The measurement scale uses the Guttman Scale to get a firm answer that is easydifficult, which is made in the form of a score.The highest score is 1 (easy) and the lowest score is 0 (difficult).The total score in the study was 5 which was obtained from the sum of the five criteria (variables) where the interval of each of the criteria was the same.The concept of accessibility has the understanding that the higher the score obtained, the easier the level of accessibility or vice versa.The description of accessibility according to a level according to its ease and assessment score as stated by Riwidikdo [6] is as follows: Determination of the type of feed is needed in research so that the data processing process is more accurate.The system for determining the type of feed associated with the scoring process is determined purposively.The scoring system for each variable studied is as follows: 2.2.1.Origin of feed source.The measurement of giving value (score) on the data from the origin of the feed sourceshows a value of 1if it is easy and 0 if it is difficult.The score of the basis of the feed sourcebased on the specified criteria is shown in Table 2.The next step after the data is collected will be tabulated to facilitate the process of reading the data according to the research variables by finding the average score (score) obtained with a mathematical formula [7]:

‫ݔ‬ = ∑ ‫ݔ‬ ݊
Description: X = average (mean); x = total score of all respondents; n = Number of respondentsTo find out the maximum score and the ease/difficulty score, the formula is used: Maximum Score = Parameter x Highest Score x Number of Respondents Ease or Difficulty Score = (Average number of scores) / (Number of feed types scored) Note: maximum score: The sum of the scores of all parameters based on the number of respondents; Ease/difficulty score: The final result of the calculation of the score that shows the level of ease [8].

Type of feed given as animal feed
From the results of the study, it was found that there were various types of feed sources provided by farmers to meet the needs of animal feed that were kept, as shown in Table 7.The productivity of the beef cattle business is still low.This is due to the management pattern of raising livestock that is less focused, where breeders have not optimally paid attention to feeding quality and recommended maintenance procedures [9].Breeders in Aceh Tamiang Regency in providing feed combined with several types that are around the site.The problem of feed availability by utilizing agricultural waste inan integrated manner can be resolved [10].The livestock population in an area reflects several dimensions such as livestock development performance, livestock adaptability to local agroecological conditions, community acceptance and preference for livestock, and its importance in supporting the community's economy [11].Industrial concentrates and waste

Cow feed accessibility in Tamiang District
The accessibility score of cow feed in Tamiang Regency is at a score of 4.02, with a score per category in the range of 0.78-0.83.The score indicates that farmers easily access feed in terms of the source of feed taken, distance and travel time, availability of labour, search time, and purchase of feed, primarily concentrates, which are obtained at low prices.One of the important factors that support the development of cow farming is animal feed management [12].Farmers provide forage by collecting resources available in nature and do not buy forage or commercial feed, this is influenced by the economic status of farmers [7].In the management of cow rearing, breeders provide feed from several sources, including cultivated forage, natural grass and legumes are widely available in paddy fields and community gardens.By utilizing natural food sources accessibility in the price category is classified as easy to obtain or at low prices-tree legumes such as lamtoro, turi and gamal, as well as agricultural and agro-industrial products.Lamtoro tarramba (Leucaena leucocephala cv.) is a superior quality forage that contributes to the development of animal feed in several regions in Indonesia (Nusa Tenggara, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java) and neighbouring countries (Timor Leste) [13].In overcoming the limitations of forage in the dry season by utilizing agricultural and agro-industrial products (rice straw, corn cobs, cocoa husk, soybean straw), formulated in the form of complete feed [14].The distance and travel time to obtain feed are quite easy for cow breeders, and this is supported by the area's topography, road infrastructure that is easy to travel, and means of transportation.The distance travelled also affects the foraging time.Handayanta et al [15] stated that the topography of the region is one of the factors that affect the level of feed accessibility because topographic conditions are one of the reasons for easy interaction between regions; besides that, a good road network and infrastructure also support the ease of accessibility.The workforce in providing feed comes from members of the farmer's household, and the support of the force in obtaining feed is relatively easy and does not require a fee or salary for labour, especially in providing the feed.Family labour is not paid so it can reduce labour costs.In addition to preparing feed, the workforce is also on duty, cleaning goat cages and controlling disease [16].Generally, the cow in grazing livestock feed costs reaches 40-70% [17].

Conclusion
Accessibility of cattle feed in Aceh Tamiang Regency plays an important role in the overall development of Aceh's economy.In other words, the sector's plan has a major role in the national economy, and it is the source of income, food and employment for the rural and urban populations.Therefore the ease of accessing feed is very important, especially in Tamiang Regency.Judging from the accessibility of feed, the development of cattle farming in this area is still very possible.

Table 1 .
Accessibility level with an assessment score

Table 2 .
Methods and criteria for score origin of feed sources Distance and travel time to feed source location.In measuring the value (score) on the distance and travel time data for foraging forageby giving a value of1 if it is easy and 0 if it is difficult.The score of distance and travel timefor foraging based on the specified criteria is shown in Table3.

Table 3 .
Criteria for distance and travel time score 2.2.3.Avaibility of manpower.In measurement assigning a value (score) to the availability of labour by giving a valueof 1 if it is easy and0 if it is difficult.The labour availability score based on the specified criteria is shown in Table4.

Table 4 .
Methods and criteria for labor availability score In measuring the scoring (score) at the time of the search by giving a value of 1 if itis easy and 0 if it is difficult.The search time score based on the specified criteria looks like

Table 5 .Table 5 .
Methods and criteria for foraging time score In measuring the value (score) on the purchase of feed, giving a value of 1 if it is easyand 0 if it is difficult.The feed purchase score based on the specified criteria is shown in Table6.

Table 6 .
Methods and criteria for feed purchase score

Table 7 .
Types of feed given to cows

Table 8 .
Animal feed accessibility score cows