SITUATION, PROBLEMS AND NEEDS FOR FATTENING CATTLE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN SAKON NAKHON PROVINCE

Abstract

The purposes of this research was to study the situation, problems and needs for fattening cattle business development in Sakon Nakhon Province. Data were randomly collected with stratified random sampling from 377 stakeholders of the Pon Yang Kham Livestock Cooperative limited. The tool used for data collection was a questionnaire. The results of the study of the general condition showed that the cooperative members had high experience in raising fattening cattle; most of the fattening cattle were raised in pens throughout the period and subsequently sold to the cooperative; the main budget used was from their own money and loans from financial institutions; the prices of calves before fattening and fattening cattle before slaughtering were reasonable. The results of the study on problems and needs in the development of fattening cattle business were as follows: 1) In terms of the fattening cattle production system, it was found that the cost of fattening cattle raising tended to increase. There were suggestions as follows: the cooperative might and determined the appropriate quotas and the period for fattening cattle raising, and members should produce well-bred calves and prepare cheap concentrate feed for their own use on farm, 2) In terms of the cooperative management, it was found that business management was the main problem. There were suggestions as follows: the board and staff should be developed administrative, management and marketing skills, and encouraged more members to participate in the cooperative’s operations, 3) In terms of the management of marketing, it was found that the sales of the fattening beef tended to decrease. There were suggestions as follows: the cooperative might plan to expand the beef market both domestically and internationally, control the quality of the products regularly, 4) In terms of the government support, it was found that the government support was insufficient. There were suggestions as follows: the government should have a policy to promote meat and product consumption within the country, create regulations that facilitate the enhancement of meat and products foe exporting and provide a source of low-interest credit to the members.