The Foot-and-Mouth Disease Impact on Beef Farming: Analyzing Risks at Varying Ownership Scales

This study, conducted in three sub-districts of Pasuruan District, East Java, Indonesia, investigated the impact of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreaks on beef cattle farms from July to September 2023. Using interviews, questionnaires, and Failure Mode Effect Analysis (FMEA), the research categorized respondents by ownership scales—Small, Medium, and Large. For Small-scale farms, the most significant risks were associated with infected/sick cattle and deceased cattle, while Medium-scale farms faced predominant risks related to infected/diseased cattle, deceased cattle, and trade restrictions. Large-scale farms primarily dealt with risks related to deceased and infected/sick cattle. Farmer behavior analysis indicated a consistent trend, with Medium-scale farmers showing the highest understanding of FMD impact, followed by Small and Large scales. Traders reported substantial decreases in sales volume and turnover (>50%), coupled with increased price volatility. In conclusion, this study affirms that FMD profoundly impacts Small and Medium scales, with primary risks centered around cattle health and disease control expenditures, influencing farmer and trader conduct and contributing to economic uncertainty in the beef cattle sector.