Abstract
Integrated cattle-oil palm (ICOP) systems cover a fraction of the total area under oil palm in Indonesia, with production data being scarce. As a result, the scope to increase beef self-sufficiency from ICOP systems in Indonesia is unknown. Therefore, the objective of this conceptual and methodological study is to explore how to assess the scope for beef production from different ICOP systems. The dynamic, mechanistic model LiGAPS-Beef simulates potential and limited beef production based on animal breed, climate, feed quality, available feed quantity, and cattle management. The yield gap is the difference between simulated potential or limited production and the measured actual production. LiGAPS-Beef also simulates the most constraining factors for cattle growth daily. Breed parameters, weather data, and feed information have been collected for ICOP systems in Indonesia, as well as actual beef production levels. Using this information as model input, yield gaps in different ICOP systems and agro-ecological zones can be assessed, constraining factors can be identified, and improvement options can be simulated. In conclusion, using LiGAPS-Beef and yield gap analysis is a promising method to assess the scope for beef production from ICOP systems in Indonesia.