Reproductive Performance of Bali Cattle in West Papua: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Artificial Insemination under the Upsus Siwab Program

The demand for beef in Indonesia continues to rise, while domestic production remains insufficient, leading to reliance on imports. To address this gap, the government introduced the Upsus Siwab program utilizing artificial insemination (AI). This study aimed to evaluate the reproductive performance of Bali cows under the program in Manokwari Regency, West Papua, using indicators of service per conception (S/C), conception rate (CR), and calving rate (CvR). The study involved 560 acceptor cows owned by 274 farmers across six districts, with 112 sampled. Primary data were collected through interviews and field observation, while secondary data came from official livestock services. Results showed an average S/C of 2.3, CR of 85.91%, and CvR of 78.57%. The S/C was more favorable than in other Papua regions, while CR exceeded the national threshold (≥60%) and approached levels observed in advanced areas. However, CvR remained slightly below the international standard (85–95%), mainly due to embryonic loss, dystocia, climate variability, and low pasture quality. Farmer literacy in estrus detection, inseminator training quality, and veterinary support during late pregnancy emerged as critical determinants of AI success. Recommendations include improving targeted farmer and inseminator training, enhancing pasture and nutritional management, integrating climate-adaptive strategies, and strengthening reproductive health interventions to reduce embryonic loss and dystocia.