Village-Scale Feed Carrying Capacity and Dependence on Maize Stover for Beef Cattle in Taluditi, Indonesia

Livestock carrying capacity is commonly expressed as an aggregate feed supply-to-demand ratio, but a high ratio can mask reliance on a single feed source. This study quantified village-scale feed carrying capacity for beef cattle in Taluditi Subdistrict, Indonesia, examined the structural dependence of the surplus, and interpreted it through field verification. Official 2023–2025 records were converted to livestock units and available dry matter from natural pasture, maize stover, rice straw, and cocoa pod husk, complemented by observation and interviews with 14 farmers across all villages. In 2025, available feed was 10,338.67 tonnes of dry matter per year against a requirement of 2,193.42 tonnes per year, giving an index of 4.71. Maize stover contributed 82.81% of available dry matter; only 2.4% of its potential was needed for balance, yet four of seven villages fell below balance without it. More diversified villages retained stronger non-maize balances. Most interviewed farmers used maize residue routinely after harvest and all reported greater feed difficulty during the dry season, while unused stover was observed being burned or left to decompose. The novelty lies in separating surplus magnitude from structural dependence, which supports residue storage, reduced burning, and village-targeted livestock policy.