Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1992

A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements f or the Degree of Master of Science.

This study a ims to investigate the farming system of livestock farmer in Nang Yao s ub -di strict , Lat Yao district in the province of Nakhon Sawan where cattle are raised with crop cu l tivat ion. Using both interviewed by t h e questionnaire and observed beh avior of the farmers. Information was collected fro m 1 54 livestock farmers. Firs t broa d f i e ld survey to ge t information of overall picture in each system. The data was analyzed by using the Statistic Package for Social Scien ce program (SPSS) . Second sampling 48 farmers for the economic analysis of production within 1991, the study year. Four production systems were identified in the first s urvey of b eef raising. Three production syste ms of pawa , hired labor and owner operated were exten sive syst e m while feedl ot production system was an intensive syst em. Pawa i s a traditional extensive system of beef production where two farmers raised cattle together, one farmer "own " the a nimals a nd l et a nother farmer look after them to get calves . Th e b e nefit is s haring through these ca l ves. Th e study s how effect of economic statu s of far mers influ e n ce the system that accepted. The land is rainfed and topography of the v illage is mountainous a nd highla~d made t h e system of beef cattle improve and available. The result o f cost-benefit analysis shown that pawa production system gave highest rate of return to fa mily labor of 50 Baht per day. Th e owner operation , hired labor for operation and the feed l ot system gave 47, 29 and 14 Baht per day respectively. Pawa production system was most profitable but the owner operation and feedlot system r eceive consistency profit.