Morphometric Characterization and Body Weight Prediction of Kebumen Ongole Grade (PO Kebumen) Cattle in the Urutsewu Coastal Agroecosystem Morphometric Characterization and Body-Weight Prediction of PO Kebumen Cattle Section Articles

Abstract

Kebumen Ongole Grade (PO Kebumen) cattle is a nationally recognized local cattle strain of Central Java, designated through Decree of the Minister of Agriculture Number 358/2015. This study aimed to characterize the quantitative and qualitative morphometric traits of PO Kebumen cattle and to develop a practical body weight prediction model from linear body measurements. A total of 130 cattle (42 males and 88 females), aged 2-6 years, were measured across the coastal sub-districts of Urutsewu: Ambal, Mirit, and Buluspesantren. Nine linear body measurements and seven qualitative traits were recorded, and live weight was estimated using a digital weighbridge. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests, Pearson correlation, and regression. Males were significantly larger than females in withers height and head dimensions (P<0.05), while chest girth did not differ between sexes. Chest girth showed the highest correlation with body weight (r=0.94), yielding the model BW = 5.18 CG - 478.6 (R2=0.88). The dominant qualitative traits were a plain white coat, a black muzzle, a thick, folded dewlap, and a large, erect hump. PO Kebumen cattle exceeded the SNI 7651-5:2020 minimum standard, confirming their superior frame and chest girth as reliable field predictors of body weight.