Review: Risks and benefits of introducing double-muscled Belgian Blue cattle to Indonesia’s tropical climate

Abstract

To meet the growing national demand for beef, the Indonesian government has introduced the Belgian Blue (BB), a double-muscled cattle breed originating from Belgium, renowned for its exceptional carcass yield. This initiative represents the first large-scale effort to integrate a temperate taurine genotype into Indonesia’s tropical environment through the use of Embryo Transfer (ET) and Artificial Insemination (AI) technologies. The BB’s pronounced muscle hypertrophy offers considerable potential to enhance national beef productivity, with projected increases in carcass yield. This potentially underscores the benefits of introducing the BB breed in Indonesia. However, its application in tropical systems presents notable challenges. As a pure taurine breed, the BB demonstrates limited adaptability to high temperature and humidity, rendering it highly susceptible to heat stress. In addition, its muscular conformation is associated with an elevated incidence of dystocia, requiring advanced obstetric care, while its intensive nutritional requirements may pose environmental sustainability concerns. This review synthesizes empirical findings from the past decade of field implementation across six (6) Indonesian provinces and benchmarks the performance of BB cattle against local breeds. By critically examining both the opportunities and limitations of BB integration, this paper offers novel insights beyond prior literature centered on European contexts. It concludes by highlighting strategic considerations for policymakers, veterinarians, and farmers to foster a more sustainable and efficient beef production system tailored to Indonesia’s unique agro-climatic conditions.