The laying hen farming business in the poultry industry, besides experiencing very rapid development, also experienced ups and downs. The Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which has been endemic in Indonesia for the last two years, has also affected the livestock business. This research analyzed the actors and the relations between actors in the laying hen farming business. The research was conducted using a qualitative method; data was collected through interviews, observation, documentation, and focused group discussions. The method of selecting informants uses purposive sampling of farmers and the Animal Husbandry Department of Blitar Regency. The study’s findings indicated that actors involved in the laying hen farming business were small farmers, medium farmers, large farmers, farmer groups, poultry shops, the Animal Husbandry Department, Ministry of Agriculture-Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health, feed/medicine companies, egg collectors/middlemen, local traders, inter-regional/island traders, and cooperatives. The growing demand for chicken eggs and the rapid capital turnover that is the primary incentive for business actors to pursue the chicken farming industry are the fundamental causes of the vast number of farmers’ business players in Blitar Regency. The large-scale accessibility of production elements is another consideration. The actors operate their livestock company independently or in cooperation, and it has since evolved into a hereditary enterprise (inherited and sustained). The rise in feed prices and the fall in egg prices have significantly impacted small and medium-sized farms, driving many into bankruptcy. Farmers can also make do with fewer animals, altered feeding regimens, and a waiting period for more steady prices. In conclusion, farmers who operate large-scale enterprises are less impacted by changes in the cost of inputs and outputs because they have access to independent input suppliers and market networks that support productive and efficient business methods.
Keywords | Actor, Actor relation, Egg production, Laying chicken, Blitar regency