Why would owners of large plantations rather have slaves that indentured servants?

Owners of large plantations preferred slaves over indentured servants primarily because slaves represented a permanent labor force, while indentured servants had a limited term of service, typically lasting four to seven years. Slavery ensured a lifetime of labor without the obligation to provide land or compensation after the term ended. Additionally, slaves could be inherited, creating a lasting asset for plantation owners, whereas indentured servants were free to leave and pursue their own opportunities once their contracts expired. This made slavery a more economically advantageous system for sustaining large-scale agricultural operations.