The online cattle marketplace was launched on May 22 to connect breeders and buyers in the regency. It is expected to make the cattle supply chain more efficient, as the website connects sellers and buyers directly rather than through brokers.
If prospective buyers are not convinced by the photos and information about an animal posted on the website, they can assess the livestock directly at the location of the owner. That is easy, because the app for the marketplace comes with a map.
The application also provides information on the sellers, the breed of the cattle offered and the category, such as mature or calf. The price, age and weight are listed in tabular form, making it easier for sellers and buyers.
Suparto, a cattle farmer and founder of the Gunungrejo Makmur Livestock Cooperative in Kedungpring, Lamongan, said the online marketplace was quite helpful for his cooperative.
His cooperative had prepared 400 cows for the local community to sacrifice for the Idul Adha celebration this year. Most of the buyers, who first got information on the animals via the app, visited the cooperative to check on their condition.
The website does not only offer cows for Idul Adha, but also to meet the daily needs of the people.
Before the introduction of the online marketplace, his cooperative would only sell around 200 cows for the celebration of Idul Adha. The online marketplace has increased sales by 40 percent to 300 cows, or about 75 percent of some 400 cows being offered.
"The transaction process via the application is easier. Promotion through the website is also more effective than using leaflets or through advertisements in newspapers and social media," said Suparto.
The application allows residents of other areas, such as Surabaya, Gresik, Sidoarjo and Mojokerto, to easily find livestock of high quality. Buyers can directly chose the animals they want. "Thanks to the application, we also receive orders from Rembang, Jakarta, Bekasi, Pasuruan and Malang. The market is wider," he added.
Although communication with buyers is conducted through the website, the transactions are carried out offline. Upon acquiring information via the website, buyers visit the location of the animal and pay on the spot.
The website does not only offer cows for Idul Adha, but also to meet the daily needs of the people. Currently, the price of a live cow is about Rp 44,000 to Rp 45,000 per kilogram.
"We sell seven to 10 cows a week, or about 500 to 600 kg of meat to butchers in Gresik and Surabaya," said Suparto.
During the last Idul Adha event, a cow weighing 1,000 kg was sold at Rp 75 million, below its offering price of Rp 95 million. The cooperative also received orders from the regent of Gresik and from companies in Semarang and Sidoarjo.
Avoiding the middlemen
The head of the Animal Husbandry and Animal Health Office of Lamongan regency, Sukriyah, said sisapi.lamongankab.go.id was the first online cattle marketplace in the country, where sellers could find buyers not only from Lamongan but also from other regions.
To sell cattle through the online marketplace, breeders and traders need to obtain a username and password to open a free account. The marketplace is expected to improve the economic standing of farmers.
Buyers can get information on the prices of live animals, meat, liver, offal or even the skin.
The marketplace also provides stalls for cattle farmers and buyers. The main goal is to shorten the distribution chain and maximize the profit of the breeders, because intermediaries are no longer needed.
The main page of the website shows cows available for sale. The buyer can simply select the animal based on its identity number or type and category. The marketplace also mentions the price, age, sex and weight of the animals on sale. Buyers can get information on the prices of live animals, meat, liver, offal or even the skin. At present, the online market has about 30 registered sellers, traders and cooperatives.
They include Gunungrejo Makmur Livestock Cooperatives in Kedungpring, Reni, in Pucuk, Juri, in Tikung, Sawiyan, in Paciran, Munawar, UD Putra Mandiri, Berkah Jaya, Sumber Jaya, Barokah Jaya, Lembu Jaya, Oon Yerry, and Saidi.
Lamongan Regent Fadeli expressed his hope that the online marketplace could help meet the target of increasing the cattle population to 200,000 heads.
The population in Lamongan grew from 101,790 heads in 2015 to 104,779 heads in 2016. Fadeli called for a further expansion of the use of the online marketplace to make the distribution chain more effective. The application also supports the campaigns on the mandatory breeding program (UPSUS SIWAB) and livestock insurance scheme (AUTS).
The regent promised to subsidize AUTS insurance premiums, so that farmers would only pay Rp 40,000 of the annual insurance premium of Rp 200,000 per head. With the insurance, breeders can get claims of Rp 10 million if an animal dies due to sickness or accident. Examinations of pregnancy and reproductive disorders in Lamongan are free of charge since April 1.
