Supply of Sacrificial Cows Affected by Restrictions

Cattle husbandry entrepreneurs have difficulty getting stock of sacrificial cows due to an epidemic of mouth and hoof disease. As a result, the price of sacrificial cattle has become unstable and is even rising sharply.

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

An Officer from the Food Security, Agriculture and Fisheries Service of Cirebon City inject vitamins for cattle in Kalijaga, Cirebon City, West Java, Tuesday (24/5/2022). Giving worm medicine and vitamins to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease.

PADANG, KOMPAS — The restrictions on livestock traffic to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease (FMD) is having an impact on the supply of sacrificial animals in some regions. Farmers and traders are finding it difficult to find sacrificial animals. Due to the limited availability of livestock, the price of sacrificial cattle has become unstable and is even rising sharply.

In Padang, operations manager Azmi Alhuda of CV Andalas Farm revealed that the closure of cattle markets in West Sumatra made it difficult for the company to purchase stock of sacrificial cattle. In addition, the price of sacrificial cattle had increased between 15 and 25 percent and was unstable. This had happened as a result of panic selling among cattle farmers.

“In other regions, generally in Java, panic selling is occurring. Because the cows are sick, the farmers are panicking and selling them to traders. In West Sumatra, panic buying has occurred to the extent that West Sumatra’s sacrificial animal committee has quickly responded to FMD by buying small cattle at high prices," Azmi said on Tuesday (24/5/2022) during the hybrid webinar, "Mouth and Nail Diseases: Impacts and Control Efforts", held by the Faculty of Animal Husbandry at Andalas University, Padang.

The shortage in the sacrificial cattle stock due to the restrictions on livestock traffic, said Azmi, also posed a risk, because it could affect the cattle population. When the number of sacrificial bulls is small, the sacrificial animal committee finally tended to choose cows. Moreover, the price of sacrificial bulls had increased more than 25 percent.

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> Preventive Measures Needed to Curb Surging FMD Cases

> Government Set to Contain FMD Infection Zone

Rochadi Tawaf, a member of the executive expert board of the Indonesian Animal Husbandry Graduate Association (ISPI), said the government was relatively quick to issue a policy on handling FMD. However, implementation in the field was still a problem.

"We want the virus not to spread, the government mentioned partial culling [of infected animals]. Where will the funds come from? How will it be run? Is there an Otovet [veterinary authorization] or not? Whose region is running it? These [answers] are needed now, how the regions can run this relatively good policy,” said Rochadi.

On the other hand, he said, a solution was needed for the impacts on supply from the restrictions on livestock traffic. Madura Island, for example, was still free of FMD, but its farmers could not send their cattle outside the region. East Nusa Tenggara was also still free of FMD, but ships transporting cattle from the region were not permitted to unload their cargo at Tanjung Perak Port in East Java.

Regional policies vary

Following the outbreak of FMD, a number of regions not only implemented restrictions on livestock traffic, but also closed animal markets. In Magelang regency, Central Java, all animal markets were closed after 10 cattle and buffalo were suspected of being infected with FMD.

Magelang Livestock and Fisheries Services head Joni Indarto said that eight animal markets had been closed for two weeks from Tuesday to Monday (6/6).

The animal market in Wonogiri, Central Java, was also closed for two weeks after the discovery of 13 cows suspected of being infected with FMD. All came from outside the region.

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

A farmer, Winarto, sprays medicinal liquid into the mouths of cattle infected with mouth and foot disease in Sembung Village, Wringinanom District, Gresik Regency, East Java, Wednesday (11/5/2022). According to Winarto, as many as 37 cattle in his pen were infected with foot and mouth disease.

In Sragen, Central Java, six cows were reportedly confirmed to have FMD. Nevertheless, no policy was issued to close the local animal market. Sragen Livestock and Fisheries Services head Rina Wijayanti said that livestock sales and purchases were continuing under strict supervision. The service deployed animal health officers every market day to check the condition of livestock before the animals were allowed to enter the market. If any cattle were found with symptoms of FMD, they were not allowed to enter the market.

In East Java, the Sidoarjo regency administration was planning to ease the restrictions on livestock traffic so that livestock from outside the region could enter. Livestock production head Tony Hartono at the Sidoarjo Food and Agriculture Office said that livestock demand always increased significantly during Idul Adha. To meet the demand, traders brought in livestock from outside the region, such as Pasuruan, Lumajang, Mojokerto, and Jombang.

Since Sidoarjo has been declared an area with an FMD outbreak, livestock traffic is strictly restricted. All animal markets have been closed to prevent the spread of the disease. Slaughterhouses may still operate under strict supervision.

"In an effort to meet the needs of animals for sacrifice, restrictions will be eased on livestock traffic entering Sidoarjo," Tony said on Tuesday.

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> Hoof-and-Mouth Disease Reappears

Cattle from outside the region, according to him, could enter Sidoarjo on the condition that they had a letter of recommendation from the livestock office of their region stating that they were healthy and free of disease. In addition, traders must submit an application to the Sidoarjo Food and Agriculture Office to import livestock from outside the region.

Furthermore, the points of sale of sacrificial animals would be regulated in terms of environmental sanitation to prevent the spread of FMD. The feasibility of cattle cages were also being considered. The Sidoarjo Food and Agriculture Service was preparing a quarantine area for sick cattle so they didn’t spread the disease to other livestock. Sick cattle may not be traded and must be quarantined so they received proper treatment and care.

Meanwhile, the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Legislative Council (DPRD) asked the local government to help supply beef cattle to areas affected by outbreaks of FMD. As an area free of FMD, NTT can be relied on to supply the national meat demand, especially ahead of the Idul Adha holiday. (EGI/NIK/NCA/IKI/FRN/JOL)

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.