Beef Prices Soar as Production Declines
11 July 2013 17:58 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Malang – Live cattle prices have continued to soar since the start of Ramadhan with prices reaching up to Rp 36,000 (around US$3.61) per kilogram from the usual Rp 27,000 (around US$2.71). As a result, beef production at the Malang slaughterhouse has dropped from 70 cattle to 50 cattle slaughtered daily. "Beef prices are high so traders prefer to reduce slaughtering," said Malang slaughterhouse director Djoko Sudadi on Thursday, July 11.
Each day, meat demands in Malang are supplied by the Malang district, Pasuruan, Probolinggo, and Jember. Meanwhile, the population of beef cattle in Malang is limited. Some traders even slaughtered dairy cattle studs.
Djoko estimated that beef production during this year's Eid al-Fitr celebration will drop by 50 percent compared to last year. In 2012, the number of slaughtered beef reached 200 cattle while this year the figure is predicted to only reach 100.
EKO WIDIANTO
