Prior to Eid, Government Imports 278,000 Cows

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Government will open imports to as many as 278,000 cows in the second quarter of 2014. The number increases dramatically compared to the amount of imports in the first quarter of this year that was just 160,000 cows.

The increase in import is made to anticipate the rise of consumption when the Muslims enter the month of Ramadhan at the end of June until the Eid celebration at the end of July.  "[It is the] Anticipation so that meat prices are stable during the celebration," said the General Director of Foreign Trade, Bachrul Chairi, Monday.

The issued import permit composition is for 214 beef cattle and 65,000 ready-cut cows. Beef cattle is a young cow which is imported to Indonesia but must still be fattened for two to three months before slaughtered. According to the calculations, those beef cattles will be ready to cut when fasting month comes.

Bachrul mentioned the Government has also opened the carrier-cow's import without restriction. But apparently this productive cow import is in less demand by local businessmen. "The import permits submission of carrier-cow are only around 2,500," he said.

The high demands of cows in Indonesia are greeted with joy by the Australian breeders.  Livestock Exporters Association Members Area of North Australia, Ben Hindle, said there would be 273,000 cows shipped from that area.

PINGIT ARIA