TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Thomas Sembiring, Executive Director of Indonesian Beef Importer Association, said that the price of male cattle that was significantly increased prior to Eid al-Adha has threatened the population of female cattle. "If the demands soar, then we are forced to slaughter female cattle," he said yesterday.
Thomas said that the increasing demand of beef prior to Eid al-Adha is inevitable. The low supply of cattle from Bali and West Nusa Tenggara would cause beef prices in a number of areas to increase. "Where can we find a substitute if the supply of cattle has not increased?" he said.
Many breeders tend to delay selling their livestock up to a moment before Eid al-Adha to gain higher profit. Therefore, in order to meet the daily demands of beef, they started slaughtering female cattle. "This is a dangerous move which can threaten the national population of female cattle," said Thomas.
He asserted that the government should have imported cattle months before to anticipate the price increase. However, timing is crucial because to be able to be imported, a cattle needs to be treated in a feedlot for three months prior to the import.
JAYADI SUPRIADIN
