West Java Deputy Governor Urges People Not To Buy Cows Affected By FMD For Sacrifice

GARUT - Deputy Governor of West Java (West Java) Uu Ruzhanul Ulum appealed to the public not to buy sick cows or infected with mouth and nail disease (PMK) for the needs of sacrifices on Eid al-Adha. According to the rules, the sacrificial animal must be healthy.

"For the public to buy cows for sacrifice or consumption, they must have a health label to be safe," said Uu Ruzhanul Ulum during a working visit to SMK Negeri 1 Garut Regency, quoted by Antara, Friday, May 27.

The Deputy Governor conveyed that according to the regulations, every sacrificial cow must be healthy, and there was no other alternative in the midst of the FMD epidemic and the limited number of livestock animals that allowed FMD cows to be sacrificed.

"Yes, you can't (a sick cow), it must be destroyed," he said.

Uu said the provincial government continues to conduct inspections of livestock in each region, the results are that many are still affected by the FMD outbreak.

"There is indeed an increase, but this increase is proven because there is 'tracing' from the government, and only monitoring, including us from the regions," he said.

The Deputy Governor said that currently the availability of cows is limited, while public demand ahead of Eid al-Adha is quite high, even in a number of cages many are empty because there are restrictions on sending livestock from outside the area.

Ahead of Eid al-Adha, said Uu, the provincial government will make efforts so that the needs of cattle for the community can be met.

West Java Province, continued Uu, will propose to the central government to issue certain policies such as allowing cattle from outside to enter West Java with certain conditions and specifications.

"Hopefully we will convey it to the government through the Governor and the minister to provide other policies," he said.

He emphasized that the FMD outbreak in livestock must be anticipated, as well as the community's need for sacrificial animals must be met for sacrificial worship.

Deputy Governor Uu appealed to the public to buy healthy cows with proof that there was an official label from the government explaining that the cows were healthy.

"Essentially PMK must be anticipated but the need for cows for Muslim worship rituals can be fulfilled, even with sheep or goats," he said.