Livestock Cattle Contest Enlivens Ketupat Festival In Gorontalo

JAKARTA - The atmosphere of Lebaran in Gorontalo this year is even more lively with the 2025 Ketupat Festival which has succeeded in attracting the attention of local tourists and from outside the region.

One of the main attractions in the series of events is the cattle contest which took place at the horse race arena in Yosonegoro Village, West Limboto District, Gorontalo Regency.

This contest is in the spotlight because it not only brings entertainment, but also shows the great potential of the cattle farming sector in Gorontalo. Gorontalo Governor Gusnar Ismail said the activity was part of the provincial government's efforts to motivate farmers to be more active and professional in managing their livestock.

"This is one of our flagship programs in the livestock sector. Hopefully, the community can be more motivated to improve the quality of cow maintenance," said Gusnar on the sidelines of the event, as quoted by ANTARA.

Furthermore, he explained that the livestock sector is an important part of the agro-martim development strategy that is being intensified by the Gorontalo Provincial Government. One of the concrete steps that will be taken is the distribution of 1,000 cows to the community from June to July.

We will distribute a thousand cows to be cultivated by the community. The results are expected to be like cows participating in this contest. Our market potential is open, starting from Tarakan, Balikpapan, Surabaya, even abroad. The important thing is that we increase the cattle population to create jobs," he added.

This year's cattle contest is divided into two categories, namely local Balinese cattle and imported cows. Six cows compete in the local category, while the other 13 are in the import category with various types.

A cow named Ello from Cisadane Village, Kwandang District, North Gorontalo Regency, won first place in the category of local Balinese cattle weighing up to 568 kilograms. In the import category, the title was won by Bomber, a Limousine type cow weighing 1,042 kilograms originating from Blokato Village, Telaga Jaya District.

The Ketupat Festival is not only a gathering and celebration of tradition, but also a momentum for promoting regional potential, including the livestock sector which is now being strengthened in Gorontalo.