Agriculture Service Calls Livestock Market Opening Waiting For Provincial Government's Decision

Illustration of livestock trader activities at the Selagalas Animal Market, Mataram City, NTB. (Between)

NTB - The Mataram City Agriculture Service (Distan) said the reopening of the Selagas Mataram Animal Market depends on the policy of the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Provincial Government. The animal market was closed following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD).

This was conveyed by the Secretary of the Mataram City Agriculture Service (Distan) Hj Triutami in response to the possibility of reopening the Selagalas Animal Market to meet the needs of sacrificial animals in the face of Eid al-Adha 1443 Hijrah which falls on Sunday 10 July.

"The closure of the animal market is carried out in accordance with the Decree of the Governor of NTB, so the opening must also be in accordance with the policies of the provincial government," said Mataram, quoted from Antara, Monday, July 4.

The Selagalas Animal Market, which operates twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, has been closed since Wednesday 18 May 2022 to anticipate the spread of the FMD virus.

There are only two livestock traded in the Animal Market, namely goats and cows. The average number of cattle traded in a day under normal conditions is 500-600 heads.

Meanwhile, at certain times it can reach 1,000 or more. The livestock come from various parts of the island of Lombok and even Sumbawa, so that under current conditions it has the potential to become a place for the spread of the PKM virus.

"Although the animal market is closed, we have anticipated the need for sacrificial animals. God willing, the stock is safe and fulfilled because there are many healthy cows," he said.

Mataram City Distan data on the development of PMK cases as of Tuesday, June 28, 2022, it was recorded that the number of cattle affected by FMD was 522 cows and 5 goats. The number of cattle recovered was 393, 74 were recovered and 52 were sold and 3 were emergency slaughtered.

The Head of Livestock at the Mataram City Agriculture Service (Distan) Drh Dijan Riyatmoko previously said that the need for sacrificial cattle in Mataram City was around 1,000 heads, it was predicted from experience in previous years with the realization that around 970 cows will be slaughtered for sacrifice in 2021, while goats will be slaughtered for sacrifice in 2021. around 2,200-2,500 head.

Meanwhile, the stock of ready-to-slaughter cattle in Mataram is less than 150 heads so that so far the need for beef cattle in Mataram is still dependent on other regencies/cities.

Related to that, to guarantee that the sacrificial cows that will be purchased by the community are healthy and free of PMK, Distan has asked for data from other districts.

"We spread these data to the mosque takmir, the sacrificial committee, and the general public when they want to buy cattle from farmers outside Mataram City who already have an animal health certificate (SKKH)," he said.