Highlights The Traffic Of Sacrificial Animals For Eid Al-Adha 2022, Palembang Tightens Border Posts

Illustration of cattle transport truck inspection. (Between)

PELEMBANG - Palembang Agricultural Quarantine Officers are closely monitoring the traffic of cows and goats that will be sacrificed on Eid al-Adha 1443 Hijri which is estimated to fall on July 10, 2022 to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease (PMK).

"Facing the high demand for cattle and goats for sacrifice, our officers are trying to monitor livestock traffic in the context of releasing PMK in this province and ensuring the stock of sacrificial cattle is free from PMK," said Head of Agricultural Quarantine Palembang Azhar, in Palembang, South Sumatra, quoted from Between, Tuesday 5th July.

According to him, through strict supervision of livestock for sacrifice, it is hoped that inter-district/city and inter-provincial traffic in the South Sumatra region will be completely safe from the FMD virus.

To carry out this supervision, quarantine officers are on standby at points of entry and exit or farm areas and places where cattle and goats are sold.

Then his party seeks to build public awareness so that they are obedient and disciplined to the government's efforts to control the FMD outbreak so that it can reduce the risk of spreading the livestock disease.

PMK cases have now been found in eight out of 17 districts/cities in the South Sumatra region, namely Palembang City, Lubuklinggau, Banyuasin, Lahat, Musi Rawas, Pali, Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI) and Muara Enim Districts.

Through these efforts, PMK cases in eight districts/cities that can be controlled can continue to be suppressed to zero, said the Head of Agricultural Quarantine.

Deputy Mayor of Palembang Fitrianti Agustinda ensured that the sacrificial animals for Eid al-Adha 1443 Hijriah sold by farmers and traders in this area were in healthy condition and free from mouth and nail diseases.

"Based on the results of checking the Palembang Livestock Service team to the cattle and goat breeders and traders, no animal for the sacrifice has been found that is indicated to have contracted FMD," he said.

Although the market has not found any animals to be sacrificed for contracting FMD, it continues to remind residents to be careful when buying cows or goats.

"Residents of Pempek city must be careful when buying cows and goats that will be used as sacrificial animals on Eid al-Adha which is estimated to fall on July 10, 2022 to anticipate slaughtering sacrificial animals infected with FMD or not meeting the requirements," he said.

In a condition where there is an epidemic of mouth and nail disease (PMK), he said, residents must be careful in buying sacrificial animals according to conditions such as healthy and free from defects. If you are not careful, it is feared that the sacrificial animals such as goats and cows purchased do not meet these requirements.

"According to the provisions, animals that are slaughtered for sacrifice and the meat is distributed to residents who are entitled to receive them must be healthy or free from disease, not disabled, and have an ideal weight," Fitrianti said.