The Price Of 'sick' Beef In Pamekasan Is IDR 40 Thousand Per Kg

Beef traders have been deserted since many cows have fallen ill due to an epidemic of mouth and hoof disease. (Trade Department)

PAMEKASAN - The price of beef with FMD in a number of traditional markets in Pamekasan, East Java, is now only Rp. 40,000 per kilogram, much cheaper than the price prevailing the previous week.

This cheap beef price is sold by traders in a number of traditional markets, such as Duko Market, East Duko Village, Larangan District and Pagendangan Market, Larangan District.

"This beef is cheap, because it comes from sick cows," said a beef vendor at Duko Timur Market, Pamekasan Suleha, as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, June 14.

In Pagendangan Market and Keppo Market, Larangan District, Pamekasan, the price of meat slaughtered from sick cows is actually sold for between IDR 30,000 and IDR 35,000 per kilogram.

Likewise in traditional markets in Pamekasan City, such as Kolpajung Market.

In this market, meat slaughtered from sick cows is sold separately at different prices.

"In Kolpajung it's the same. If sick beef costs only Rp. 40 thousand per kilogram. For ordinary cattle it is still Rp. 105 thousand to Rp. 110 thousand per kilogram," said resident from West Kaduara Robiah.

However, even though the price of meat is cheap, a number of beef traders in Kolpajung Market, Pamekasan admit, beef sales have decreased drastically.

"Never mind meat from sick cows, meat from healthy cows is also not selling well, unlike before. In the past, when Idul Fitri, meat purchases increased," said meat trader at Kolpajung Pamekasan market, Haniyah.

The Head of the Animal Health Division (Head of Keswan) at the Pamekasan Regency Government's Agriculture and Livestock Food Security Service (DKPPP), Budi Slamet Budiharsono, explained that the actual meat consumed from cows infected with mouth and nail disease was not harmful to health.

"Nowadays, many residents are reluctant to buy beef, because they are worried. Whereas the virus that attacks cows is not harmful to humans, as long as it is cooked for a long time," said Budi.

Meanwhile, the epidemic of foot and mouth disease in Pamekasan is now increasingly widespread.

Initially, this type of disease only attacked the domesticated cattle of residents in two sub-districts, namely in Kadur District and Larangan District, but now it has spread to all sub-districts.

The DKPPP of the Pamekasan Regency Government has deployed a special team in the form of veterinarians and animal health educators to prevent the spread of disease, as well as requesting assistance from the police and TNI to provide education to farmers on how to overcome the spread of disease.