PMK In Karawang: 53 Livestock Still Exposed, 231 Improved, 16 Forced Slaughter

Illustration of cattle threatened with mouth and nail disease (FMD). (Between)

JAKARTA - A total of 16 cows scattered in a number of areas around Karawang Regency, West Java, had to be slaughtered because they were exposed to Mouth and Nail Disease (FMD).

"That (forced slaughter) was at the owner's wish," said Head of Livestock at the Karawang Agriculture and Food Security Service, Handoko, in Karawang, Tuesday, June 21.

He said the 16 cows that were forcibly slaughtered were not on the recommendation of the service. It's the owner's wish.

There were eight owners of 16 cows in Karawang who at that time decided to slaughter the affected cattle. But after being cut, the meat is sold.

"It (the meat is sold) is okay," he said, as reported by Antara.

Handoko said that at that time officers from the service had inspected the 16 cows several times, and the agency even told livestock owners not to slaughter them.

"We (at that time) had conveyed that it would be a shame if it was forced to cut. Because if it is treated it can still be healed. But (perhaps the owner is worried), so they decided to do a forced cut," he said.

His party has never suggested or recommended forced slaughter for cattle affected by FMD, believing that livestock affected by FMD can still be cured.

Meanwhile, currently there are 300 livestock affected by FMD in Karawang. The details were that 231 individuals had recovered, 16 were forcibly slaughtered, and 53 were still affected by FMD.

In accordance with data from the Animal Husbandry Division of the Karawang Agriculture and Food Security Service, the PMK cases were spread across 20 sub-districts around Karawang.

He appealed to farmers not to worry and worry about the PMK case.

He also suggested that farmers who own livestock but are affected by PMK, can immediately report to the extension worker for further action by the official in the livestock sector.