WNAM REPORT: The Indonesian government has taken proactive measures to ensure the safety of domestic cattle stocks from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) ahead of Eid al-Adha, the Islamic festival of sacrifice.
“Our stock is safe for Eid al-Adha. We have also managed to suppress FMD cases,” Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono stated on Friday.
He noted that FMD infections have been significantly reduced, including an outbreak reported earlier this year. As a result, the disease is unlikely to impact the availability or distribution of livestock.
To support disease prevention, the government has prepared around four million doses of the FMD vaccine and is actively encouraging farmers, cooperatives, and companies to carry out independent vaccinations.
“The cost of one vaccine dose for independent use is around Rp25,000 (US$1.54), which is quite affordable when compared to the value of livestock assets,” Sudaryono said.
He added that continuous monitoring is being conducted, underscoring the government’s commitment to safeguarding livestock health ahead of major religious events.
Thanks to these efforts, Sudaryono expressed optimism that the distribution of sacrificial cattle ahead of Eid al-Adha—which falls in early June—will proceed smoothly.
Earlier, the Director General of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health, Agung Suganda, announced stricter supervision of sacrificial animals to prevent the spread of strategic infectious animal diseases (PHMS) and zoonoses.
He highlighted the importance of monitoring livestock movement and implementing risk mitigation across the entire distribution chain, including farms, animal markets, sales points, and both official and unofficial slaughter locations.
“The sharp increase in demand for sacrificial animals has led to high inter-regional livestock movement. If not properly managed, this could facilitate the spread of FMD, lumpy skin disease (LSD), and anthrax,” he cautioned on May 7.
To mitigate this risk, the government has mandated FMD vaccinations for sacrificial animals within a minimum radius of three kilometers from sales points. Vaccinations must be administered at least six months before slaughter.
This year, demand for sacrificial animals—cattle, goats, and sheep—is projected to reach over 2 million, representing a 1.98 percent increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, national availability stands at nearly 3.22 million, indicating a surplus of more than 1.14 million animals.
