IPB University Expert: Cattle Imports Still Necessary, but Not from Countries with Foot-and-Mouth Disease

A Professor from the Faculty of Animal Science at IPB University, Prof Rudy Priyatno, stated that importing beef remains necessary, as the government has yet to meet the domestic demand for cattle and buffalo meat.

“Beef imports are still essential to fulfill national needs, particularly during major holidays in Indonesia, including Idulfitri,” he said in a statement (4/2).

He explained that the current population of cattle and buffalo in Indonesia is less than 12 million. As a result, local production is still insufficient to meet the high domestic demand for beef. “Imported beef and buffalo meat can account for nearly 40 percent of total supply,” he noted.

Regarding the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), Prof Rudy advised the government to seek alternative sources of beef imports from countries that are free from FMD.

“If imports from India continue, regulations and monitoring protocols must be strictly enforced—from the origin country to storage and distribution in Indonesia,” said the IPB University lecturer from the Department of Nutrition and Feed Technology.

Recently, the East Java Provincial Government declared a non-natural disaster emergency status across the entire province due to the escalating FMD outbreak.

According to Prof Rudy, the FMD outbreak significantly affects livestock health, productivity, and even mortality rates. The economic losses caused by this outbreak are substantial, with small-scale farmers being the most directly impacted. (dh) (IAAS/RUM)