Local farmers and cattle traders in Gunung Kidul District, Yogyakarta, welcomed the Australian government plan to stop sending cattle to Indonesia.
They hope that this condition will improve the price of local beef which had slumped over the past two years.
“If the Australian government’s plan is actually happen, the local cattle trade could certainly be exciting again,” said Kamari (37 years old), a cattle traders from Semanu District, Friday.
Kamari added that this cattle export restriction will stabilize the price of local beef. He believes the quality of local beef is comparable to the Australians’. Gunung Kidul local cow, for example, has a reliable meat quality.
“I was forced to sell cattle all the way up to Lampung, because only there the price of local beef is better. But if Australia stopped exporting their beef, I’ll come back here to sell cattle again” said Kamari.
Meanwhile the Indonesian House of Representatives Commission IV also welcomed the Australian Government decision. They hope the Indonesian Government can use this momentum to further development of local cattle industries.
Members of the House of Representatives Commission IV, Viva Yoga Mauladi, urge Indonesia to stop all imports of live cattle from Australia altogether. “This is an opportunity to realize self-sufficiency in beef,” he said in a hearing with the Minister of Agriculture Suswono.
According to Viva, to achieve self-sufficiency in beef, the government support is required. Besides, he added, for the Indonesian people, beef is not a primary requirement. So, it does not matter if Australia stopped exporting cattle to Indonesia. “Eating beef is more like social status like Westerners. If (Indonesian) can not eat beef, its okay, there are still rabbits and chickens,” he said.
Similar opinion is also expressed by member of the House of Representatives Commission IV, Ibn Multazam. He considered Australia’s decision as a boon because it gives an opportunity for domestic cattle ranchers to meet the domestic market. “So people do not need to fear of losing beef from the market,” he said. @ Jakarta Updates.com
It starts in the ships, which can carry up to 100,000 animals on sea voyages that last up to three weeks. The animals get sick, suffer heat stress and starve on a pellet diet. More than 2 million animals have died en route — apparently an “acceptable” loss for the industry.The animals who don’t die on the way are killed in unimaginably inhumane ways. Some are killed while they’re still conscious and endure prolonged suffering before they expire. Most countries that import animals for slaughter lack even one animal welfare law.In response to public outcry, Australia has temporarily banned live exports to Indonesia. But these cruelties exist in plenty of other countries.
Thanks for Taking Action! Emily V.
Care2 and ThePetitionSite Team
Ban Live Animal Export to All Countries
Take action link: http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/AgJLa/zlSI/BMoqz
A Celebration of Women
Australia: Ban Live Animal Export to ALL Countries
June 26, 2011 by
