January 6, 2006

Malaysia orders 200,000 Indonesian cows

Malaysia has ordered 200,000 Bali cows from Indonesia, to be delivered in the next five years from 2005 to 2009.

About 40,000 slaughter cows will be sent from West Nusa Tenggara to Malaysia annually in that five-year period, said West Nusa Tenggara Animal Husbandry Office head Abdul Muthalib on Jan 5.

However, West Nusa Tenggara will focus on meeting the domestic demand first before fulfilling overseas orders, he said, adding that West Nusa Tenggara Animal Husbandry Office has started cooperation with East Nusa Tenggara to meet the Malaysian order.

The province would be also supplying some 25,000 slaughter cattle annually to Jakarta and West Java. However, only an average of 3,000 head of cows a year has been shipped from West Nusa Tenggara to Malaysia.

The provincial animal husbandry office has also formed a team to check on the health of cattle to be slaughtered.

Muthalib explained that beef cattle from West Nusa Tenggara are in much demand both domestically and abroad as the province is free from rabies and various other animal diseases.