PORTALJABAR, DISTRICT. GARUT - Head of the Garut Regency Fisheries and Livestock Service (Diskannak) Beni Yoga Gunasantika, together with a team from Diskannak, carried out health checks and sales of sacrificial animals at the Wanaraja Animal Market and PD Berkah Farm in Karangpawitan District, Garut Regency Wednesday (29/5/2024) .

Beni emphasized that the Garut District Government (Pemdakab) reminded breeders to ensure that the livestock being sold had an Animal Health Certificate. This letter guarantees that animals sold in Garut Regency have had their health checked from the area of origin

"So if you have brought an animal health certificate, it means that the animal being slaughtered, the animal being bought and sold in Garut Regency is guaranteed to be healthy," said Beni, accompanied by the Head of the Animal Health Division and the Head of the Animal Husbandry Division.

For Eid al-Adha this year, said Beni, his party provided around 9,862 cows and buffaloes and 15,436 sheep and goats.

"From 2023, we estimate 9,200 to increase by around 10-15%, so if you look at the availability this year of almost 10 thousand, I think this is still sufficient, hopefully," he said.

Diskannak also provides special collars for healthy sacrificial animals to make it easier for people to choose.

"Physical form is not skinny, not disabled, male and old enough (a pair is a must). So, follow that, so that the animals that are actually consumed by the sacrificial recipients are in accordance with the applicable religious rules or norms," he said. .

Apart from that, Diskannak held training for halal slaughterers for 30 representatives of the Mosque Prosperity Council (DKM) in Garut Regency, in collaboration with the Ministry of Religion for outreach for religious instructors.

His party also provides halal slaughterers at the Ciawitali Slaughterhouse who already have a veterinary registration number.

"Well, we guarantee that later we will provide a halal slaughterer there, and the slaughterhouse now has a veterinary registration number, so it is guaranteed to be healthy, hygienic, in accordance with applicable religious rules and beliefs," he said.

Head of the Animal Health Division of the Garut Diskannak Drh. Agustina added that her party formed a sacrificial animal inspection team to ensure that the sacrificial animals were healthy and suitable so as to produce meat that was safe, wholesome, whole and halal so that the inner peace of the community was maintained.

Apart from that, various efforts are made to monitor sacrificial animals, including supervision before the animal is slaughtered/ante-mortem at the animal sales place, socialization of halal slaughterers, supervision when the animal is slaughtered/post-mortem.

Head of the Garut Diskannak Livestock Division, M. Luqman Ismail, said that Diskannak has two animal markets in Wanaraja and Bayongbong. Approaching Eid al-Adha, the Wanaraja Animal Market which usually operates on Wednesdays and Sundays will be extended to three days.

Sheep sales increased by 20% ahead of Eid al-Adha, with market capacity reaching 800 head per day. The price range for rams for sacrifice at the Wanaraja Animal Market is around IDR 3-8 million.

"Usually we market (sell) around 200 animals per market day, but in the lead up to the day of sacrifice there is an increase of around 300 animals per market day, and this is likely to continue to increase ahead of Eid al-Qurban, our estimate will be marketing of around 500 animals. per market day," he said.

PD Berkah Farm owner Fendy said that cattle sales had increased, even though prices had increased by around IDR 2 million from last year. According to him, this price increase was caused by a disease outbreak that broke out last year, causing the cattle population to decline, apart from the increase in animal feed costs and transportation costs.

"The cheapest cow costs 23 (million), the most expensive 80 million, simental (cattle). God willing, there are still 20 days left, God willing, (sales) will definitely increase. I'm targeting at least 150 head," he said.