REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - The government through Ministry of Agriculture planned to import 30 thousand heads of cattle breeders in 2016. Cattle breeders could later be producing cattle for national consumption needs.

"Cattle breeders imported from Australia are currently 2,700 heads in East Kalimantan," said Chief Quarantine of Ministry of Agriculture, Banun Harpini, in North Jakarta, Friday (11/12).

In fact, target of realization of cattle breeders import in 2015 was 11 thousand heads. At 15 December 2015, he added, 3,500 cattle breeders imported from Australia would be arrived in Indonesia.

Livestock observer who is also a lecturer of Faculty of Animal Husbandry of Padjadjaran University Rochadi Tawaf, appreciated the effort of Ministry of Agriculture to increase domestic production of cattle with imports of cattle breeders and artificial insemination.

"However, the cattle is not like a factory, they are a living thing. The import should be done in line with technology readiness." he added.

Imported cattle breeders that are currently sent to East Kalimantan had high death rate. Australia gave a warning to Indonesia to improve operational standards before importing cattle breeders.

"The death rate reached 100 heads from 2,700 cattle breeders imported," Rochadi said.

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