Hence, they do not bring their livestock here. At Prambanan (Prambanan Animal Market) too, there were only about 20 cows over there. As compared to normal days, (this number is) not even up to 10 percent, (of the) usual (stock that goes) up to 300-40Klaten, Central Java (ANTARA) - Some animal markets in Klaten District, Central Java, still appeared empty on the first day of reopening owing to concerns of the ongoing foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak.
"Situation on the first day is that it is still quiet. There are no cows, only blantik (cow traders)," Widiyanti, head of the Klaten Food and Agriculture Security Office, stated while reviewing the opening of the animal market at the Klaten Jatinom Animal Market on Wednesday.
Widiyanti opined that this situation was relevant to the fact that the traders were aware of the FMD outbreak, so they opt to conduct person-to-person transactions.
"Hence, they do not bring their livestock here. At Prambanan (Prambanan Animal Market) too, there were only about 20 cows over there. As compared to normal days, (this number is) not even up to 10 percent, (of the) usual (stock that goes) up to 300-400 (animals)," she recalled.
At Jatinom Market, usually they had a cattle stock of some 500.
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"Hopefully, this would become a common (concern). During the foot and mouth disease outbreak, cows are not allowed to gather, alright, (since) it is very (risky). If one of them is sick but does not show clinical symptoms, we won't know. If there is a virus in the body, it can be dangerous, and it will still spread," she elaborated.
Although no livestock -- either cows or goats -- were so far seen in the markets, her administration still appealed to traders and businessmen to follow the applicable standard operating procedures.
"According to the head of district's directives, for those who sell animals in the Klaten animal market, specifically for the Klaten people, livestock brought here must be in a condition (in which they are) ready to be slaughtered and healthy," he remarked.
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One of the considerations that factors to the regional government's decision to reopen the animal market, after being closed for some weeks due to the outbreak, was to meet the community's need for sacrificial animals.
"In the next 9-10 days, there will be Eid al-Adha. The opening of the animal market offered an opportunity for people, so they are able to more easily find animals for sacrifice," he remarked.
Apart from the Jatinom Animal Market, the Prambanan Animal Market was also opened on that day.
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Translator: Aris Wasita, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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