Aidiladha: Cattle Farmers Turn To Imports Amid Surging Demand

DUNGUN, May 12 (Bernama) -- Cattle farmers in Terengganu are reportedly having to import cattle from Thailand to meet high demand for this year’s Hari Raya Aidiladha sacrificial ritual.

A farmer, Mohd Rasol Ismail, 36, said the imported cattle have been brought in by stages since the start of the year due to a shortage of local supply.

“This year, I received orders for 180 cattle for sacrificial ritual, with most customers coming from non-governmental organisations, mosques, surau and individuals in the state.

“I had to import cattle from Thailand as my own stock was not sufficient to meet demand,” he told Bernama when met at Kampung Padang Pulut here today.

He said the imported cattle are sold to customers only after being thoroughly inspected by the Department of Veterinary Services to ensure they are disease-free and meet the required standards.

He said most of the imported cattle are kept in holding pens here for at least four months before being sold, to ensure they are in good health and have reached sufficient weight.

“The imported cattle are also high-quality breeds in strong demand in the market, such as KK Cross, Brahman and Charolais,” he said, adding that he began cattle farming during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Mohd Rasol highlighted that the transport cost of importing cattle from the border has increased from RM220 per head last year to RM350 this year due to higher operating and logistics costs.

However, he said he is still selling the cattle at last year’s prices, ranging from RM4,500 to RM6,000 per head, depending on their size and breed.

“I also source cattle from local farmers in Terengganu, but the supply is still not enough to meet customer demand,” he added.

Another farmer, Mohd Azuha Abd Rahman, 49, from Kampung Nyior, Paka, said he received orders for 300 cattle for this year’s sacrificial ritual, forcing him to import cattle from Thailand to meet demand, as he only has 45 cattle reared locally for sale ahead of Hari Raya Aidiladha.

“Every year, I receive a large number of orders for sacrificial cattle, including from customers in Pahang and Kedah,” he added.

-- BERNAMA