Government official urges Indonesians to eat more beef

JAKARTA (JP): Animal protein consumption in Indonesia is still low compared to other countries, a senior official at the Ministry of Agriculture said on Thursday.

Director general of livestock services Sofjan Sudardjat said daily beef consumption here averaged 4.2 grams per capita while daily milk consumption was also low.

"This is much lower than Bangladesh," he said at a seminar on food safety control organized by McDonald's Indonesia.

The ideal daily consumption of beef is 6 grams per capita, according to research by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences.

"Before the economic crisis, beef consumption had reached more than 5 grams but it has dropped because of the crisis," Sofjan said.

Sofjan said low meat consumption was also the consequence of set eating habits among Indonesians.

"We were told (as youngsters) not to drink milk because it could cause diarrhea and not to eat eggs because it could cause abscesses," he cited.

Rice consumption, at 135 kilograms per capita, is very high because parents used to urge children to eat more rice rather than the side dishes, Sofjan said.

"It used to be done because the price of beef and eggs were high. Now that they are more affordable we are stuck with the habits," he remarked.

Sofjan said his office is currently urging the nation to consume more animal protein by organizing movements like the "drink fresh milk" movement at state schools, and "eat eggs" movement among pedicab drivers. They are also pushing for lower- priced beef.

Indonesia currently imports some 30,000 tons of beef or equivalent to about 200,000 cows a year, Sofjan said. The import is required to fill the population's consumption of some 1.43 million tons of beef a year.

"We aim to be self-sufficient by the year 2005," he said.

To reach this goal his office is striving to increase herd population and quality.

Herd population can be increased by controlling the number of cows butchered in a productive age, and decreasing the risk of diseases.

Quality is increased through crossbreeding and artificial insemination with imported bulls, Sofjan said. (10)