Government official urges Indonesians to eat more beef

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)