Muzani Urges Indonesia to Develop Productive Cattle Breeds Suitable for the Climate

Chairman of the MPR RI, Ahmad Muzani, is urging the government and business actors to develop cattle breeds suitable for Indonesia’s tropical climate. He pointed out Indonesia’s dependence on imported cattle from subtropical countries such as Australia to the Netherlands, which he deems less compatible with domestic environmental conditions.

This was stated by Muzani when opening the APPSI (Indonesian Cattle Breeders and Fatteners Association) Cattle Contest in Wonosobo, Central Java, on Saturday (25/4/2026). He assessed that climate differences render the productivity of imported cattle suboptimal when raised in Indonesia.

“We are a tropical country. If we bring in cattle from subtropical countries, not only is it expensive, but it is also not entirely suited to our environment,” said Muzani.

He further encouraged Indonesia to start developing or importing cattle breeds from tropical climate countries like Brazil and India, which are considered more adaptive to the local environment.

“The hope is that we can obtain cattle breeds that match the tropical climate but still have high productivity,” he stated.

Muzani also highlighted the disparity in milk production between cattle in Indonesia and subtropical countries. He noted that the average dairy cow in the country produces only about 10-15 litres of milk per day, whereas cows in subtropical countries can reach 25-30 litres per day.

“This gap is quite significant and affects the economy of our farmers,” he explained.

According to Muzani, developing appropriate cattle breeds will impact the increase in national meat and milk production. This is deemed important for reducing import dependency while strengthening food security.

He added that activities such as the APPSI cattle contest serve as one effort to promote improvements in regional livestock quality. The forum is also viewed as an opportunity for knowledge sharing among farmers regarding fattening and animal care.

“If our farmers advance and become productive, it signifies that the economy is moving,” he remarked.