National Sheep Population Reaches 9.15 Million Head in 2025

The Ministry of Agriculture has announced that the national sheep population has reached 9.15 million head in 2025. Director General of Livestock and Animal Health at the Ministry, Agung Suganda, emphasised that this population increase is one of the factors driving the government’s efforts to reduce dependence on sheep and goat imports. “Our national sheep population has reached 9.15 million head in 2025. Alhamdulillah, we have also stopped and reduced imports of sheep and goats for almost a year now,” Agung said at the Indo Livestock Expo & Forum in NICE PIK 2, Tangerang Regency, Banten, on Tuesday (16/6). He added, however, that the government is still opening the option for limited imports of sheep and goats to meet specific market needs for premium products required by the hotel, restaurant, and catering (horeka) sector. According to Agung, domestic goat meat production by farmers is currently unable to fully meet national needs, such as the horeka industry’s demand for premium goat meat. “But because there is indeed a small need for the premium horeka industry, we are reopening imports in line with the latest meeting,” he stated. Going forward, Agung said the government will encourage businesses and livestock associations to increase domestic production so that the demand for sheep and goats can be met by local farmers. He noted that this step represents both a challenge and an opportunity for the national livestock industry to increase production capacity and livestock quality.