NTB Provincial Government Requests Additional Livestock Transport Vessels
The West Nusa Tenggara Provincial Government has requested that the central government increase livestock transport capacity to prevent cattle accumulation ahead of the 1447H Eid al-Adha celebrations at several ports in the NTB region.
Muhamad Riadi, Head of the Livestock and Animal Health Service of NTB Province, stated that the volume of sacrificial animal shipments from Sumbawa Island to areas outside the province has increased significantly.
“We have written to the Ministry of Transportation requesting assistance in providing and operating livestock transport vessels,” he said in Mataram on Saturday.
Riadi detailed the request for additional shipping capacity, specifying the need for one Camara Nusantara cattle transport vessel on the Bima–Tanjung Priok route and one additional roll-on/roll-off ferry with a capacity of 50-70 trucks to support smooth distribution of cattle from NTB.
Limited maritime transport capacity has caused long queues for livestock shipments at several major ports, including Pototano Port in West Sumbawa, Kayangan Port in East Lombok, and Gilimas and Lembar Ports in West Lombok.
In 2025, lengthy queues of trucks carrying sacrificial animals formed across NTB, resulting in the deaths of 16 cattle due to exhaustion from prolonged waits for ship departures.
Riadi emphasised the importance of monitoring livestock traffic and mitigating risks throughout the entire distribution chain to prevent further unnecessary livestock deaths during transport to animal markets in the Greater Jakarta area.
“We are strengthening health monitoring of sacrificial animals to prevent the spread of strategically important livestock diseases and zoonotic diseases ahead of Eid al-Adha,” he said.
Beyond requesting additional vessels, NTB Province is implementing anticipatory measures including scheduling livestock shipments from Sumbawa Island to align with vessel cargo capacity.
Riadi expressed hope that these measures would ensure smooth distribution of sacrificial cattle whilst maintaining animal health and public safety ahead of the Eid al-Adha celebrations.
“If the efforts we undertake are not fulfilled by the central government, then our approach will be to reschedule livestock traffic flows,” he concluded.