Prabowo Distributes 28 Eid al-Adha Cattle in East Nusa Tenggara

East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) has received 28 cows donated by President Prabowo Subianto under the Sapi Banmas scheme for Eid al-Adha 2026. The figure is up from the initial plan of 23 cows because some districts’ sacrificial animals did not meet the 1-ton weight target.

Acting Head of the NTT Department of Animal Husbandry, Melky Ansar, explained that normally each district/city and province would receive one cow. However, because some areas do not have cows meeting the standard weight, it was decided that some districts would receive two cows.

‘It should have been 23 cows for 22 districts and 1 province. But, since some districts’ cows did not reach the 1-ton weight, it was decided that districts whose cows are under that size would be given two cows, so the total becomes 28 cows,’ Melky said on Thursday (21 May 2026).

He noted four districts will receive two sacrificial animals each, because the cows’ average weight is less than 1 ton.

Distribution began this week, especially for areas requiring sea transport. One such area is Maumere, where shipments must align with shipping schedules to prevent the animals from experiencing stress.

‘For Maumere, we must send from now on, because we have to consider shipping schedules and the animals cannot be stressed,’ Melky added.

For the Timor mainland region, deliveries are planned to start next week. ‘For the Timor mainland, the plan is to start distribution next week,’ he said.

Melky stressed that all sacrificial cattle come from within NTT. The larger cattle distributed to various areas were sourced from the Timor mainland.

He explained that cow prices vary. The cheapest cows were bought at Rp 43 million, while cows weighing up to 1 ton can reach Rp 93 million per animal, including transport costs to the mosque.

The purchasing process begins with an on-field verification to locate large cows, followed by weight measurement. Once they pass, the report is forwarded to the central authorities. ‘After that, a presidential team will come, and they have been coming since last week; they will make payments with the operators or the livestock owners themselves,’ Melky said.

He emphasised that all sacrificial animals are healthy. Transactions are conducted directly between the presidential team and the livestock owners, without going through the local government.