Public told to buy only certified livestock

Public told to buy only certified livestock

JAKARTA (JP): The head of the Jakarta Husbandry office, Edi
Setiarto, called on the public on Sunday to make sure that the
cows and goats to be sacrificed in celebration of the March 5
Idul Adha Islamic Day of Sacrifice are certified.

He said certificates of health for livestock were issued by
husbandry offices to signify that cows, goats, sheep and oxen on
sale were free from contagious diseases, including the deadly
anthrax disease.

Edi said his office had checked cattle ready for sale at
markets in Tanah Abang, Mampang, Cakung and Pulogadung
subdistricts and would inspect livestock to be slaughtered on
Idul Adha before and after killing.

"There have been no indications of disease in any of the
livestock since the West Java administration supplied vaccination
for animals being sent to Jakarta," he was quoted by Antara
during an interview.

He further said that hundreds of his employees were
cooperating with the Veterinary Medicine Department of the Bogor
Institute of Agriculture (IPB) and would be deployed to help the
committees observe Idul Adha livestock to be slaughtered.

"If our men have yet to appear on D-day, please contact the
mayoralty husbandry office," he said.

The measures are being taken to allay fears of the spread of
anthrax, which is caused by the Bacillus anthracis bacterium. At
least 20 people were infected with the disease in an outbreak in
Hambalang village, Bogor, West Java, last month.

The disease is spread through direct skin contact, consumption
of infected animals or anthrax-contaminated air.

Anthax-contaminated meat can be identified by blackened blood
similar to tar. The spleen of an infected animal is also swollen.
The meat has a bad odor and will spoil rapidly, Edi explained.
(bby)