Slamet Susanto, Yogyakarta – People's decreasing purchasing power as a result of the downturn in the economy and increases in the prices of staple foods has affected demand for livestock ahead of Idul Adha (Islamic Day of Sacrifice), which falls on Sept. 24.

"Last year, I was getting orders a month before Idul Adha. That wasn't the case this year," said Ilham Jayadi, the chairman of the Beef Traders Association (PPDS) in Bantul regency, Yogyakarta, Segoroyo. Ilham blamed the faltering economy for the increasing prices of daily necessities.

He said the price of sacrificial livestock had also increased. Last year, one head of cattle could be purchased for about Rp 12 million (US$857) but now one costs Rp 17 million to Rp 50 million.

"It's difficult to predict demands for sacrificed bulls, but we predict there will be a decrease," he said.

Local goat breeder Supriyadi told a similar story. "Every year I receive orders for at least 100 goats. Now I feel lucky if get orders for 25," said the father of two.

Besides blaming the sluggish economy for the lower demand, Supriyadi also pointed to a law banning government institutions from distributing sacrificial animals.

He was referring to Law No., 23/2014, which stipulates that social aid recipients must be legal entities, among other things. As a consequence, government institutions can no longer distribute sacrificial animals.

"This year, no meat from sacrificial cattle will be distributed to the people," said the head of Gunungkidul regency administration's people's welfare division, Bambang Sukemi.

Previously, his office always distributed at least one goat to each of the 144 subdistricts in Gunungkidul, paid for with state money.

Haryadi of Panggungharjo, Sewon district, Bantul regency, said during times of economic hardship like now, he could not think of sacrificing livestock for Idul Adha.

He said that in previous years, people in his neighborhood unit usually jointly bought four bulls and some goats for the Day of Sacrifice, but could not afford to do so this year.

Besides Yogyakarta, livestock traders in other areas have also complained about slow sales as a result of economic hardship.

Livestock traders in Bengkulu claimed that their sales had dropped almost 50 percent along with the decrease in prices of commodities.

Dardiri, one of the traders, said he sold 200 head of cattle and 600 goats last year, while so far this year he had sold only 100 bulls and 40 goats.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/09/10/demand-livestock-decreases-due-economic-hardship.html