Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Indonesia will raise its imports quota for feeder cattle by 184,000 head this year in a move aimed at boosting the domestic livestock industry.
Initially set at 300,000 head for 2025, the feeder cattle quota is being expanded to support the local economy, said Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs in Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan, widely known as Zulhas.
“I’ve said, if we’re focusing on feeder cattle, let’s lift the quota altogether. There’s no need to restrict it anymore if our goal is to support cattle fattening,” Zulhas told reporters following a meeting on the 2025 commodity balance sheet at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs in Jakarta, Friday (May 16).
In contrast, imports of frozen buffalo meat will be slashed by half, from 200,000 metric tons to 100,000 tons. Meanwhile, the quota for frozen beef imports will remain at 180,000 tons for the year.
Zulhas argued that frozen meat imports offer little economic value compared to feeder cattle, which create ripple effects throughout the agricultural sector. “Frozen meat has no added value. It’s bought frozen abroad, arrives here frozen, and is sold straight to the market, often cheaper than locally raised beef,” he said.
Read Also:
Indonesia’s Decision to Halt Rice Imports has Contributes to Global Price Drop
The government’s decision to focus on feeder cattle imports is intended to benefit domestic farmers and prevent local livestock producers from going bankrupt. The imported feeder cattle, still young and small, will be raised by local farmers for six to twelve months before entering the market.
“This process involves many people, from cattle farmers to grass growers to corn producers,” said Zulhas.
“Feeder cattle are brought in young, fattened here, and that creates jobs for hundreds of thousands of people. They need feed, they need corn, they need grass, it adds real economic value. That’s why we’re relaxing those imports. If there’s more feeder cattle coming in, there will be more farmers and more livestock businesses involved. So the frozen imports must be kept in check,” he emphasized.
The minister reiterated that controlling frozen meat imports is key to protecting local producers, while the feeder cattle initiative supports job creation and strengthens Indonesia’s food security system.
(Raidi/Agung)
