ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – Hundreds of imported cattle from Australia reportedly died while on their way to Indonesia.
Acting Deputy for Animal Quarantine, Indonesian Quarantine Agency, Wisnu Waisa Putra, said that thousands of cattle from Australia were imported using the Brahman Express ship bound for Lampung and North Sumatra.
“Lampung’s destination is docking and unloading on March 20 2024, with a total of 939 head, then North Sumatra’s destination is docking and unloading on March 24 2024 with a total of 2,393 head,” explained Wisnu in a press statement ‘Importing Cattle from Australia, Indonesian Quarantine Agency’, Thursday, March 28 2024.
He said, of the total 939 heads destined for Lampung, 1 died on March 23 2024 due to broken bones. Thus, the total number of live cattle entering Lampung is 938 head.
The cows then entered the Animal Quarantine Installation (IKH) from March 20 2024 until now. Then, of the total 2,393 head of cattle destined for North Sumatra, 8 heads were reported to have died on the ship, so the number of cattle entering IKH North Sumatra was 2,385 head.
On March 27 2024, 1 cow was reported to have died after entering IKH with clinical symptoms of seizures and samples were taken for botulism testing by the North Sumatra Animal, Fish and Plant Quarantine Center (BBKHIT) for testing in collaboration with the Medan Veterinary Center (BVet) . Testing takes 5-7 days.
According to Vishnu, the death of the cow on the ship was thought to be caused by botulism. This disease is caused by the textin of the Clostridium botulinum bacteria which contaminates livestock feed and drink. This disease can cause death in cattle with clinical symptoms of paralysis due to nervous disorders or paralysis. This disease is not a quarantine animal pest (HPHK).
On the other hand, Wisnu said that the number of cow deaths received by the Indonesian Quarantine Agency at the port was different from the information received from the Australian government.
The Australian government reported that 151 cows died on the ship, while information at the port recorded that 8 cows died on the ship.
“We want to get clear information from the 151 individuals that DOV reported to us,” he said.
A spokesperson for the Australian Livestock Exporters Council previously confirmed that at least 100 cattle died en route to Indonesia.
An exporter using the Brahman Express vessel informed the Australian government about the incident.
“The initial assumption is that this is a case of botulism, with the affected animals coming from one farm,” said the council, reported by Bloomberg, Tuesday, March 26 2024.
A spokesperson for the Australian Livestock Exporters Council said efforts were being made to care for other animals that may have been infected by the outbreak. (ATN)
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