The Livestock Office of East Nusa Tenggara Province reported that in 2023, the province, known for its islands, sent out 66,163 cattle, falling short of the 74,941 target. The decrease is attributed to challenges posed by the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). In comparison to 2022, when 74,880 cattle were sent against a target of 82,054, 2023 saw a further decline to 74,941. Shipments reached various provinces, including West Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Sumatra, and West Nusa Tenggara. Supply origins within NTT included Kupang, Timor Tengah Selatan (TTS), Timor Tengah Utara (TTU), Malaka, Belu, Sumba Timur, and parts of Flores.
The majority of cattle originated from the eastern part of NTT, particularly Kupang, TTS, TTU, Malaka, and Belu. Notably, regulations under Governor's Regulation No.52 of 2023 control the annual quota-based export of large livestock, such as cattle, horses, and buffaloes, from NTT. Chief of Agribusiness and Institutional Affairs, Edy Djuma, emphasized that only adult male cattle weighing 275 kg per head are eligible for export, with a ban on female cattle to sustain local production. The livestock exportation process aligns with these criteria and is crucial for the ongoing production of cattle in the region, contributing to the wider Indonesian livestock market dynamics.
