Terengganu: Cattle farmers in Terengganu are reportedly having to import cattle from Thailand to meet high demand for this year's Hari Raya Aidiladha sacrificial ritual. A farmer, Mohd Rasol Ismail, 36, said the imported cattle have been brought in by stages since the start of the year due to a shortage of local supply.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohd Rasol mentioned that he received orders for 180 cattle for the sacrificial ritual, with most customers coming from non-governmental organisations, mosques, surau, and individuals in the state. He imported cattle from Thailand as his stock was insufficient to meet the demand.
He explained that the imported cattle are sold to customers only after being thoroughly inspected by the Department of Veterinary Services to ensure they are disease-free and meet the required standards. Most of the imported cattle are kept in holding pens for at least four months before being sold to ensure they are in good health and have reached sufficient weight.
Mohd Rasol noted that the imported cattle are high-quality breeds in strong demand in the market, such as KK Cross, Brahman, and Charolais. He began cattle farming during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. He also highlighted that the transport cost of importing cattle from the border has increased from RM220 per head last year to RM350 this year due to higher operating and logistics costs. Despite this, he is selling the cattle at last year's prices, ranging from RM4,500 to RM6,000 per head depending on their size and breed.
Mohd Rasol added that he sources cattle from local farmers in Terengganu, but the supply is still not enough to meet customer demand. Another farmer, Mohd Azuha Abd Rahman, 49, from Kampung Nyior, Paka, said he received orders for 300 cattle for this year's sacrificial ritual, forcing him to import cattle from Thailand as he only has 45 cattle reared locally for sale ahead of Hari Raya Aidiladha. He mentioned receiving a large number of orders for sacrificial cattle every year, including from customers in Pahang and Kedah.