During inspections to the ensure health of cows and goats on sale ahead of the Islamic sacrifice day, Idul Adha, the city administration officials found some animals suffering from stress or eye irritations, while others had not reached maturity.
But some of the city's husbandry and fishery subagencies assured that as of Wednesday, most animals physically met the health standards.
"We found no dangerous infectious diseases in any of the animals on sale across Central Jakarta," Dadang Suherman from the Central Jakarta husbandry, fishery and maritime agency told The Jakarta Post.
"Some of them look a bit stressed, but that is normal because they have traveled far. Along the way some were caught in the rain," he said, adding that the animals were mostly from East and Central Java.
"The animals are usually relieved of their stress a day after they arrive."
Eko Henry Witjaksono from the South Jakarta husbandry and fishery agency said the long journey could also cause eye irritations.
"It is not dangerous and we can still consume the meat. We have urged animals vendors to cure the irritations with eye ointment. We usually give out ointment samples for free," said Eko.
The agency conducts the inspections annually to ensure the animals are healthy, disease-free and safe for human consumption.
The inspection usually takes place at makeshift markets and slaughter houses across the city about seven to 10 days before Idul Adha, as well as on the day itself on Dec. 8.
Each of the five municipal husbandry agencies takes blood samples of animals to be examined at a laboratory and to be tested for diseases.
Besides checking for ill health, the administration also check the maturity of the animals.
Goats on sale should be at least 12 months old, while the minimum age for cows is two years," said Chaidir Taufiq from the West Jakarta husbandry agency.
"You can tell an animal's age by its teeth. A mature goat, for instance, has a square-shaped tooth (in the middle of its incisors) on its lower jaw, while an immature one has a cone-shaped tooth," he said.
He said the agency would isolate the immature animals.
"When we find sick goats or cows, we examine them at the laboratory and try to cure them if the disease is not dangerous to humans."
On Idul Adha, the agency will inspect animals at areas holding celebrations like mosques.
"It's a postmortem inspection. We will check the organs of the animals, like lungs, hearts and kidneys. If we find that a lung, for example, is not healthy, it shouldn't be consumed," Dadang said.
Students from the School of Veterinary Medicines at the Bogor Institute of Agriculture, Agriculture Ministry officials and veterinarians from the Indonesia Veterinarian Association will participate in the inspection, he said.
How to pick healthy cows and goats:
Checking animals is a must before buying them and taking them home to ensure their health and maturity.
- Pick fast-moving animals with clear and bright eyes.
- Check its eating habits. Healthy animals have good appetites.
- Check its nose and the area under its nose. If it is wet, it means the animal is healthy because its body temperature is normal.
- You shouldn't pick a goat or cow with a dry nose because it means that its body temperature is high, indicating a fever or disease.
- Check the back of the goat or cow to make sure that it doesn't suffer from diarrhea. If you find fluid feces at the back of the animal, it must be sick.
- Check the maturity of the animals. A mature goat no longer has baby teeth. Instead, it has a pair of square-shaped teeth (in the middle of its incisors) on its lower jaw, while the immature one has a cone-shaped tooth.
Source: Jakarta husbandry, fishery and maritime agency
