By Balqis Fadhullah Lim and Nurul Hidayanti Sudirman, PNA / Bernama and U.S. News Agency / Asian

A stricter export policy under Australia’s Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System has affected the supply of cattle for the Aidiladha sacrificial ritual this year.

Azizan Omar, 48, owner of livestock farm PB Ramunia in Batu Pahat, Johor, said he could only supply about 200 goats this year compared to 500 last year.

“I have been informed by livestock sellers that a new export policy of Australia prohibits export to buyers without proper abattoir facilities.

“Even though I could import the animals from neighbouring countries such as Thailand and Indonesia, they too have their own problems and they give priority to their local buyers,” he said.

Apart from that, he said, only abattoirs that had been audited and approved by Meat & Livestock Australia were allowed to slaughter such imported animals.

He said the ruling had also affected mosques, associations and individuals as they could not obtain the certificate or approval to carry out the slaughter.

Gombak Agro Farm operator Noor Azzuddin Abdul Aziz said the prices of livestock had also soared, by between 40 and 45 per cent due to the short supply.

He said a cow previously sold at RM2,500 could cost RM5,000 while the prices of goats ranged from RM600 to RM5,000 according to the size of the animals.

Noor Azzuddin said he supplied about 400 cattle and 800 goats for Aidiladha this year.

Ishak Hassan, 52, manager of the Ishak Hassan Farm in Seremban, said he decided to skip doing the business this year due to the problems in the market.