BLITAR – A giant Simmental cow owned by a farmer in Blitar has been selected by President Prabowo Subianto as part of this year’s Eid al-Adha sacrificial animal assistance program.
The lucky owner, 59-year-old Nasir from Jeblog Village in Talun District, received the news after presidential staff approved the purchase of his prized cattle for Rp 100 million, or around $6,000.
Nasir’s son, Aziz Yasir Naufal, played a key role in connecting the family’s livestock to the presidential selection process. He registered his father’s cow through contacts linked to the presidential team and local livestock authorities.
“My father and I raise large cattle every year, including cows weighing more than one ton. We never planned to submit one for presidential assistance,” Naufal said on Thursday.
“A friend offered to help connect us with the related offices so the cow could join the presidential selection,” he added.
Officials from the Blitar Livestock and Fisheries Agency later visited Nasir’s home to inspect the Simmental cow directly. The team measured the animal’s height, body length, and weight while also checking its health condition.
The cow reportedly weighs around 1,000 kilograms, making it one of the largest candidates proposed by the Blitar administration for the national Eid al-Adha program.
Naufal explained that the Blitar government submitted two cattle candidates to the central selection team. Last week, presidential staff contacted the family to negotiate the final purchase price.
“I felt nervous while waiting for confirmation. I kept contacting the livestock office to ask whether my father’s cow had passed the selection,” he said.
The negotiation process moved quickly after both sides agreed on the Rp 100 million valuation. Naufal said raising large cattle requires strict feeding management and high production costs.
He explained that oversized cattle need carefully measured nutrition to maintain healthy weight growth and avoid physical problems.
“Large cows require controlled feed with low concentrate levels. If the concentrate is too high, the animal can develop leg problems,” Naufal explained.
The family mainly feeds the cow dry grass instead of fermented mixed feed. That feeding method helps maintain the animal’s health and body structure.
The Simmental cow, named Sadewa, remains under special care while awaiting delivery for the Eid al-Adha sacrifice program.
The selection has brought pride and excitement to residents in Jeblog Village, where locals see the achievement as a rare honor for a small-scale cattle farmer.