President Visits Cow Breeding Center in Tuban

Tuban, East Java (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the company of First Lady Ani Yudhoyono visited the Bumi Peternakan Wahyu Utama cow breeding center in Tuban District, East Java, on Thursday. Arriving at the center, which hosts 2,017 cows, the head of state spent time being briefed on the feeding system that fattens the cows, which has been in effect since 1992. The Bumi Peternakan Wahyu Utama cow breeding center in Sukolilo Village in Bancar Sub-District was established by Joko Utomo in 1992 with only five cows, which came from the Tuban Animal Husbandry Service. Since then, the business has continued to progress, with the number of cattle it owns increasing every year, going from 90 in 2002 to about 800 in 2010; and in 2013, it owned 2,017 heads of cattle. During the 45-minute trip to the center, President Yudhoyono and the first lady held a dialog with the cow breeders to discuss the price per cow, the credit afforded to the business, and methods of developing the business. President Yudhoyono's entourage during the visit comprised Culture and Education Minister Muhammad Nuh, Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto, State Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas Armida Alisjahbana, Communication and Information Minister Tifatul Sembiring, Industry Minister MS Hidayat, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Deputy Agriculture Minister Rusman Heriawan, and Deputy Religious Affairs Minister Nazarudin Umar. (*)