REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Ministry of Agriculture will encourage the development of cattle breeding on Madura Island, East Java, as it has the potential to become a cattle breeding center in the country.

Agriculture Minister Suswono said here on Friday that cow production in Madura was the highest among other regions in Indonesia, now reaching 803 cows.

The cattle population in Madura is equal to that in West and East Nusa Tenggara (NTIB/NTT), which has been known as cattle breeding centers in Indonesia.

"This (potential) is interesting. We will develop Madura as a cattle island," the minister said, when explaining the results of his visit to Madura, East Java, while accompanying President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who participated in a maize harvest in Montok Village, Larangan Subdistrict, Pamekasan District.

Minister Suswono said that one of the islands in Madura, which has a cattle population exceeding the number of local residents, was Sapudi isle. The isle has 50 thousand cattle, while the number of local residents was only 40 thousand.

Therefore, he said, if there are potential areas on Madura island, his ministry will boost the development of the areas as cattle breeding centers.

Further, Suswono said he was convinced that Madura could become the main supplier of national cattle needs or exports, since the weight of cows in Madura can reach 700 kg each.

"Moreover, Madura cows are products of interbreeding between local cows and Limousine cows (from Australia), usually called Madrasin cows, which have good quality," the minister said.

The minister added that 80 percent of 549 thousand cows needed for breeding were imported from Australia.