Prized cow: Paksu Mie with one of his ‘lembu Sado’ at Pantai Senok in Bachok, Kelantan. According to him, the gigantic size of the cow is an attraction not only because of its larger size compared to local cows, but also because it tastes better and more tender when cooked. — Bernama
BACHOK: During Hari Raya Aidiladha, some celebrants seek out a particularly impressive sacrifice: the “lembu sado”, which is a breed of cattle known for its size.Breeder Noraimi Hasan, 53, known as Paksu Mie, explains why these hefty bovines are a popular choice, despite their five-figure price tag.
“Size is definitely a key factor,” says Paksu Mie.
These cattle, he said, are prized for their meat as well.
Once cooked, it’s said to be more tender and flavourful than that of regular-sized local cattle.
He said two out of nine gigantic cows on his farm, each weighing more than 700kg and priced at almost RM11,000, have already been sold to buyers in Kota Baru to be sacrificed on Aidiladha, which falls on June 17.
“It is not uncommon for buyers to come looking for gigantic cattle to be sacrificed on Aidiladha as the bigger the cattle, the more meat it will have, other than the fact that it is indeed tastier.
“Normally, lembu sado is sold for about RM1,300 to RM1,500 per part, depending on its size. Since it is big, it needs at least eight men to bring it down for slaughtering,” he told Bernama when met at his house at Pantai Senok here.
Paksu Mie has been breeding these behemoths for six years now. He focuses on Charolais and Limousin breeds, which fetch a higher price than local cattle.
He started with a modest investment of RM4,000 to buy a Charolais cow and the business has grown steadily.
“In order to ensure that these cows continue to bear calves, we resort to artificial insemination.
“This procedure is done using semen imported from France and Ireland, with the help of the Veterinary Department,” he said.
Paksu Mie said he allocated around RM10 per day for each of his cattle to be given bran and grass in the morning and evening with the quantity depending on their size.
“Among the constraints of rearing this type of cattle are the high cost of food in addition to the risk of contracting foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease.
“To reduce the risk of this infection, I make sure that each cow or bull is injected with the FMD vaccine every three or four months which costs me around RM70,” he said.
A cattle buyer, Mohd Izwan Seman, 31, said it has been an annual routine for him for the past three years.
“I’ve made it a tradition to purchase a lembu sado during Aidiladha.
“Although the price is more expensive than local cattle, I think it is worth it because the meat is abundant and can be distributed to more people,” he said.
