Dean of the Faculty of Animal Sciences, Dr. DVM. Joko Prastowo, M.Sc., said that his Faculty supported the self-sufficiency of beef and buffalo meat launched by the government. According to the Dean, the veterinarians graduated from the faculty reached 4,707 alumni who spread throughout Indonesia and mostly been involved in the program to induce the animal to do mating and artificial insemination and treatment of reproductive disorders in cattle and buffalo. “The program is to ensure the animal protein need by the community,” said Joko before 177 new veterinarians sworn in on Monday (21/12), at Graha Sabha Pramana, UGM.
Self-sufficiency program in beef and buffalo meat launched by the government, according to Joko, need to involve the veterinarians. “Although the number of vessels to carry them is still very limited but this case still requires veterinary profession’s role in ensuring the quality of livestocks from the area of origin to destination,” he said.
According to Joko, cattle delivery through such ships must also consider animal welfare. “The principle of animal welfare should be considered,” he said.
In front of the new vets, Joko said that in addition to the program of self-sufficiency in beef and buffalo meat, the vet should think of becoming more involved in the field of poultry. “Currently, the poultry has grown very rapidly and become one of the pillars of the economy. It becomes one of the potential job sectors for veterinary professionals,” he said.
To reporters, Joko said that the Faculty itself has recently involved in the success of government programs for animal mating inducement and artificial insemination and reproductive disorders mentoring program. To assist this movement, said Joko, the Faculty instructed him to conduct the program in Yogyakarta, Central Java, Lampung, Bengkulu and Riau.
Chairman of the Executive Board of the Indonesian Veterinary Medical Association (PB IVMA), Dr. DVM. Heru Setijanta, on the same occasion congratulated the newly appointed veterinarians. He expects the veterinarians to work in accordance with the profession. According to the man, the vet should be able to uphold and respect the code of ethics guidelines of veterinary profession as a noble profession. “As a veterinarian, veterinary personnel shall comply with the code that has been conducted, the oath and the promise of their profession. Always keep the moral and ethics, as well as the attitude to solve problems in the profession according to the rules and regulations on scientific profession,” he explained.
At the inauguration, as many as 177 new veterinarians were sworn in with an average study period of 6 years and 6 months. The youngest veterinarian, Anabella Purnama Firdausyia, graduated at the age of 21 years and 11 months old, while the best Grade Point Average (GPA) is achieved by Vista Budiarti who earned a GPA of 3.94.