The impact of religious festival on roadside livestock traders in urban and peri-urban areas of Yogyakarta, Indonesia

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Eid al-Adha is one of the most important festivals celebrated by Muslims in Indonesia. Roadside livestock traders open their stalls during the Eid al-Adha period. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics and behaviors of roadside livestock traders in urban and peri-urban areas in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In-depth interviews with 36 roadside livestock traders were conducted on August 7-23, 2018 in urban (n=20) and peri-urban (n=16) areas of Yogyakarta. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive and statistical analysis using one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: The results indicate that the trading activities of roadside livestock traders in urban areas last longer (p<0.05) than in peri-urban areas. No difference was found in the opening day of stalls, the number of buyers, and trends in animal prices set by roadside livestock traders in urban and peri-urban areas. Most traders sell sheep and goats, buy livestock at the animal market, and only open their stalls during Eid al-Adha. Prices are high in this period, and buyers directly visit the stalls. A significant difference exists in the selling price of livestock between Eid al-Adha and ordinary days (non-festival), and most roadside traders benefit from the Eid al-Adha momentum. CONCLUSION: Significant similarities exist among roadside livestock traders during the Eid al-Adha period in urban and peri-urban areas of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Sheep are more desirable than goats and cattle in this period, and Eid al-Adha generates a high profit for roadside livestock traders.