Some 1,498 heads of cattle which arrived at Bintulu Port yesterday will be driven to PPES Karabungan Farm in Miri and Kuching Abattoir.
BINTULU: A total of 1,498 head of cattle arrived safely at Bintulu Port yesterday after a 10-day journey from the PPES Ternak Sdn Bhd farm in Northern Territory Australia.
Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) general manager Soedirman Aini said the shipment was mainly to support the supply of live, fresh, clean, healthy and halal beef for the coming Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Qurban.
“With this we should be able to meet the demand for live animal and fresh beef for any festive occasion, particularly Hari Raya Qurban,” he told reporters while waiting to unload the cattle from the NV Nine Eagle which departed from Karumba Port Australia last July 14.
Also present were PPES Ternak Sdn Bhd general manager Aslansia Yahya and its senior marketing executive Artino Arshad.
He said this shipment was evidence that Sarawak had enough fresh beef supplied by SEDC to cater to various occasions.
SEDC obtained its supply of cattle for the local market from its 300,000 hectare cattle farm in Northern Territory Australia, said Soedirman.
“This farm is four times bigger than Singapore and with the capacity of 30,000 animals, the farm in Northern Territory has been the main supplier of cattle for Sarawak until now,” he said.
Soedirman assured that the price was competitive and they aim to ensure enough beef for the coming Aidilfitri and Qurban at a reasonable price.
“Three quarters of the animals will be distributed to Karabungan because we have our feedlot to fatten the animals, we have to get these animals in good shape after the long 10 days’ journey from Australia,” he added.
The cattle, comprising breeders and carling, would be distributed to PPES Karabungan Farm in Miri and Kuching Abattoir, said Aslansia Yahya.
He said booking for live animals and fresh beef could be made through PPES Ternak Kuching at 082-482015 and PPES Ternak Miri at 085-739317.
The cattle is priced from RM3,800 to RM7,220 per head based on weight.
Additionally, fresh beef can also be purchased at SEDC Sarabif outlest at Jalan Mersawa in Bintawa, Satok and Kubah Ria Complex in Kuching.
SEDC has been the main player in the livestock industry in Sarawak, after taking over the Karabungan Farm in Miri and Kuching Abattoir in Kuching from Majuternak in 1982.
SEDC has another 14,700 hectare cattle farm in Queensland Australia to supply to the Australian market.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/07/25/shipment-of-cattle-from-australia-arrives-in-bintulu/#ixzz21zc0LqZk
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Posted on July 14, 2012, Saturday
KUCHING:
Sarawak may become a beef exporter and be self sufficient in beef if
Sarawak SEDC took up the challenge of venturing into joint cattle
farming at oil palm plantations throughout the state. Deputy Chief
Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang hoped SEDC would
consider this possibility by forming smart partnership with plantation
big wigs such as Salcra, Felda, Felcra and other firms, including those
operated by individuals.
He said cattle could thrive and breed at
oil palm plantations, and that the meat would be safe, clean and healthy
if good agriculture practices were observed. “This is the time to
tap this new opportunity. It has been done in Selangor, so why
shouldn’t we try it in Sarawak? Through this, SEDC will not only become a
supplier of beef and beef products to the state, but will also be able
to export to the peninsula and abroad.
“My ministry will give its
support,” said Jabu, who is also Minister of Modernisation of
Agriculture, at the launch of ‘Beef Fest’ at Kubah Ria Complex
yesterday. Jabu told those present that Sarawak currently produced
1,170 metric tonnes of beef, but the amount of imported fresh and
frozen beef is 10,000 metric tonnes. Because of the high demand
for beef, he said the state government aimed to increase production of
local beef to 3,920 metric tonnes by 2015.
On the Agriculture
Department’s part, he said the department would implement various
programmes to increase the heads of cattle from 18,000 at present to
25,000 within the next three years. “The state government hopes to
achieve self sufficiency level in beef from eight percent at present to
40 percent in the very near future.”
On SEDC, he said it could be
a flagship company in cattle farming not just for the state but also
the entire nation. He noted that SEDC had already blazed the trail by
becoming the first Malaysian agency to have two cattle farms overseas –
at Rosewood Station in Northern Authority and Strathmere-Beardie
Aggregation in Queensland, Australia.
Jabu also dwelled on a
stigma associated with beef. He said that in reality eating fresh, clean
and healthy beef in the appropriate portion was beneficial to one’s
health. “Apart from protein, fresh beef also contains nutrients such as iron, zinc, vitamin B6 and B12, and omega-3 fatty acids.”
Meanwhile,
SEDC chairman Datuk Talib Zulpilip, who was also present, said the
corporation was mulling the possibility of buying cattle bred at
Salcra’s oil palm plantations. He said SEDC, which has 30 years of
experience in beef production, wanted to continue working closely with
the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture.
On the Beef Fest, he
said it was a two-day event to promote the eating of fresh beef.
Various programmes, including a talk on ‘Goodness of Beef’ and cooking
competitions, would be held at Kubah Ria Complex today. “We will
be offering discounts from 12 per cent to 23 per cent. Our beef is
certified fresh and halal, and cheaper than those at other places.”
Also
present yesterday were State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Amar
Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar, political secretary to the chief minister Abu
Seman Jahwie, Beting Maro assemblyman Razalli Gapor and SEDC general
manager Soedirman Aini.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)