How EasyWean® works in Oil Palm Estate

The use of cattle as a biological agent for weed control in oil palm plantations allows the establishment of a harmonious relationship between cattle, the undergrowth and oil palm trees. This relationship has resulted in reduction in the cost of weeding using chemicals by 40 to 70%, optimum beef production and optimal land use.

Most plantation adopt natural breeding due to nature of the cattle grazing in a vast land under oil plant. The study shows that the calving rate are lest than 50%. Therefore we are studying method on how to improve the calving rate especially when in involve Brahman cattle. One of the estate in Sarawak is using easywean method and found to be an effective management tools to improve the calving rate and reduce stress.

EasyWean® noserings provide an alternative to the stress inducing practice of separating young from their mothers during the weaning period.

Easywean® noserings allow the calf or lamb to stay with it's mother and mob whilst still being effective at weaning the animal.

The reason why EasyWean® works is twofold. Firstly the calf is less able to access the teat with a nosering flopping around in front of its mouth. Secondly the cow is made uncomfortable with the calf’s persistent attempts, with the spikes causing her to move away from the calf. As a result the lactation is supressed but the calf does not suffer the usual growth setback at weaning caused by separation and emotional stress.

Brahman Cattle Integration With Tree Crop

Brahman cattle were seen grazing freely at one of the Oil Palm estate in Sarawak using electric fencing to control the animal.

Integrating cattle into oil palm plantations utilises existing agricultural land without requiring the opening up of new areas. At present,the management by using paddock rotation so that cattle are brought to the original paddock only once in every 90 days. This rotation will ensure that enough time has elapsed for the vegetation to return to normal and for the cow dung to fully decompose, be converted to fertiliser and taken up by
the crop. Since each paddock is subjected to trampling only once in 3 months no significant damage is done to the farm in the way of soil compaction.

The initiative will be two-pronged. One is to expand cattle population to meet the national target of 1.49 million head by 2010. The other is to increase farm productivity and farm family income.

Cattle are introduced into oil palm plantations after the palms are 5 years old and can remain until the oil palm is fully mature. When the palm reaches 20 years of age, the vegetation will be reduced, so accordingly, the density of cattle should also be reduced. The recommended stocking rate is 1 cow in 4 ha of the oil palm plantation.

Organic Fertilizer

Cattle dungs for the production of organic fertilizer.

Cattle Feedlot in Serian

One of our hardcore poor eradication project using male Brahman Cross

Brahman Cattle in the Oil Palm Plantation

Brahman Cattle grazing in the Oil Palm Estate control by the electric fencing.