Sarawak moots integrated farming route to becoming beef hub

KUCHING, June 5 — The Sarawak government is mulling cooperating with oil palm estates for an integrated farming system to increase cattle population in the state with the goal of becoming a net exporter of beef.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu said Sarawak has over 400,000 hectares are suitable for cattle integration projects. But so far only about 80,000 hectares with about 10,500 cattles were being used for that purpose.

“To increase the cattle population, the Sarawak government would be focusing on the integrated farming system with oil palm plantations. The potential is there and I would like to work with oil palm estates,” Jabu told reporters after officiating at the First Asean Regional Conference on Animal Production (ARCAP) 2014 here today.

Jabu who is also the state Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, said assuming that five hectares could support one adult cattle for one year, then the 400,000 hectares of oil palm plantations in Sarawak alone has the potential of supporting more than 80,000 heads of cattle.

“If all the oil palm plantations practice this integrated farming maybe Sarawak can even be a net exporter of beef,” he added.

Jabu added that the state’s agricultural waste and residue could provide an alternative supply for livestock feed.

He also advised farmers in the state to be more knowledgeable and keep abreast with the latest technologies and development of agricultural practices as consumers are becoming more selective, demand high quality and safer food.

From The Malay Mail Online.

Good potential for cattle farming in Sarawak

The State Government should not go into cattle farming in oil palm plantation before making a thorough study of the suitability of such a project according to

State Assemblywoman, Violet Yong.

Deputy Chief Minister, Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, who is also the Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture had stated last Saturday that there is money in cattle farming as the SEDC would consider the possibility of forming smart partnership with Salcra, Felda, Felcra and other firms.

"I am all for development and the outcome of any development that would benefit the people of Sarawak. But before implementation, the State must be responsible and ensure that there is transparency of the findings of the project before embarking on it blindly. I am sure we do not want a Sarawak cowgate issue," she said.

Violet said if the cattle farming is restricted to farming, the Opposition would support it but definitely, the investment should not go into buying of condo or buying of luxury cars or for certain people's vacation.

She said in 2005 when the then DCM, Tan Sri George Chan was holding the position of Modernization of Agriculture, he had also mentioned cattle farming but it appeared that it was only hot air.

Violet said in a finding done by Unimas students in 2008 that any cattle rearing on oil palm plantation should take into consideration of benefit of livestock intergration on the soil, crop and livestock productivity. The findings from Unimas stated that, "There are urgent needs to continue to explore the potential of livestock-oil palm intergration system in the area," 

My Kampung My Future

My Kampung My Future project in Gedong. Current population 28 heads of cattle.

Bali Cattle in Sarawak

Bali Cattle bred well in one of the farm in Sarawak. This breed can adapt well and very suitable as well as hardy to the local climate here.

The farm located not far from Serian town is belongs to Mr Sunny Kon. The current population is 100 heads.

Cattle For Poverty Eradication

Cattle were given to participant of the poverty eradication programme in Serian, Sarawak, Malaysia. The assistance given worth RM10,000 for this programme.

Cattle integration with oil palm at Mongkos estate.

Cattle integration with oil palm at Mongkos estate.

Cattle From Sawit Kinabalu

The beef cattle - oil palm integratioHome » Our Business » Integrated Cattle Farming

INTEGRATED CATTLE FARMING

Sawit breeds Brahman cattle into its estate for resources optimization, partial biological- weeds control mechanism and beef production. It envision to be the leading cattle and beef producer in Sabah through integrated, sustainable and environmentally friendly approach with stringent guidelines from MPOB and Department of Veterinary Services and Animal Industry (DOVSAI). The nucleus breeding herd comprising of pure Brahman bulls and it cross- breed breeders were imported from Australia with certification from Australian Brahman Breeders Association.

Address and Contact information:

P.O. Box No. 60211
KM 1 1/2, Silam Road,
91111 Lahad Datu, Sabah

Tel: +6089-951725
Fax: +6089-951024

• Oil Palm Plantation
• Palm Oil Mill
• Palm Oil Industrial Cluster
• Refined Products
• Research Laboratory
• Tissue Culture Lab
• Seeds Production
• Integrated Cattle Farming

nThe beef cattle - oil palm integration system (BCOPI) is essentially an agro-ecosystem which involves three subsystems: oil palm trees, beef cattle and forage production under oil palm. The beef cattle breeds most suitable for integration are the Kedah-Kelantan, Brakmas and Brahman-Kedah-Kelantan crosses. The cattle are allowed to graze the undergrowth below the oil palm trees on a rotational basis using portable electric fences to control the animals. The practice of rotational grazing is not only to control the weeds biologically but also to prevent deleterious effects of over grazing thus ensuring a long term continuous supply of feed to the animal. The grazing practice adopted is to graze the cattle herd (cow-calf) in a 20 ha paddock for one or two days and then move the herd to the adjacent paddock when the forage cover above the ground is about 15 cm. The cattle herd will come back to the grazed paddock after 60 - 80 days allowing enough time for the forage to recover and to be a good source of feed for the cattle. BCOPI offers an alternative to the open pasture system that has been viewed to be non-economical in this country. BCOPI is an attractive low cost production system that has great potential for economical beef production in Malaysia. system (BCOPI) is essentially an agro-ecosystem which involves three subsystems: oil palm trees, beef cattle and forage production under oil palm. The beef cattle breeds most suitable for integration are the Kedah-Kelantan, Brakmas and Brahman-Kedah-Kelantan crosses. The cattle are allowed to graze the undergrowth below the oil palm trees on a rotational basis using portable electric fences to control the animals. The practice of rotational grazing is not only to control the weeds biologically but also to prevent deleterious effects of over grazing thus ensuring a long term continuous supply of feed to the animal. The grazing practice adopted is to graze the cattle herd (cow-calf) in a 20 ha paddock for one or two days and then move the herd to the adjacent paddock when the forage covThe beef cattle - oil palm integration system (BCOPI) is essentially an agro-ecosystem which involves three subsystems: oil palm trees, beef cattle and forage production under oil palm. The beef cattle breeds most suitable for integration are the Kedah-Kelantan, Brakmas and Brahman-Kedah-Kelantan crosses. The cattle are allowed to graze the undergrowth below the oil palm trees on a rotational basis using portable electric fences to control the animals. The practice of rotational grazing is not only to control the weeds biologically but also to prevent deleterious effects of over grazing thus ensuring a long term continuous supply of feed to the animal. The grazing practice adopted is to graze the cattle herd (cow-calf) in a 20 ha paddock for one or two days and then move the herd to the adjacent paddock when the forage cover above the ground is about 15 cm. The cattle herd will come back to the grazed paddock after 60 - 80 days allowing enough time for the forage to recover and to be a good source of feed for the cattle. BCOPI offers an alternative to the open pasture system that has been viewed to be non-economical in this country. BCOPI is an attractive low cost production system that has great potential for economical beef production in Malaysia.er above the ground is about 15 cm. The cattle herd will come back to the grazed paddock after 60 - 80 days allowing enough time for the forage to recover and to be a good source of feed for the cattle. BCOPI offers an alternative to the open pasture system that has been viewed to be non-economical in this country. BCOPI is an attractive low cost production system that has great potential for economical beef production in Malaysia.