Kentucky-based Alltech Biotechnology has high hopes for Thailand's livestock industry in targeting a robust growth rate of 25% in sales turnover this year.

 

Despite the sluggish global economy and the local political unrest, the Office of Agriculture Economics is confident the Thai livestock industry this year would expand on track, in a range of 2.8% and 3% from 2009.

 

The bright prospects for the industry, coupled with the increasingly important role of the country in meat production and exports, bode well for innovations and technologies in livestock-related industries, according to Mongkol Kaewsutas, the company's business general manager.

 

"Thailand is among the world's top five chicken exporters with 390,000 tonnes. The country is also the biggest exporting country of shrimp products," he said.

 

Sales of Alltech in Thailand are projected at US$10.5 million this year, rising substantially along with the expansion of the local meat production, which is estimated at 10 million tonnes, mainly from the poultry, pigs, and cattle.

 

The high projection is also set for 76 worldwide operations of Alltech, which is expected to gross about US$500 million this year.

 

"Alltech pins its hopes on gaining a US$1-per-tonne share from the 650 million tonnes of meat produced globally," Dr Mongkol said.

 

The company has done research on yeast and natural enzyme technologies to develop natural feed supplements that help farmers raise healthy animals, increase reproduction efficiency, and replace traditional additives which are prohibited in the Thai livestock industry.

 

The company supplies its products to leading feed and meat producers including CP and Betagro groups, as well as small farms across the country.

 

According to Dr Mongkol, Asia's livestock industries have been growing substantially, especially those of China, India, Russia, and Vietnam, drawing huge potential for the company.

 

Approximately 100 million tonnes of meat were produced in China alone last year, with high growth expected.

 

In Vietnam, the production of livestock has increased markedly over the past decade, from two million tonnes in 2000 to 3.3 million in 2007, representing a 7.5% annual increase on average.

 

As well, Vietnam's livestock business has been expanding significantly to cope with rising local meat consumption, which is at a high level of about 40 kilogrammes per head per year.

 

"The 18% increase of the exhibition area from the previous event to 15,000 square metres reflects the strong performance of the livestock business," said Teerayuth Leelakajornkit, senior project manager of NCC Exhibition Organiser Co, organiser of VIV Asia 2011.