April 11, 2022

Cattle breeding centre in development to boost beef self-sufficiency in Sabah, Malaysia

Sawit Kinabalu Group is developing an integrated cattle breeding centre in Sabah, Malaysia, with an expectation that the facility would increase the Malaysian state's self-sufficiency level for beef in the next four years.

The facility is being built in Balung, Tawau.

Sawit Kinabalu’s group managing director, Datuk Bacho Jansie, said the RM47 million (US$11 million) project is targeted to raise the livestock population farmed by the state government investment arm from about 15,000 to about 50,000.

"Sawit Kinabalu has long been involved in cattle farming (under subsidiary Sawit Kinabalu Farm Products Sdn Bhd)," Janise told reporters. "We see a huge potential — for Sawit Kinabalu to seriously immerse itself in the effort to grow the halal beef production business, it needs to expand to 40,000 or 50,000 heads of cattle for the purpose of commercialisation.

"To achieve this target, Sawit Kinabalu must provide the animals with a quality but low-cost diet."

He said among the corporation's efforts to provide animal feeds are the cultivation of Napier grass, with the first phase involving a total planted area of about 400 hectares, the processing of cattle feed from coconuts and oil palm leaves as well as tapioca cultivation.

According to Janise, the beef produced using the halal concept will be channeled to the local market in view of Sabah currently importing as much as 95% of its beef requirements.

"In order to increase the cow population swiftly, we may import 1,000 or 2,000 heads of cattle from Australia," he added.

- Daily Express