‘NFC TO BE DEVELOPED MORE RESPONSIBLY’

We can breed nearly 400,000 cows, says Salahuddin

THE National Feedlot Centre (NFC) will continue to be developed in a more responsible manner, said Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Salahuddin Ayub.

He said NFC had 72 satellite farms with 7,000 heads of cattle being reared.

“The ministry under NFC is boosting permanent farms under ruminant products and cattle integration programme in oil palm estates, that are mostly owned by big companies with a total area of 1.4 million hectares.

“If we look back on NFC, we will not go anywhere.

“We must develop more responsibly.

“This is one of our plans that we must work on,” he told the Dewan Rakyat here.

“We can breed nearly 400,000 cows.

“This is the government’s medium- and long-term plan that is being worked on,” he said

He was replying to a supplementary question from Nurul Izzah Anwar (PH-Permatang Pauh) on the rationale of continuing the project.

Salahuddin said the ministry intended to conduct more constructive discussions with corporate companies involved in the project.

“We are confident that the government will give tax cuts and the target of achieving the 30 per cent meat supply will become a reality,” he said.

Replying to an original question from Dr Hasan Baharom (PH-Tampin), Salahuddin said meat supply would be sufficient in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidiladha next month.

He said the government had been preparing for the last three months and based on Department of Veterinary Services Malaysia statistics, 6,292 mosques and 18,101 surau would hold sacrifices and they needed 44,673 heads of cattle and 22,130 goats or sheep.

He said 50,125 heads of cattle, including 12,158 imported ones, would be supplied in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidiladha.

“I am confident that there will be enough supply.

“Don’t worry.

“I know there is concern after Australia suspended exports of livestock to Malaysia and the situation in Thailand is seeing reduced supply.”