Grass the cheapest option for feeding cattle

AS a veterinarian in government service, I successfully implemented in the late 1970s a project to fatten six- to nine-month-old calves to the marketable age of about 18 months old through contract farming in Kampung Parit Buloh, Tampin, Negri Sembilan. The project was carried out to supplement the income of farmers in the kampung and every family was given a calf for fattening.

The kampung was located near an oil palm estate. The farmers took turns to take the calves to graze in the estate in the morning and bring them back in the evening.

When the calves were 18 months old, they were sold. The farmers received the money from the proceeds of the sale after deducting the initial cost of the calves.

Every farmer earned not less than RM1,000 in profit, which was quite a lot back then.

Unlike rubber estates where the canopy of the trees completely blocks out the sunlight and there is hardly a blade of grass on the ground beneath, the planting interval and nature of the palm fronds encourage the growth of grass between the rows of palm trees.

The grazing cattle fertilises the soil in the oil palm estate through their droppings and urine.

Palm kernel cakes command a higher price when exported to Europe for winter feeding of cattle, hence it is in scarce supply locally. Grains such as soya bean and maize are costly and supply may be affected by unpredictable weather. In any case, there is no guarantee on the good quality of grains as the countries producing these will keep the best for their own livestock industry. Grass is therefore cheapest option for feeding cattle here.

M. GANESHADEVA Kuala Lumpur