(DONE: Participants with pictures of memories after finishing the course)

PUTRA AGRICULTURAL CENTRE (PAC), Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Sarawak Campus (UPMKB) had organized a Fidlot Cattle Farming Course on 8 October. The course was held at the Putra Agricultural Centre Office, UPMKB (Theory) and Fidlot Cattle Unit (Practical) from 8 am to 5 pm.

A total of 29 participants from various districts in Sarawak (Bintulu, Miri, Sibu, Serian, Kuching, Sri Aman, Betong, Bintangor, Sarikei, Matu, Julau, Ba' Kelalan) apart from Johor and Penang comprising government officials, government pensioners, managing directors, breeders, and livestock farmers and self-employed participated in this course.

Senior Agriculture Officer of Putra UPMKB Agricultural Centre Dr Zaidi Suif when contacted explained that the course was to provide exposure to the participants on the potential of fidlot cattle breeding as well as comparison with the semi-intensive and extensive breeding system.

Emphasis is placed on the method of selection of cattle for fidlots, feed management and livestock records. The practical exposure on the handling of fidlot cows and the basics of drio health management was conducted by Zaidi himself as well as Dr Carlina Freddie Simol @ Rachellynna who is experienced in the field with the help of Ishyak Dollah and Nazri Ali.

Deputy Director of PAC UPMKB, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Amy Halimah Rajaee also added that the program has received encouraging response and hopes that the knowledge transfer session will produce more livestock entrepreneurs in the country. The production of ruminants in Sarawak is still very low with a beef self-sufficiency level of 12 percent in 2021. With the strong support and intervention of the government as well as the combined efforts and dedication of all stakeholders involved, the future prospects for the industry are bright.

According to him, this course is one of a series of courses planned in 2022 in the realization of the University4Society program through the Agricultural Technology Transfer Course and agricultural development with the general public. Meat cattle farming has bright potential in Malaysia where the country is still at a low level (the self-sufficiency rate is only about 25 percent). Therefore, there is still wide space for entrepreneurs to venture into this field of animal husbandry..

The Putra Agricultural Centre UPMKB hopes that such cooperation can be continued with the Department of Veterinary Services and other agencies and would like to thank Yngwie Cheng, Jega Jantai, Norbaya Che Rus, Josephine Jawai Makos, Noor Irawati Ahmad, Renee Sherna, Benedict Miden and all parties involved directly or indirectly.

Our appreciation is also extended to the Director of UPMKB Campus, Prof. Dr. Shahrul Razid Sarbini for always supporting the organization of such courses.

Date of Input: 24/11/2022 | Updated: 25/11/2022 | lanz