BINTULU – Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Sarawak Campus (UPMKB) is the first public university to raise Balinese Cattle for the purpose of learning plantation management and research.

 

According to Dr. Zaidi Suif, Senior Agriculture Officer of UPMKB, the breeding of Balinese Cows began in 2011 for the purpose of diversifying cattle breeds for learning besides the Brahman and Fidlot breeds.

 

"At UPMKB we have 50 Balinese cattle and always continue breeding as they receive market response from outsiders to buy their breed and beef.

 

"The whole point is that the taste of its meat has its own fans. For example, in Indonesia they have their own Balinese beef market and are exported to Japan," he said.

 

Commenting further, Dr. Zaidi said this type of cow should always be approached and held as its original habitat is as wild as Seladang and has rugged characteristics such as weather-resistant, high humidity and resistant in terms of internal and external parasites.

 

"The way to tame it has to always be close to this cow like always holding this animal because when we rarely hold it, the Balinese cattle will be very wild.

 

"The bali cattles are also like deer when they feel the pressure and fear that these animals will just crash into what is around and can jump the fence," he said.

 

Therefore, Dr. Zaidi said the main thing to be concerned about when breeding Balinese Cattles is to make high fences to prevent these cattles from jumping out and damaging the crops.

 

In the meantime, UPMKB also offered short-term courses on Balinese Cattle Farming to the public and received encouraging response from the local community including participants from Kuching, Kabong, Sarikei, Saratok, Sibu, and Miri. –UPM