Livestock Sector Needs New Strategies, Approaches To Face Major Challenges

KUCHING, June 5 (Bernama) -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) livestock industry needs new strategies and approaches to face the major challenges, said President of Malaysian Society of Animal Production (MSAP), Dr Abu Hassan Muhammad Ali.

Abu Hassan said the industry faced the challenges not only to increase output but also to strengthen competitiveness while managing risks, so that there would be sustainable growth.

He said the industry should explore various options, innovations and experiences that had been accumulated within the region and other developed nations.

"The application of scientific knowledge, research and value innovations should be emphasised to increase production, quality and higher value along the value chain," he said at the 1st Asean Regional Conference on Animal Production 2014 here Thursday.

Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister, Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, represented Chief Minister, Tan Sri Adenan Satem, to officiate the three-day conference starting today.

Abu Hassan said the global livestock industry faced numerous challenges, among them, the transfer of livestock technologies generated by researches.

"The MSAP believes that there are opportunities and options that can be explored together by all players of the industry from Asean.

He said the Malaysian livestock industry has grown significantly with the total ex-farm value of livestock products of RM14.1 billion in 2013, of which 76 per cent was contributed by the poultry sub-sector (RM7 billion) and eggs (RM3.6 billion).

Abu Hassan said consumption of livestock products in Malaysia has shown a steady increase with rapid growth of the economy and rising income.

"Malaysia relies heavily on the import of live animals, beef, mutton and dairy products to meet the demand for domestic consumption and the processing industry.

"Imports of these products mainly come from traditional sources such as India, Australia and New Zealand," he said.

He said Malaysia has to enhance its beef production so that the country would be able to meet at least 50 per cent of its requirements and not overly-dependent on imported beef.