Livestock breeding an important industry

Congratulating the organising committee of the Malaysian Society of Animals Production Conference, themed “Bridging Technology Gap for ASEAN Animals Production”, for holding the conference in Kuching, he said this was a noble effort of the Society because animal production was an important industry, not only in ASEAN region but throughout the world.

“Today’s conference is timely in that animal production is plagued by issues like animal welfare, global warming, antibiotic resistance, human and animal competition for food, animal waste disposal and environmental pollution and international trade boundaries.

“Animal products remain an important and integral part of our daily food consumption, and with the congregation of scientists and academicians, and research conducted, the problems of increasing animal production can be solved.

“Food, like water and air, is life and feeding seven billion people every day is a big challenge for the scientists and food producers. Farming of both livestock and crops is the biggest human endeavour on earth, using more than 38 per cent of ice-free land for agriculture.

“By 2050, it will be a monumental task for another generation to feed global population projected at nine billion, and where will we find enough food for the nine billion people without overwhelming this planet?” asked Adenan.

He said the spread of prosperity across the world, especially China and India, would be driving increased demand for meat, eggs and milk, resulting in more pressure to grow more corn and soya beans to feed more cattle, pigs and chicken.

“We should be very concerned on how our food is produced, whether in a sustainable, efficient and safe manner. Farming has impacted on our water supply which can be polluted by pesticide and fertiliser runoffs,” he said.

He pointed out that farming would also affect climate, releasing more greenhouse gasses than all the cars, trucks and planes in the world combined, largely from methane gas released by cattle and rice farms, nitrous oxide from fertilised fields and cutting of trees to grow crops or raise livestock.

“As with all resources necessary for life - water, air and energy must be balanced and sustainable,” said the Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, the three-day conference is being attended by 180 people from all over the world.

Also present at the opening ceremony were Assistant Minister of Agriculture (Farmers’ Organisations) Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran, President of Malaysia Society of Animal Production Dr Abdu Hassan Muhammad Ali and organising chairman of 1st ARCAP 2014 and 35th Annual Conference of MSAP Prof Dr Loh Teck Chwen.

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• DATUK Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu (right), accompanied by Dr Abu Hassan Muhammad Ali (left), touring the exhibition after declaring open the 1st ASEAN Regional Conference of Animal Production 2014 (ARCAP) and 35th Annual Conference of Malaysian Society of Animal Production (MSAP). Also seen are Prof Dr Loh Teck Chwen (second right) and Director of State Agriculture Lai Kui Fung (third right). PHOTO: RAMIDI SUBARI

Call for healthy organic meat, poultry

KUCHING: The Malaysian Society of Animal Production (MSAP) has been challenged to produce organic poultry and meat products to meet the needs of an increasing affluent society.

Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communication Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong said consumers are growing more health conscious nowadays, strengthening demand for organic food.

“As people get more and more health conscious, the demand for organic vegetables is increasing. And what about animal products like organic eggs, chicken, pork, beef and all the rest? We often find it doubtful when we go to the market, and a specialist friend of mine even advised me not to buy pork if the meat is red because the pig might have been given some sort of chemical.

“So what is organic? This will be the challenge of the society whether we can see organic animal products produced rather than just organic vegetables,” he said when representing Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem at the first Asean Regional on Animal Product and MSAP’s 35th Annual Conference dinner on Thursday.

Manyin also challenged the society to offer products that are more affordable for end users while not seeing providers registering losses.

He said it is pertinent for the society to look into ways to cut production costs so that consumers would not find it a burden to pay for the products.

He called on delegates from outside the state to explore its attractions such as caves, longhouses and orangutans.

Manyin also admitted there is still great room for improvement in terms of infrastructure and facilities for visitors.

“We do not have highways like our counterparts in Peninsular Malaysia do, and that is our disadvantage. We hope Sarawak will be able to see more highways, from Kuching all the way up to Miri,” he said.

Meanwhile, MSAP president Abu Hassan Muhammad Ali urged individuals and corporations in the industry to join the society to explore opportunities and contribute ideas for legislation.

Established in 1971, he said the society had members from government departments, universities, government-linked corporations as well as the private sector.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/06/07/call-for-healthy-organic-meat-poultry/#ixzz34HbwMAv0