KUCHING: Sarawak needs to set up a “breeding stock bank” to ensure continuous supply of ruminants for initial breeding, says Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh.
He said currently, farmers may have difficulty in getting the initial stock for breeding because no one is allowed to import live animals from outside Sarawak.
He said under the state’s policy, all beef cow-calf, goats and sheep’s initial breeding stock is supplied by the state Department of Veterinary Services (DVS).
“We can’t import any animal breeding stock, including ruminant livestock, ourselves.
“Our beef cattle, goats and sheep for breeding were imported mainly from Australia.
“Over here, we have to get them through the DVS but they don’t have sufficient supply.
“If we were to help our local farmers to venture in ruminant rearing on industrial scale, DVS need to have the initial breeding stock bank,” he told Sarawak Tribune.
Miro said the breeding stock bank would supply the initial stock for breeding all types of ruminants to any interested individual or party.
He said without the breeding stock bank, it will be quite difficult to increase the local ruminant population and the self-sufficiency level for ruminant livestock in Sarawak from 15 per cent to 25 per cent in 2030.
Miro said based on his personal experience, small ruminants like sheep and goats multiply very fast.
He said the female sheep and goats at his farm can conceive and deliver within seven months and produce three offspring in two years.
“So if we want to go for industrial scale, I suggest that DVS gives their full support to any party or individual that is interested to go into goat and sheep farming.
“My Dorper sheep grew up and multiplied very fast. The female conceives and gives birth to its first baby within seven months.
“More initial breeds should be given to any party that wants to start on big scale sheep or goat farming,” he said.
Miro said for those who want to go big scale, DVS should support them with at least 100 heads of Dorper sheep or goats for initial breeding.
He believed that from the 100 heads of Dorper, for example, a farmer can get around 300 heads within three years because each mother Dorper can produce three offspring over the same period.
“So in another three years’ time again or within nine years, they can easily get 500 heads of Dorper,” he said.
“It’s the same thing with cattle. I’m also doing cattle,” he said.
Miro believed many people out there are interested in ruminant rearing but facing the similar problem of getting the initial stock for breeding.
He said he was ready to help any individual that wants to start with cattle, sheep, goat or deer farming in terms of giving advice and initial stock for breeding.
“So far, I have not sold my animal, but I can sell a pair of my initial breed – male and female – for them to start with.
“For now, I would rather sell my animals like this so that we can create more farmers and more interest of going into ruminant rearing.
“But my breeding stock is not enough to help many farmers or parties, especially those that want to do it on a big scale,” he said.
