Ready to export beef to Asean members and Middle-East
KUCHING: Sarawak is poised to be the leading “halal” beef supplier to members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and the Middle-East following the acquisition of Carmor Plains Station in Darwin, Western Australia.
Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Datuk Hussain said disclosed this in a press conference yesterday at Riverside Majestic Hotel (Astana Wing).
He stated that Carmor Plains Station was a fantastic purchase because the first cattle station acquired by SEDC in 1982, Rosewood Cattle Station, has reached its maximum capacity of 32,000 heads of cattle. As SEDC has been looking to expand its operations, it acquired Carmor Plains Station.
“Thankfully, Carmor Plains is located approximately 220km from Darwin port – roughly a two-hour drive – whereas Rosewood Station is about 900km from the port,” he said.
He further explained that the new acquisition would be the new feeding and fattening centre for the 32,000 heads of cattle from Rosewood Station.
“This is because Rosewood is a semi-desert area where the land is dry. Without any greenery there the cattle cannot get fat. Furthermore, it is also remote.
“To reach Rosewood Station one flies for an hour from Darwin to Kununurra from where one has to travel in a jeep for at least two hours,” he said.
Abdul Aziz explained that as the cattle there don’t get fat, they are fattened at Carmor Plains where there is a lot of greenery. After that, the cattle are either exported to Sarawak or sold as meat locally.
“Carmor Plains can accommodate approximately 8,000 to 9,000 heads of cattle at a time,” he said.
He pointed out that when Carmor Plains Station was purchased, they noticed that there were buffaloes in the area which led to their export to Sarawak for breeding purposes.
SEDC’s investments in cattle farming in Australia is providing annual dividends because Rosewood Station is able to supply adequate beef for consumption in Sarawak as well as for export to Asean and the Middle-East.
He added that apart from exporting beef, they also export live cattle to Sarawak for breeding purposes. From 2015 to 2018, there were 3,075 heads of breeder cattle supplied to Sarawak.
“The live cattle are either for breeding purposes or halal-slaughtered for Sarawak, Brunei and Sabah, but mostly for Sarawak.
“Next month, we will export 1,000 more cattle to Sarawak,” he said.
When asked whether they are bringing cattle to Sarawak for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Abdul Aziz said 1,200 heads had been imported.
He concluded that SEDC acquired Rosewood in 1982 to let Sarawakians enjoy high quality healthy beef. When the cattle are exported, they are primarily for Sarawak, and then Malaysia in general, and if there is any demand from China or the Middle-East, they get some too.
SEDC will soon launch its e-commerce mobile application for purchasing beef. This way, consumers can pick which type of meat they prefer and it will be delivered to them.
