Wednesday May 20, 2009
More goats for Sarawak
By SHARON LING
KUCHING: Handalas Sdn Bhd, a local company, is set to pioneer goat breeding in Sarawak using biotechnology.
Its managing director Kassim Mohd Mahruf said the company would venture into the production of frozen semen for artificial insemination, embryo transfer and sexing (determining the gender of livestock) at its 80ha farm in Kampung Sri Kandong in Matang near here.
Healthy products: Abang Johari (right) accompanied by Handalas managing director Kassim Mohd Mahru visiting the goat-breeding project at Kampung Seri Kandong in Matang recently. “We plan to set up a laboratory soon for research and development in breeding techniques. We will start producing frozen semen this year while embryo transfer and sexing will commence next year,” he said, adding that the venture was in line with the company’s BioNexus status, which it received last year.
He was briefing State Housing Minister Datuk Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg, who visited the farm in his capacity as president of the youth organisation Saberkas.
Kassim said that Handalas, which specialised in the Jamnapari breed, had several collaborations with University Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) in genetic engineering, feed, nutrition and waste management.
“We look forward to producing a new strain of the Jamnapari goat,” he said, adding that the breed was suitable for meat and milk production.
He said that Handalas had produced 1,150 goats since its establishment in 2005, and the goats had been distributed in Sarawak and Brunei.
The company currently has 400 goats at its farm.
General manager Aslansia Yahya said that Handalas planned to invest RM2mil in developing the farm, including the building of a laboratory, clinic and site office.
“There is big potential in biotech farming. With biotech, we can get our programme in place to produce breeding goats for farmers,” he said.
Meanwhile, Abang Johari said his visit was geared towards exploring goat rearing opportunities for enterprising farmers.
He said that Saberkas had been tasked with helping young people to get involved in agriculture and creating farming entrepreneurs.
“One area we can go into is goat breeding. Handalas can be an anchor farm supplying breeding goats to those interested in the industry,” he said.
Source:
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