Walking road hazards: Cattle roaming unattended at night in Sepang. — Photo courtesy of Sepang Municipal Council
Stakeholders to have six-month introductory period for Selangor’s new bylaw on livestock once approved
BESIDES roads or highways, roaming cattle have also found their way into hospitals and supermarkets, says Selangor infrastructure and agriculture committee chairman Izham Hashim.
This is cause of concern as there have been incidences of vehicles hitting stray cattle or buffaloes that were allowed to graze freely, he said.
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“This is a safety and security issue that must be addressed.
“It is the owner’s responsibility to properly manage their animals.
“We need a system to ensure that cattle are identifiable so that authorities can trace their owners,” he said.
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It is learnt that farmers often don’t claim their livestock animals killed in road accidents, to avoid being held liable.
Justice is also elusive in cases with fatalities, due to the difficulty in identifying or proving ownership of the animals involved.
Izham said Selangor was planning to amend the Cattle and Buffalo Control Enactment 1971 to align with contemporary needs.
Izham: There is a need to tag cattle in order to take action against the owners who let their animals roam into public areas.
“The agricultural landscape has changed significantly over the past 50 years.
“There is an urgent need to update the law to reflect current conditions.
“Previously suitable grazing lands are now being developed, forcing cattle to stray onto roads.
“Penalties will also be reviewed,” he said.
Izham said the Selangor Veterinary Services Department (DVS) was preparing a draft bylaws on licensing of cattle and buffalo breeding to standardise licensing methods, so the law could be enforced effectively.
“The draft is expected to be finalised by the end of the year, pending approval from the Selangor Legal Advisor.
“Once approved, there will be a six-month introductory period where stakeholders, including community leaders, cattle farmers, government agencies and the police will be briefed on the new regulations before enforcement begins,” the executive councillor added.
This free roaming cow was spotted grazing beside the SILK Highway at Kampung Sungai Ramal Luar in Kajang. — Filepic
Selangor Ruminant Breeders and Butchers Association chairman Mohd Nazir Mohd Saiddin welcomed the state initiatives to regulate livestock activities in a systematic manner.
He said cattle owners should be held accountable for mishaps that happen due to their negligence or ignorance in caring for their animals.
“Some irresponsible cattle owners are giving all the farmers a bad name,” he added.
Mohd Nazir said cows required a diverse diet, including grass, soybean meal, palm kernel, whole corn and wheat, which could be costly.
“On average, each cow needs 40kg of grass daily.”
He said some farmers were unable to provide enough food for their cattle and chose to allow the animals to roam freely to look for their own food.
Mohd Nazir welcomes the state initiatives to regulate livestock activities in a systematic manner.
Mohd Nazir said it was once very common for cattle to graze in plantations.
However, many of these areas have now been developed and some plantation owners have banned cattle from entering.
“As a result, the available grazing land has shrunk, forcing cattle into potentially hazardous new areas.
“It’s crucial for farmers to adapt to changing circumstances,” Mohd Nazir added.
R. Sangaran, a 60-year-old cattle farmer from Bangi Lama, urged the government to consider the plight of farmers like him.
He said his family had been in the livestock business for decades, with cows, goats and buffaloes on their own land.
“This is my livelihood. Times are tough, and many long-time farmers have had to take on additional jobs to make ends meet.
Cattle blocking traffic at Ladang Sungai Jernih in Kerling, Hulu Selangor. — Filepic
“I agree the activity must be regulated better, but not at the expense of the farmers’ livelihood.”
Another farmer P. Saravanan from Sepang, said he was growing napier grass on part of his land to feed his cattle.
“But space is limited and it is not enough for my cattle.
“Sepang DVS has 30ha of land in Jenderam Hulu, allocated by the Sepang Land and Mines Office for farmers to cultivate grass.
“I understand the land has been divided into 15 parcels of 2ha each, benefitting only 15 farmers during the five-year lease period.
“It might be more effective if the land was divided into 75 smaller parcels of 0.4ha each, which could support more farmers,” he suggested.
Saravanan said if each district’s DVS could allocate some land for farmers to grow grass, it could help address the issue of cattle roaming freely.
“Protecting our livelihoods is crucial for the state and country’s food security too.
“A blanket rule affecting both new and old farmers could jeopardise the survival of small-scale farmers,” he stressed.
