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Borneo Post
10 hours ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Milestone for Sarawak's livestock sector as 800 live pigs shipped to Selangor
Dr Rundi (sixth left) leads the ribbon cutting to officially launch of the shipment. – Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (July 25): Sarawak's livestock export industry achieved another milestone here today with the official shipment of 800 live pigs to Selangor. Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom described the occasion as a significant step in the state's journey towards becoming a net food exporter by 2030. 'Today we are witnessing 800 heads of pig all the way to Selangor. This event is indeed very significant. In fact, it is a historic moment that we have to share not only with Sarawakians, but also with Malaysians and the world – that we are now able to export live pigs. 'And in the future, perhaps poultry and more. This has been a dream for us. Becoming a net food exporter by 2030 is a gigantic task, but nonetheless, we are making it happen. 'Once people see that it can be done, they get motivated. And once they believe it's possible, the rest is just history,' he told reporters at the official loading ceremony at Pending Port. The shipment is expected to arrive in Klang within 60 hours or approximately two and a half days. Dr Rundi said this first shipment to Peninsular Malaysia would not be the last. 'In the future, there will be bigger shipments and consignment containers that we send to Selangor. They can have the abattoir in Selangor and the meat can be distributed all throughout West Malaysia. And also the plan is to send directly to Penang and Johor,' he said. The pigs were supplied by Green Breeder Sdn Bhd, a Sarawak-based company led by Dr Ng Siew Thiam and his family, who currently export approximately 2,000 pigs weekly to Singapore. Dr Rundi commended the company's efforts and biosecurity standards, noting their success in maintaining exports even during the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak that impacted many other regions. 'Sarawak has been fortunate to remain an exporter of live pigs to Singapore, and now, other Asean countries may also be looking at us in the same light. 'Sarawak is free from foot and mouth disease (FMD) and that gives us a real advantage and leverage in attracting investors and encouraging more livestock farming activities here in the state,' he explained. Dr Rundi pointed out Sarawak first began exporting live pigs to Singapore in 2017, starting with a farm in Simunjan. He said the initial goal was to involve smallholder farmers, but biosecurity and technological requirements proved challenging. 'Not many could survive under such tight protocols, so we had to move from subsistence farming to high tech. Dr Ng told me they are going all the way with high-tech systems and biosecurity. That's why they can survive,' he said. To support the livestock sector's growth, Dr Rundi said the state will establish a new School of Veterinary Medicine in Semenggok through a collaboration with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Sarawak, formerly known as UPM Bintulu Campus. 'At the moment, we are lacking veterinarians. We need many more to manage and support the livestock industry. 'When we visited Brazil, they had 4,000 vets looking after their cattle. Here, we have only 15 government vets handling everything, while the rest are private. So, it has to be comprehensive – we must plan everything properly so that we can realise the dream we have. 'With this initiative, we can plan more effectively for the future of the livestock and agricultural sectors in Sarawak. I see great potential for Sarawak to become an agricultural hub,' he added. On the issue of pork prices, Dr Rundi said the government is monitoring the situation, but market rates are ultimately driven by supply and demand. 'When you talk about business, it's supply and demand. What we need now is to increase the supply to help reduce the price. 'At the moment, the supply is limited, so prices go up. That's why everyone is craving for it and they have to pay for it. But if we can increase production and volume, we will have better control over supply and pricing,' he said. He explained that the government is taking steps to prevent prices from soaring too high. 'At the moment, the price is around RM32 per kg. In Sabah, it's RM45, and in West Malaysia, even more — over RM40 to RM45 in the Klang Valley. We are the cheapest now. We cannot complain — but still we complain,' he added. Among those present at the event were Deputy Minister for Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development Datuk Martin Ben, Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak director Datu Dr Adrian Susil, Kuching Port Authority general manager Robert Lau Hong Thiam, Sarawak Agriculture Department director Dominic Chunggat, and Green Breeder Sdn Bhd director Dr Ng Yong Han. Dr Stephen Rundi Utom livestock
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
In 1 day, 117 pigs die of ASF in 5 Mizoram dists
Aizawl: An unprecedented upsurge in pig casualty due to resurgence of African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak was witnessed on Monday in Mizoram with 117 pigs dying of ASF in five districts, reports HC Vanlalruata. Champhai district registered pig deaths for the first time while Mamit district, bordering Tripura and Bangladesh, for the first time sees the disease spreading to rural areas. State veterinary officials said northeastern Mizoram's Khawzawl district registered the largest number of daily casualty at 67 in six villages and localities, followed by Chhippui village in Mamit district as 20 pigs died for the first time in the village while it was earlier confined to Zawlnuam town. Champhai district, bordering Myanmar, for the first time registered 18 deaths in four villages.
Free Malaysia Today
4 days ago
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
800 pigs culled after African swine fever affects 3 Penang farms
Penang local government committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye said pork from healthy pigs remains safe for consumption and African swine fever does not spread to humans. (Envato Elemens pic) GEORGE TOWN : More than 800 pigs have been culled after African swine fever (ASF) was confirmed at three pig farms in Penang. Local government committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye said traces of the virus were detected at slaughterhouses, with the infected pigs traced back to farms in three districts. 'But lab tests have only confirmed ASF at three farms so far. The rest are still under investigation. 'We expect more positive cases once the results come in,' he told reporters. H'ng said 822 pigs have been culled at two of the affected farms, while a third farm remains under close observation. 'We've banned the movement of pigs from affected farms to stop the spread,' he said. He said pork from healthy pigs remains safe for consumption and the virus does not spread to humans. 'We are also stepping up checks at farms and abattoirs and will act fast to contain the outbreak,' he said. H'ng urged farmers to report sick or dead pigs quickly and to strictly follow biosecurity protocols. Penang veterinary services department director Dr Saira Banu Rejab said in a statement on July 13 that two farms at Kampung Selamat had recorded 50 pig deaths.
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Malay Mail
Penang culls over 800 pigs over African Swine Fever, assures public no human risk
GEORGE TOWN, July 21 — A total of 822 pigs from two farms in Penang have been culled due to the African Swine Fever (ASF) as of July 17. According to the local government and town and country planning committee chairman Jason H'ng Mooi Lye, a total 13 samples from farms in North Seberang Perai, four from South Seberang Perai and one from the Southwest district on the island were found to be positive for ASF. 'To date, three farms are confirmed to be positive for ASF, while the rest are still under further investigation,' he said when contacted today. He said so far the 822 pigs culled have been disposed and the pigs were from two of the three farms that were confirmed to have positive cases. 'The Penang Veterinary Services Department (DVS) is actively conducting investigations and further sampling at the relevant farms,' he said. He said the number of farms with positive ASF results are expected to increase once the lab results are out. He said the DVS is also identifying suitable disposal sites to carry out safe disposal of the carcasses in compliance with environmental guidelines. He stressed that ASF is a zoonotic disease which cannot infect humans so it does not pose a threat to human health and does not affect food safety. Earlier, Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said currently the culled pigs have been buried within the compounds of the respective farms. 'The DVS and district office are looking for other suitable sites in case there is a need,' he said. He added that all pig farms are being inspected and the DVS is carrying out tests to identify positive cases.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
6k pigs died this year due to ASF: Mizoram officials
Aizawl: Resurgence of African Swine Fever (ASF) in March this year has led to the death of 5,959 pigs in Mizoram. While 2,208 families have been affected, 91 villages and localities and five districts have been declared infected, state animal husbandry & veterinary officials said on Sunday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The officials further said 16 pig casualties had been reported each from Lunglei and Khawzawl district on Sunday, while the same number of pigs had been culled in the two districts, before adding that over 2000 pigs had been culled this year. While ASF infestation has been confined to urban areas in Mamit and Khawzawl districts, it has significantly spread into the rural areas of southern Mizoram's Lawngtlai, Siaha and Lunglei districts. Siaha has been the most severely affected, reporting 3,180 pig deaths, followed by Lawngtlai at 1,746 and Khawzawl at 505.
