Ruminant breeders need to improve livestock: Ahmad Shabery

SERDANG: Ruminant breeders needed to improve their livestock as milk and meat supply from ruminant animals are vital in ensuring adequate supply of protein for Malaysians.
Agriculture and Agro based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said currently there are 800,000 ruminants in Malaysia for 30 million people compared to the country's needs of 1.8 million animals.
"Local ruminant livestock breeders are encouraged to emulate ruminant livestock breeders in New Zealand, which only has three million people but rear 60 million sheep and dairy cattle besides exporting dairy products," he said.
He was speaking at the "Gegar Generasi Transformasi Ruminan" (GTR) gathering at the International Exhibition of Agriculture, Livestock, Horticulture and Agro-Tourism (MAHA 2016) here today.
The event was attended by over 1,000 GTR members comprising ruminant livestock breeders associations nationwide. — Bernama