‘Livestock Industry Ready For Change, Upgrade’
By Azlan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Agriculture Department sees the need to upgrade and change the current livestock industry to a more dynamic and market driven agro-business.

The department is striving to improve its productivity and quality, not only for the domestic market, but also to explore potential regional and international expansions.

These were statements highlighted by the Acting Director of Agriculture Department, Hjh Aidah Hj Mohd Hanifah, at the first-ever goat symposium for local goat farmers, organised by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) and Livecorp Australia, in Jerudong yesterday.

"About 78.5 per cent of goats are imported live from Australia. The imported breeds include Boer, Kajang, Jamnapari and Anglo Nubians, which are raised for different purposes - for meat arid breeding. The population of goats in Brunei is about 3,175 heads."

Meanwhile, Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) stated that the Australian Goat Industry is growing and live goat exports reached 77,000 heads last year.

"Brunei is an important market, taking around 2,000 heads last year."

Hjh Aidah said goat-farming ranges from the traditional to the semi-intensive practice, and is currently carried out either as a source of side income, or hobby, for the farmers.

"Goat meat consumption, and demand for live goats, is mostly seasonal, for certain celebrations and rituals for our Muslim Population," she added.

She said that the symposium was timely to improve goat-farming practices in Brunei, as well as incorporating Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP) into the management.

"This will complement the Agriculture Department's flagship project, 'Brunei Halal Brand', which is built on Brunei's strong Islamic credentials in halal food."

The main objective of the symposium was to identify the strengths and weaknesses of Brunei's goat-farming practices, and ultimately to create a manual as a general guideline for proper livestock management.

Austrade said MLA and LiveCorp, through its Live Export Programme, brought in several speakers to Brunei to share their knowledge and experience in the livestock export industry.

MLA is the industry body representing Australian cattle, sheep and goat farmers whereas Live Corp is the service body for the live export industry.

Speakers at the workshop were Allister Lugsdin, Dr Steve Sutherland and Dr Grahame Best.

The one-day workshop, organised by the Agriculture Department in collaboration with Austrade, included a half-day seminar session, and a farm management and animal care hands-on activity at Hj Hasbi farm in Jerudong.

Austrade Senior Business Development Manager, Josie Abdullah, said a similar workshop activity was conducted in Sabah and Sarawak, as part of the MLA's extension of service to livestock importers in the region. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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