Plans for RM10m goat research centre

THERE are plans for a RM10 million goat technology and research centre in
Serating, Marang, under the East Coast Economic Region’s (ECER) livestock
farming initiatives.
The research centre, Taman Teknologi Kaprima Bestari, will be located over 10ha
within a Permanent Food Production Park, the ECER secretariat said in a statement
in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
The move is aimed at Malaysia achieving self-sufficiency in mutton as the country
needs 10 million goats a year.
Currently, Malaysia imports mutton mainly from Australia.
The technology goat park, which will be built and managed by the Department of
Veterinary Service Terengganu (JPHT), will collate all relevant information and
research on goat breeding as well as modernise the country’s goat breeding industry,
with the Ecer as a prominent hub, it said.
“This technology park is projected to be a research and information centre for goat
breeders, especially those from Asian countries,” JPHT director Dr Azizol Mohd
Sharun was quoted as saying in the statement.
“We will bring in the latest goat breeding technology and techniques from abroad.
This new technology will help breeders to minimise the production cost and give
better returns.”
Breeders and parties interested in the industry can avail themselves of goat farming
courses, he said.
Malaysia’s per capita consumption of mutton has risen from 0.67kg in 2006 to 0.74kg
in 2007. – Bernama