Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas
NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Thailand: The use of Artificial Insemination (AI) and Embryo Transfer Technology (ET) will be expanded in the Sarawak’s livestock breeding industry to ensure that the production of meat and dairy product in the state can be improved.
Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said modern technologies were highly needed to boost self-sufficiency in meat, cow and goat milk in the state which currently were at 10 and 7 per cent respectively.
“We need a policy and a strategy to improve production for cows, goats and water buffaloes, and the best way is through a high technology application,” he told Bernama after visiting Thailand’s Embryo Transfer Technology Centre, Deptartment of Livestock Development, here yesterday.
Uggah, who is also Minister for Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development, who led a delegation of about 20 people from several agricultural and livestock breeding agencies are currently on a study visit to Thailand.
According to Uggah, the mastery of AI and ET technology was vital to help ensure Sarawak could breed its own cows, goats and buffalo without having the need to import them.
He said the state government would also train local experts in the field of AI and ET technology for the development of Sarawak’s livestock breeding industry.
Uggah said he was told that the AI technology in the livestock breeding industry had been ‘routine’ while the application of ET technology had achieved a very high percentage of success in Thailand, making Sarawak interested to learn more about the technologies. — Bernama