What is the Government’s Policy in the Development of Sheep Rearing?

In line with the National Agricultural Policy, priority has been given to commercialised small ruminant cultivation. Integrated rearing in rubber, oil palm and other primary agriculture plantations is carried out to reduce the production cost.

This activity will and is currently being focused at potential areas such as FELDA, FELCRA, and RISDA plantations, including private plantations and individual farms.

What Is The Advantage Of This Integrated System?

The advantages include fertilisation of the crops in the plantations, reduction of weed controlling cost between 20-30%, while providing a lucrative side income

Can The Sheep Be Reared In Other Areas Apart From Rubber And Oil Palm Plantations?

Yes, provided there is a grazing area and the sheep does not damage the primary crop; for example in coconut plantations, fruit orchards and cocoa plantations.

What Is The Economic Scale Of Sheep Rearing?

Reasonable returns, obtained by culturing at least 100 ewes. This objective may be achieved if the birth rate is 150% per year and mortality rate is not more than 5% per year.

How Many Sheep Can Be Cultured Integratedly?

This depends on the age of the primary crop and the availability of grass/weed under the primary crop. Generally, rubber and oil palm aged 2-3 years can accommodate 3-4 sheep per acre. As the crop ages, lesser number of sheep can be cultured.

What Sheep Varieties Are Suitable To Be Cultured Commercially?

The imported Polled Dorset or Dorset Horn varieties are found to easily adapt in oil palm and rubber plantation areas. The Dorset Horn–local sheep or Polled Dorset–local sheep hybrids are currently encouraged for large scale cultivation based on their resistance towards diseases and better growth rates compared to the local sheep.

What Sheep Varieties Are Available In Our Country?

There are 3 groups:-

1. Local sheep (MALIN);
2. Exotic Species (originating from overseas);
   • Dorset
   • Wiltshire
   • Romney
   • Suffolk
   • Corriedale
   • Border Leicester

3.The hybrids of the breeds above.

How Does One Obtain A Crossbreed?

There are 2 methods:

• The rearer may purchase a crossbreed from the private sector, supplying agent or government farms.
• Rearers may also produce crossbreeds of their own by mating the imported male sheep with the local females or the imported females with local males.

Why Must Malaysia Import Sheep From Overseas?

In achieving the target of one million sheep in 2000. The National sheep population must be increased to at least 130,000 in 1990. Imports will not only increase the population but also increase the productivity of local livestock through the breeding programme.

I Own An Area And Wish To Be A Culturist But I Have Insufficient Capital, What Must I Do?

You may apply for a bank loan to build a pen, purchase sheep and the supplements and get free advisory services from the Department of Veterinary Services. Or you may provide the entire infrastructure and apply for the sharecrop sheep from the Department of Veterinary Services.

What Does The Sheep Sharecrop System Mean?

It is a system whereby the rearer are provided female sheep to rear, and for each sheep that is used in the sharecrop, the rearer must return a lamb not older than 9-month old to the Government and it must be done within 36 months.

How About Training?

Training will be provided at the Kluang Animal Institute for 5 days and participants may be placed at the hostel of the Institute. Or you may apply to obtain local trainings (in situ); at the Departmental project area, such course/training can only be provided for 1-2 days.

What Are The Steps To Be Taken Once I Have Received The Imported Sheep?

• Feed it sufficiently.
• Pay close and careful attention.
• Submit a report to the Veterinary Office should there be any signs of illnesses or abnormalities.
• Minimise aggravation in the first week.
• Add in the anti stress medication in their drink.
• Segregate the heavily pregnant group, ill and mother with cubs only after 2 weeks.

What Is The Best Culturing Method In The Integration Project?

• The semi-free system.
• Graze during shady time and placed in pens during hot weather and at night
• Feed them with some bran in the evening and cut grass at night to be sufficient until the morning before being let-out.
• Clean drinking water at all times.
• The cages in between the primary crops must have proper ventilation and floor area.
• Cage must be easily cleaned.
• Separate cages/plots for ill, gestate and the cub sheep.

What Are The Criteria For A Good Cage?

• The pens must be strong.
• Proper air ventilation including an open roof area.
• Located at a dry area, near the grazing area.
• Sufficient floor area, at least 7 square feet (0.65 square meters) per sheep.

Is It Necessary To Provide Cut Grass In The Cage?

A necessity especially for the confined sheep. Also as a supplement at night and in the morning when the sheep is in the cage.

How Much Grass Must Be Provided?

An approximate dry weight of 3-5% of the body weight. For example, a 40kg sheep, the dry weight of grass is 20%, the fresh grass given must be less than 10 kg per day.

How Long And When Is The Best Time For Grazing?

A minimum of 6 hours per day, beginning in the morning as soon as the grass is not too wet. Usually from 9.00 am or 10.00 am until 3.00 pm to 4.00 pm for the farm/Estate area. As for the open grazing field area, the grazing period may have to be divided into two periods; for example between 8.00 am -11.00 am and 3.30 – 6.30 pm.

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Note

1.The word biri-biri may also be called bebiri.
2.The local sheep is also named MALIN. As such, the word MALIN must be used whenever it is associated with local sheep.