Tribute to Local Pioneers....

Seeing the landing of the OZ's breeders and slaughter goats /sheep imported by Hj Jeli and others brought a touch of nostalgia...
The early days of the ruminant industry were so much tied in with the history of the Vet Division of the DOA.The early veterinary pioneers...Vivian Utal ( first Vet Assistant from Mukah)..Mr Ong Chong Boon and Mr Dunsmore of ARC whose writings on pasture trials were avidly read by us vet students of the 70s; Dr Ong Shak Foo ( first Sarawakian Vet) 's articles on Chromobacterium; Benedict Wong, Baines Kunchit, Patrick Rossem, Chai Min Shang, and many more retired VAs, AVOS...
We are proud of you all .....and we salute your contributions to the industry.
Then we had the struggling importers with vision, ambition, and their share of frustrations and disppointments...Encik Bujang Sulaiman of MALDA trading who spent mucho money and mana on live cattle imports, retired army officer Affendi Dhobey...
They went through a lot of trials and tribulations....I remember them all. They, too, have their footsteps in the sands of vet history...
Then came Sarabif with its hopes and shot in the arm for the cattle industry...Geoffrey Beere, Johari Seman, Augustine Sitim, the late Jeffrey ,the stockman, the truckers..... how many remember them now?......they too played their crucial role which must be acknowledged.
Very soon, Sekama Vet Clinic , where most of us cut our teeth, will be a distant memory.. sniff sniff!
Hopefully, someone will sit down and record the history of theVet Division and LS production in Sarawak.
As for the 2000s, I am sure FG Multifarm and Nature Farm will become future " giants " of our industry, if everyone will just give them a chance.. Bend the rules if need be to help these pioneers. If the US can throw billions into their banking and financial sectors and are happy just to see green shoots, what is a coupla of Million RM to see new kids and calves on the block, be it in Mukah or Marudi ?
To paraphrase what Obama said in Russia, you need to plant the seeds now so that the future will grow....
If by spewing out these names into the blogosphere or the World WideWeb means that somehow memories of their involvement are preserved, let this then be my tribute to them!

TW

Big BOOST for Goat Industry...!

Boers, Saanens, British Alpines, Dorpers, arriving to boost local genetics.......

Looking for the best breeder...at risk to life and limb..!

Arrival of Breeding Goats,Sheep and (hopefully ) no Flu at KLIA.....with Commander Dr H Khan marshalling the troops...!

As they say, the pixs above will tell better than a thousand words.........

History was made in the early hours of 1st July, 2009, when the MasCargo Boeing freighter landed in KLIA with a consignment of over 1,000 heads of breeder Boers, sheep, Saanen, Bristish Alpine and slaughter goats/sheep. FG MultiFarm, Nature Farm and Perfect Meat Industries were responsible for this exercise which saw an SAD, importers, farmers, vet port health staff, truckers, and busybodies like me scurrying about on the tarmac looking at, poking and admiring the freshly arrived Aussies, who look none too impressed with the reception committee!

I understand from the Vet PH Officer Mr Lai that this is only the second time that an aircraft of this size has graced KLIA...wow!!

Most of the animals will be for the Mukah based farm, and enterpreneurs in kuching Sibu ,Sarikei, Tg Manis.

We wish all of them success,satisfaction and endurance in their goat-keeping...

TW

Brighton Beach, Christchurch.......... and solution for winter blues..

Reading Dr Sia 's post from the City that Shines ( Christchurch) reminds me of the beauty of NZ...the scenic beaches, the flowers in the private homes and parks. You can really lose yourself there. But boy! winter as it is now, can be real cold! Even in the day, with the sun shining,it does feel chilly especially when there is a slight wind...see the pix with the waves coming in, but nobody in the water?
At times like these, you need to tuck into some serious coffee and hot food, like the custom baked pizza at Memphis Belle....mmmm yummy...

TW

New Veterinary Office Semongok

The State Veterinary Authority Office may move to New Veterinary Building at Semongok this coming July. We will get the full detail of the address, tel contact etc.

For the Sekama Veterinary Office, I don't know if the authority agree, use it as may be for the office of Sarawak Livestock Cooperative. Our association can gain some form of income from the cooperative business activities. This is just my idea of forming the cooperative, which can contribute to the livestock farming communities and the advancement of the Veterinary profession.

Adrian

Sekama Veterinary Clinic

Congratulations to Dr. Chin Vei Ching, Sarawak Veterinary Authority on the move of Kuching Divisional Veterinary Office from Sekama to Semongok. It is a great day as this will allow the Veterinary Service to progress from there especially with its limited manpower gathered under one roof at Semongok. However, old guards like me would not like to see Sekama Veterinary Clinic disappears just like that. I hope Sarawak Veterinary Authority Dr. Chin and his Co has somethings in mind. Hope to hear from our friends in power at 12th Floor Menara or already at 3rd Floor Veterinary Hq, Semongok?

Feed Act 2008 - Malaysia

The long delayed Feed Act 2008 - Malaysia finally see the light. I wondered whether Sarawak State still keeps its autonomy with regards to State rights in formulating its policies on animal feed under this Animal Feed Act 2008. Who and how many will represent Sarawak in the Animal Feed Board. Is Animal Feed Board to have the complete administrative and monitoring authority over state interests??