Development Of Livestock In Malaysia – Issues And Challenges

Roslan Mohd Yusof, Ramlan Muhamed, Teck Leon Tan

The livestock industry has transformed into a progressive industry with a large increase in production, the quantity of wastes being produced have increased exponentially, leading to environmental pollution issues from livestock wastes. The abatement of pollution has not been advanced proportionately with the expansion of livestock industry causing pollution to land, water and air. The
challenge to overcome livestock waste pollution is now becoming a major task for people that are involved in the livestock industry. Pig farming has been incriminated as one of the major sources of water pollution compared to cattle farming (dairy and feedlot) due to bigger feedlots size. The cattle farming causes less pollution due to small numbers and sizes of the feedlots. Meanwhile, the management disposal of poultry manure is not difficult in general as the manure can be utilised as organic fertilisers. However, due to poor management practices in some farms such as leaking water drinkers, an inefficient and unattended collection of manure droppings and non-cemented flooring for the collection of manure, have resulted in the droppings to be severely wet and enhances fly breeding with the emission of offensive malodours. Livestock wastes have been an increasingly prominent universal environmental quality issues and receiving greater attention from policy makers and the general public. Knowledge, skills, expertise and experience are required by the Government and animal industry players to address the pollution issue. Implementation and enforcement of regulations with policies by the Government can further enhancement efforts to reduce animal waste pollution in the future.