Malaysia: Malaysia’s heavy reliance on imported animal feed is among the biggest challenges faced by its livestock industry in supplying affordably-priced meat to the public. The rising prices of major grains such as corn and soybeans – the main components of monogastric animal and ruminant feeds – which are entirely imported from countries like Argentina, Brazil, and the United States, have increased livestock farming operational costs as more than 60 percent of these costs are attributed to feed.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, with its hardiness and ability to continuously regenerate, sorghum can reduce the impact of climate change on the livestock feed supply chain. This dependence on imported animal feed is no longer sustainable for the country, especially as the global market becomes increasingly uncertain due to factors such as supply chain disruptions caused by climate change and global political instability. The urgent need for a cheaper and more sustainable local alternative has led researchers to conduct multiple studies, and one that has gained attention is sorghum, a hardy cereal grain crop capable of withstanding extremely hot and dry weather.
COST SAVING
Sorghum can be used in two forms – as grain or as fodder. However, its grain contains tannins, which are astringent compounds that can impair digestion, making it less suitable for monogastric livestock such as poultry. However, UPM has successfully developed the Putra SB2 sorghum variety, which has abundant leaves and high levels of carbohydrates and sugars, making it suitable for use as fodder for ruminant livestock like cattle and goats and as a replacement for Napier grass.
UPM Sorghum Fodder lead researcher Dr. Nazatul Shima Naharudin, in a recent interview with Bernama, stated that the variety developed by her team offers several advantages over corn and Napier grass, one of which is its low water requirement. She explained that Putra SB2 can regrow up to three times without needing the soil to be ploughed again after each harvest, thereby reducing farm management costs and saving time. Furthermore, Putra SB2 can be harvested as early as 60 days after planting, compared to the 90 days required for corn fodder, allowing for faster crop rotation and more efficient land use.
EMPOWERING FARMERS
ITAFoS director Prof Dr. Anjas Asmara Samsudin emphasized the importance of providing farmers with knowledge and training in sorghum cultivation and management. He pointed out that support from government agencies and relevant institutions is crucial to ensure that the innovation developed by UPM researchers can be widely adopted in the national livestock industry. He added that while the benefits of sorghum are apparent, challenges such as farmers’ reluctance to switch from corn due to familiarity and the availability of sorghum seeds in the local market need to be addressed.
MORE SUSTAINABLE
Nazatul Shima highlighted the ongoing research into sorghum as essential to fully realizing its potential in the livestock industry. The development of new sorghum varieties like Putra SB2 offers hope to farmers in controlling their production costs, which can lower prices for end consumers. UPM is actively collaborating with agricultural agencies and the private sector to ensure this innovation can be expanded nationwide, providing training modules to ensure farmers fully understand the crop’s potential and management.
Looking ahead, the use of sorghum in Malaysia’s livestock industry can not only reduce costs but also positively impact the sustainability of the agricultural sector. With its hardiness and ability to regrow continuously, sorghum can help mitigate the impact of climate change on the animal feed supply chain and enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of Malaysia’s agricultural sector.