AUCKLAND, April 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has called for Malaysian research to determine how palm kernel cake can be used as fodder to boost production of milk by cattle.

He said palm kernel cake, a by-product in the milling of palm kernel oil, has been used by the dairy industry in New Zealand to step up production of milk by cattle.

"Palm kernel cake can be obtained at low cost in our country. Why don't we use a local product and upgrade the potential in our country?

"If Mardi (the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute) were to undertake research with partners here, we may be able to produce a suitable fodder that can enhance milk production," he told Bernama after a visit to the Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) here on Tuesday.

Muhyiddin is on a weeklong visit to New Zealand, among other things to look at the developments and technology in the agricultural industry particularly pertaining to the dairy sector.

At a briefing, LIC Director Bryan Guy said New Zealand had long implemented the practice of mixing palm kernel cake with fodder to boost milk production in cattle.

However, he said, further research has to be undertaken to determine whether palm kernel cake could produce similar yield for livestock in tropical countries such as Malaysia.

Muhyiddin said some cattle breeders were using palm kernel cake as an ingredient in the fodder of their livestock but further research has to be undertaken to determine the extent of the benefit to be derived in terms of milk and meat production.

In this connection, he said, Malaysia should seek the collaboration of experts in New Zealand such as LIC or others in the dairy sector to exchange expertise and technology in the sector.

"Mardi has conducted research but, if possible, Mardi and the Veterinary Services Department could transfer part of the technology and do not have to spend too much time (to develop the country's dairy sector)," he said.

Muhyiddin said one of the reasons for his visit to New Zealand was to identify potential partners to collaborate with Malaysia either on contract, as consultants or through expertise exchange programmes.

"We feel that Malaysia has the potential to develop its dairy industry but we do not have sufficient expertise, similar to what New Zealand has," he said.

He said the Malaysian dairy industry was lagging and that it could only produce milk to meet less than five per cent of the country's needs.

He also said that Malaysia had selected Sabah to be developed as one of the milk production regions of the country.

-- BERNAMA