64 Thai Cattle With FMD Stopped From Entering Malaysia

PADANG BESAR (Perlis, Malaysia), Nov 2 (Bernama) - Sixty-four heads of cattle from Thailand were stopped from entering Malaysia after authorities found that they had symptoms of foot and mouth disease (FMD). State Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Committee Chairman Sabry Ahmad said the cattle worth about RM200,000 were stopped at border checkpoints two weeks ago. "The cattle were sent back to Thailand after checks by Quarantine and Inspection Department officers found symptoms of the disease," he told reporters after inspecting government and private quarantine centres here on Tuesday. Sabry said all livestock imported into the country via border checkpoints have to be examined to ensure that only healthy animals are allowed entry. The public should not worry about eating meat from imported cattle as it was subjected to stringent process and placed in a government quarantine centre and 13 private quarantines. A total of 5,533 heads of cattle were brought in via the border for Aidiladha celebration of which 1,296 were for people in Perlis. Since January, a total of 13,309 heads of cattle valued at RM2.5mil were imported from Thailand via border checkpoints in the state. (US$1=RM3.09) Meanwhile, the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) will hold a Pasar Tani Khas Aidiladha on Nov 4 dan 5 at Taman Sena Indah Kangar offering 4.5 tonnes of processed chicken at RM7.50 per kg. In addition, 13 heads of cattle will be slaughtered and the meat sold at RM21 per kg while kampung chicken will be sold at RM12 per kg. -BERNAMA