Puyumas Farmbest ramps up quail production

ALOR GAJAH (Bernama): Puyumas Farmbest Sdn Bhd, a producer of quail meat, aims to produce about 350,000 quail chicks monthly compared to 180,000 at present through the migration to the  "conveyor” system from manual at all stages of production by 2020.

Manager Mohd Khairul Izwan Selamat, 40, said the increase in the production of quail meat was in line with the company’s efforts to penetrate new markets, particularly overseas, such as Indonesia, Japan, Bosnia and the United Arab Emirates.

He said it would also give consumers a bigger choice by selling the meat marinated with specific ingredients and half done.

He said the incubator from the United States will also be used to assist in improving the production of quail meat as the technology used can achieve a higher rate of hatchings of up to 90 per cent.

"Agriculture is a business, but, the country’s food industry is at present more focused on the production of chickens and chicken meat, cows and sheep compared to quails or quail meat, which can be an alternative and better source of protein,” he told reporters here today.

The farm at Bukit Balai Durian Tunggal had earlier been visited by the Durian Tunggal state assemblyman, Datuk Mohd Sofi Abdul Wahab.

Mohd Khairul, a former assistant administrative officer at an institution of higher education in the state said  Puyumas Farmbest would cooperate with the Veterinary Department to fullfill requirements for the "Veterinary Health Mark” to facilitate the export of quail meat overseas without any problems.

He said for now, about 180,000 quail chicks are hatched monthly or five days once, and sold to breeders in Melaka, Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang.

The production of between 40,000 to 50,000 quails monthly at present is to meet local market demand and the meat is sold at hypermarkets such as Tesco, Mydin and Segi Fresh, with plans to also have it retailed at Giant Hypermarkets in the near future.

Mohd Khairul said Puyumas Farmbest had been involved in the research, breeding and production of quail meat for the past 16 years and had two farms spread over more than 23.5 hectares - only about 5.5 hectares is utlised at present -  in Jasin and Alor Gajah.

Meanwhile, he said the company was willing to undertake courses, workshops or guidance to any individuals or groups keen to become involved in the production of quail meat as a food source to ensure food sufficiency in Malaysia.