(From third left) Ecofarm Solution director Ng Yi Xin, Adrian, and Martin with representatives from the Australian authority and an Ecofarm staff member.
KUCHING (Dec 18): The arrival of a new batch of pregnant Jersey A2 heifers from Australia on Tuesday marked a significant milestone in Sarawak’s drive to strengthen food security and boost local dairy production.
Eco Farm Solutions imported the cows with support from the Sarawak government.
Deputy Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Datuk Martin Ben and Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS) director Datu Dr Adrian Susin Ambud witnessed the delivery.
“The heifers are expected to calve in April 2026, increasing local milk production to an estimated 5,000 litres per day, with the farm’s total cattle population projected to reach about 500 head from May 2026,” the ministry said in a press statement.
The ministry said the introduction of high-quality dairy cattle is a strategic step to raise Sarawak’s milk self-sufficiency level, reduce reliance on imported dairy products and modernise the local agri-food sector.
It quoted Martin as saying that the initiative would significantly contribute to strengthening the state’s dairy supply, while Adrian reaffirmed DVSS’ commitment to ensuring animal health, biosecurity, and product safety throughout the expansion.
Under a matching fund programme supported by the Sarawak government, Eco Farm Solutions is importing 193 pregnant Jersey A2 heifers from Australia, with 92 funded directly under the government scheme.
All imported cattle undergo A2 genetic verification at Australian government-owned laboratories to ensure authenticity and compliance with international standards.
Eco Farm Solutions, founded in 2018 by the late Dr Ng Siew Thiam, was established with the vision of building a self-sustaining, technology-driven dairy industry in Sarawak.
With continued state support, the farm has emerged as a benchmark for modern and scalable dairy farming practices.
Licensed by DVSS, all products from Eco Farm Solutions carry the Veterinary Health Mark (VHM), certifying compliance with stringent animal health, food safety, and hygiene standards.
The farm operates an automated closed-house system and intensive modern farming methods in line with state and national efforts to modernise agriculture.
Currently, the farm maintains a herd of 120 cattle.
All feed is produced locally, with about 200 acres dedicated to maize cultivation.
The maize is processed into silage through fermentation to ensure consistent feed quality while supporting local agricultural integration, the ministry said.
Eco Farm Solutions also operates a rotary milking parlour, making it the first dairy farm in Malaysia to adopt the advanced system.
Cows are milked twice daily, with milk transferred directly via a closed pipeline into a bulk milk cooler, minimising contamination risks.
Daily production averages about 1,000 litres or roughly 16 litres per cow.
Each cow is fitted with a pedometer to monitor activity levels and milk yield in real time, enabling precise herd management and early detection of health issues.
“A key focus of the farm’s expansion is A2 milk production. A2 milk contains only A2 beta-casein protein and excludes A1 beta-casein, which has been linked to digestive discomfort in some consumers.
“A2 milk is widely recognised as easier to digest and nutritionally rich, particularly when produced from Jersey cattle,” the ministry said.
It pointed out that the farm uses artificial insemination with sexed A2 semen, achieving up to a 90 per cent probability of female calves to ensure herd sustainability.
At present, Eco Farm Solutions produces about 25 tonnes of pasteurised milk and two tonnes of yoghurt monthly.
Its growing product range includes pasteurised fresh milk in various flavours, yoghurt, UHT milk, and ice cream, all processed under strict quality control from pasteurisation to aseptic packaging.
With DVSS licensing, VHM-certified products and strong government backing, Eco Farm Solutions is positioned as a key contributor to Sarawak’s journey towards food security, while delivering high-quality, locally produced dairy products to consumers across the state, the ministry added.
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