LIVESTOCK smuggling along the Kelantan-Thailand border is believed to be behind the spread of the foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Malaysia.

Veterinary Services Department (VSD) director-general Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam said animals brought into the country illegally did not undergo quarantine and vaccination procedures.

“We found a total of 10 FMD cases involving cattle nationwide as of April. This is a relatively large number, as there were only 35 cases recorded in the whole of last year.

“Most of the cases were in Pahang, Johor and Malacca. Most of the cattle involved were from Kelantan, and they had been illegally brought in from Thailand,” he told reporters after officiating at a livestock breeders programme in Tumpat today.

Present were special officer to the agriculture and agro-based industry minister Wan Johari Wan Omar and state VSD director Suratan Kamarudin.

Quaza said only 23% of the nation’s meat supply is produced locally.

“The livestock industry has been rather static… We hope more people will take the opportunity to venture into livestock, which has a huge market.” – Bernama, May 21, 2019.