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Race to save native goat species o Katjang variety known for its hardy trait could be key component in efforts to achieve food security

REMBAU: In a wooden paddock on a sun-baked field in Rembau, Negeri Sembilan, livestock farmer Kamaruzaman Budin eyes five goats huddled in a corner of their new pen. Three are smaller than the rest – lean, short-eared and visibly different. Kamaruzaman, 67, known as Kamal, points to three brown goats, each with a black stripe. “These are ‘Kacang’,” he said, adding that he bought them from a farmer who claimed they were pure Katjangs – Malaysia’s only native goat breed, known as “Kacang” (Malay for peanut). But Kamal suspects two may be crossbreeds due to their droopy ears. Only DNA testing done by the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) would be able to confirm the lineage. “They’re small, so not many want to raise them. People prefer bigger imported species. But the Katjang is hardy and resistant to disease.” That hardy trait is its saving grace. After decades of crossbreeding, the Katjang is near extinction. But in an era of rising import costs, climate shifts and food insecurity, its resilience could be Malaysia’s trump card. Scientists are racing to save it using traditional breeding and modern genomics. Before industrial farming, Katjang goats were a village staple. Farmers let them forage, and over generations, they adapted to Malaysia’s heat, parasites and diseases. “The Katjang is here for a reason,” said Mardi principal research officer Dr Ainu Husna M.S. Suhaimi. “Only now do we see our local breeds as the most sustainable.” Small and dark-coated with

upright ears and tapered horns, Katjang males rarely exceed 30kg, half the size of Boers or Jamnaparis. They grow slowly and females produce little milk. That made them commercially unattractive. Kamal started in 1985 with only Katjangs. But by the 2000s, Boers dominated his herd. Although meatier, they could not withstand the heat. Mardi reports a 20% mortality rate for Boers in Malaysia. “Now, farmers want survivability. Local breeds survive best,” Ainu Husna said. Crossbreeding Katjangs with imports once boosted size and growth. But poor regulation led to genetic dilution. The few purebreds left were overused, resulting in inbreeding. A Veterinary Services Department survey from 2001 to 2002 flagged the Katjang as at risk. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) later listed its status as “unknown”. Other native livestock are also vanishing, and Mardi believes the Malin sheep is already extinct. Today, true Katjang numbers are unclear. Mardi maintains about 100 in Johor and is actively searching for more, Bernama reported. Why save a goat bred to be eaten? Why not just import? It is not so simple, experts said. The local goat industry is small but vital, especially for Muslims and Hindus. Muslims sacrifice goats for qurban and aqiqah , while Hindus rely on mutton. In 2023, goat and sheep meat consumption rose to 1.4kg per capita, yet Malaysia was only 8.7% self sufficient, down from 10.7%. That year, over RM799 million was spent on imports.

Ainu Husna said Mardi is planning to develop a Katjang-Boer hybrid species. – BERNAMAPIC

Relying on imports is risky – pandemics, wars, or political tensions could impact supply chains. Local goat farming, meanwhile, is pressured by costly feed, veterinary bills and high mortality. “We’ve prioritised yield over sustainability,” said Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia ecological geneticist Dr Shairah Abdul Razak. “Imported breeds can’t handle our heat. Are we going to air condition every barn?” Researchers fear the Katjang could vanish like the Malin sheep, once prized for its wool. “Saving local breeds is like insurance. You may not see the benefits now, but it will matter later,” she said. Veterinary Services Department researcher Dr Ernie Muneerah Mohd

breeding with artificial insemination and in vitro fertilisation. A Katjang sperm bank is maintained by the Veterinary Services Department, with natural breeding as the preferred approach, with 80% success. It is a slow and costly process, but one that is vital for food security. “We won’t be ready for what is coming if we don’t act now,” said Shairah. However, funding and public support are limited. Even farmers hesitate as without incentives, few would choose smaller, slower growing goats over meatier imports. Back in Rembau, Kamal pours feed into a trough and the goats eagerly trot over, jostling gently. “When things change... climate or whatever, I believe the Katjang will endure,” he said.

Adnan added: “The Katjang may not rival imports in size, but in a changing climate, its adaptability could be (a key draw).” As of 2018, the FAO listed 594 of 7,745 local agricultural breeds as extinct. Another 26% were “at risk”, while 67% had “unknown” status. Losing them means losing survival traits. The Katjang rescue depends on collecting DNA from specimens identified as possible purebreds. A Mardi team regularly travels to farms and Orang Asli villages, testing and buying potentially promising goats for its breeding programme. “We’re developing a Malaysianised Boer, a Katjang-Boer mix. But we need pure Katjangs for that,” said Ainu Husna. The programme blends natural

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