QR Tag System In Melaka To Strengthen Livestock Monitoring

By Mohd Fakri Awang Lah

MELAKA, June 25 (Bernama) -- The Melaka state government has introduced the Livestock QR Tag system as a measure to strengthen livestock monitoring and facilitate the identification of owners in the event of incidents involving livestock in the state.

Melaka Chief Minister Department (JKMM) chief assistant secretary of the Local Government Unit (UKT) Mahathir Mustafa said that the initiative, in collaboration with the Melaka Veterinary Services Department (JPV), is a result of an idea from Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh and is part of the state government's digitalisation agenda to enhance the effectiveness of livestock management and enforcement.

The implementation of the Quick Response (QR) Tag not only facilitates authorities in identifying livestock owners more quickly and accurately but also enhances the level of responsibility of breeders towards the animals they keep.

"It is a new approach that is more systematic and efficient in ensuring livestock management in Melaka is at its best, in line with Melaka's aspiration to be a smart and livable state," he said to Bernama.

Commenting further, Mahathir said that each registered livestock will be fitted with tags containing QR codes and unique identification numbers that allow basic farming information to be accessed immediately through smartphone scanning.

Mahathir said that as of early June this year, 2,000 livestock had been fitted with QR Tags, with the state government aiming to gradually expand the implementation to cover the entire registered population of cows and buffaloes in Melaka, which is estimated to number over 32,000.

He said the system also aids in monitoring livestock movement, disease control, and strengthening enforcement against the issue of stray livestock that can jeopardise community safety and well-being.

He said the need for the implementation of the system has become increasingly important due to the rise in cases involving stray livestock, which not only invites public complaints but also poses a potential threat to road users' safety.

"Since 2023, a total of 835 accidents involving livestock and more than 50 complaints regarding stray animals have been recorded in Melaka, and these statistics indicate the need for a more effective mechanism to ensure that livestock owners can be identified immediately when an incident occurs."

"With the QR Tag, the authorities no longer face difficulties in tracking livestock owners because basic information such as the breeder's name, premises ID, and farm location can be obtained directly by scanning the QR code using a smartphone," he said.

Mahathir said the tag will remain the official identity of the livestock for the animal's entire life and does not need to be changed even if there is a sale or transfer of ownership.

On the other hand, he said the new owner's information only needs to be updated in the eVetPermit Malaysia system to ensure ownership records are always accurate and up-to-date.

Meanwhile, he said the implementation of the project also received positive feedback from breeders who see the system as a step to protect their interests as well as help improve the image of the state's livestock industry.

He said that close cooperation between UKT, JPV, and local authorities (PBT) is an important factor in ensuring the smooth implementation of the initiative and achieving the set objectives.

"The state government is committed to expanding the use of technology in various sectors, including livestock farming, to ensure more efficient, transparent, and effective service delivery to the people," he said.

In the same development, he also said the state government will fully cover the cost of installing QR Tags at RM6.50 each until the end of this year to encourage breeders’ participation in the programme.

He added that during the period, breeders only need to register their livestock with the Melaka JPV to receive the QR Tag for free, and after the introduction period ends, the cost of new installations or tag replacements will be borne by the breeders at RM5 per head starting in 2027.

-- BERNAMA