STRAYING cattle is a common problem in many parts of Perak.
It is no different in Kampar and nearby towns where the lives of road users are constantly put in great danger by wandering buffaloes and cows.
According to Kampung Batu Sepuluh villager Rokiah Wob, wandering buffaloes are a common sight in Kampar, Malim Nawar and as far as Tanjung Tualang.
“They are everywhere, regardless whether it is night or day.
“But we only see the animals and not their owners,” she said.
Common feature: A herd of buffaloes resting in a field near houses. Rokiah, 65, related that just a week ago, a friend of her granddaughter fractured her leg after falling off her bicycle.
“She fell down after she bumped into a buffalo.
“The least the owners can do is keep an eye on their buffaloes,” she said.
But technician Mohd Rizi Mohd Nasir was not as lucky.
On Oct 27, the eve of his 25th birthday, Mohd Rizi was killed when he rammed his motorcycle into a buffalo that was crossing Jalan Ipoh-Kampar in Jeram, causing the machine to skid to the opposite side of the road.
Mohd Rizi was then mowed down by an oncoming car as he was still lying on the road.
A cowherd from Kampar, who wished to be anonymous, said it was not the nature of cattle to dash out onto the road.
“My son and I constantly keep an eye on these animals when we make our way to the fields in residential areas to graze,” said the 54-year-old second-generation cattle farmer.
He told MetroPerak that most farmers allowed their animals to roam free to graze as grass was expensive.
“I can hardly eke out a living from selling cattle and milk. It is impossible for me and, I believe, most other farmers too spend hundreds of ringgit on buying grass to feed their herd.
“These animals can finish a lorry load of grass in just one meal,” he said, highlighting that the animals ate twice a day.
“Of course, I have to put up with the unpleasantness of being scolded by residents when my animals move just a bit closer to their houses,” he added.
Kinta Veterinary Services Department assistant officer Azahar Abdul Malek said there was a field in Kampung Ayer Papan, Changkat Tin that was gazetted for grazing but it could only cater to about 70 heads of cattle.
“The field, which sits on a 42.9ha site, is insufficient for all farmers in the area.
“At present, 12 registered farmers are feeding their cattle there,” he said.
Azahar suggested that farmers work with owners of plantation estates to avoid having their cattle stray into residential areas and roads.
“Estate owners or companies should consider this.
“Of course, the cattle breeders or farmers must be at hand to supervise or keep an eye on their animals,” he said, adding that the department only supervised the care of livestock but was not involved in the enforcement of roaming animals.
Kampar district councillor Ching Suet Ling said the council would confiscate any cattle found roaming.
“If owners fail to come to the council to reclaim their cattle by paying a fine, the animals will be auctioned off,” she said.
The council imposes a maximum fine of RM2,500 on each stray cattle caught.
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