THE Mong Riththy Group will import US$1 million of cattle sperm from the United Kingdom for a breeding program to meet local demand, it said.

Mong Riththy, head of the eponymous group, spoke to the Post on Saturday before heading to the UK for a livestock exhibition. He said 100 local cows would be impregnated.

"The project aims to enable us to supply local markets with tender beef and quality milk, and to distribute these cattle to farmers," Mong Riththy said, adding that the project would be operational by the end of the year.

Sen Sovann, under secretary general at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in charge of domestic cattle production, welcomed the plan. However, he said the sperm would need to be tested for mad cow disease, which has previously struck UK cattle.

He agreed Cambodia cannot meet local beef demand. Almost 40 tonnes of beef was imported in 2008 to meet a shortfall, official figures showed.