The government-private sector partnership in accelerating the growth of the Philippine dairy industry’s was highlighted in the 16th National Dairy Congress and Exposition held last February 7 at Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.
Five hundred farmers and stakeholders attended the congress while 40 individuals and groups participated in the exhibit.
The National Daily Authority (NDA) will partner with dairy farmers and the National Dairy Confederation on a program of dairy herd build-up through intensified upgrading and preservation of local stock, augmented by the importation of dairy animals, embryos and equipment, and the establishment of more multiplier and grow-out farms, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said in a statement.
According to Secretary Alcala, these farms will be responsible for breeding, milk production and processing, including the rearing of male calves for fattening.
This is expected to result in sustainable dairy enterprises and animal trading industry.
In her speech during the forum, NDA Administrator Grace Cenas said the country has 40, 696 dairy animals that produced 18.45 million liters of milk in 2012, topping last year’s produce by 12 per cent.
Local milk production, she added, had been growing by an average of 7 per cent yearly in the last five years. However, this represents less than 1 per cent of the country’s total dairy requirement.
The target is to accelerate local dairy development, increase fresh-milk production provide dairy farms with more income and livelihood and supply Filipino consumers with quality fresh milk.
The exposition also showcased the latest dairy technologies, including genetic improvement, her build-up, reducing calf mortality, increased cow-calf profitability, heifer management, disease prevention and control, forage and pasture development, feeds and mineral supplementation, standards and collection system, market development, economics of goat production, and goat cheese production.
Photo: “La Vache Qui Rit wears earrings made of her own cheese!” by irina slutsky, c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved