Milk and other dairy products is one of the top agricultural commodities that are imported by the Philippines from other countries such as New Zealand and USA. Their low price and better quality makes it hard for local producers to compete with these products in the market.
The crude processing and low-yielding cow breeds in the country add to this problem.
The National Dairy Authority (NDA), in an effort to improve our stock, has rallied the active participation of organized groups, cooperatives, and private entities in all government dairy and dairy-related efforts.
In pursuit of its mandate to develop the local dairy industry, the NDA has vigorously pursued the propagation of dairy animals through importation or infusion of breeder stock; crossbreeding and upgrading of local/native stock; promoting save-the-dairyherd schemes thru contract growing; encouraging the establishment of dairy breeding farms under private-public partnership; and promoting dairy animal trading among stakeholders of the dairy industry.
To address the pervading issues on availability, affordability and quality of dairy animals in the country, while at the same time hastening the Dairy Herd Build Up Program, the NDA sees the need to partner with multiplier farms.
Foundation University and Silliman University are two higher education institutions in the Province that were approved as multiplier farm operators.
On Aug. 1, 2012, both Universities received 25 pregnant dairy cows directly from New Zealand.
These animals are crossbreed between the Holstein breeds from New Zealand and Sahiwal breed from India. While the Holstein is one of the best dairy cow breeds, it cannot survive tropical climates hence the Sahiwal breed was used in crossbreeding to improve the stock.
As a Multiplier Farm Operator, it is the responsibility of these institutions to manage the dairy animals according to prescribed standards to ensure technical and financial viability of its business. As part of the agreement, it will pay back the loan in an in-kind payment scheme.
In the past, many multiplier farms have successfully managed and bred imported dairy animals in the country and have produced island born dairy crosses whose milk production performances are comparable, if not better, than the imported ones. It is hoped that the Province will follow suit in this success.
