MODULE

2
DAIRY TYPE RUMINANTS

INTRODUCTION TO LIVESTOCK AND

POULTRY PRODUCTION
3 BSAB
2021
 INTRODUCTION TO DAIRY FARMING

MODULE OVERVIEW

This module focuses on the basics of dairy farming in the tropics. This will help
you understand that dairy farming is a specialized field. Most importantly, this module
will help you develop your ability to relate the significance of dairy farming to food
production.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of the learning experience, it is expected that you must be able to:

2.1 explain the overview of dairy production;

2.2. differentiate the different breeds of dairy cattle
2.3. discuss the nutrition and feeding of dairy animals;
2.4. demonstrate the general management practices in dairy animals.

MODULE OVERVIEW

This part of the module will give you the learning activities for each intended
learning outcomes expected from this module. Each learning activities is followed by
either a Self-Check (Assessment) or Self-Reflection activities to test your
understanding and consciousness of the expected outcome

I. OVERVIEW OF DAIRY PRODUCTION

A. Introduction

Every tropical country has a dairy industry but very few of them provide self -
sufficiency in raw milk production. Many of these countries have a long history of dairy
farming (several centuries) and have become virtually self-sufficient in raw milk
production.
However, these dairy industries in most tropical countries have much shorter
history of dairy farming (often less than 50 years) and supply only 50% or less of their
domestic milk requirements.

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 Dairy farms in the tropics can be categorized into three types, based on herd size:

Type 1: Mixed Farms

- Milk production only makes up small part of farm income
- Farms evolve from cropping to livestock
- Herd sizes are small ˂ 5 to 20 cows

Type 2: Smallholder dairy farms

- Milk production is a major contributor to farm income
- Dairy facilities have evolved but are not sufficient for future development
- Herd sizes are generally smaller than 5 cows

Type 3: Large- scale dairy farms

- These have been established primarily to produce milk
- They often have sufficient land or forage supplies
- Herd sizes: 20 to 100 plus cows

Constraints to Tropical Dairy Farming

The major environmental constraints include:

• High temperature and humidity,

• Lengthy dry season, thus shortening the length of the growing season (rainy season).

The major production constraints include the following:

• High-yielding dairy cows are essentially temperate animals

• They have high feed requirement and high internal heat production
• Dairy animals are usually fed on crop residue-based diet
• Tropical forages generally have low feeding value
• Diseases thrive in tropical climates
• Young stock are highly susceptible to poor management practices
• Farmers often do not fully understand farm management requirements for milk
production compared with other types of livestock enterprises

Problems for Smallholder Dairy Farms

Smallholder dairy farms also face many problems. These can be categorized into
three types:

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 1. Problems with resources

- Limited capital and government support

- Limited land to grow forages
- Limited availability of quality fodder seeds of improved genetics
- Lack of “weather-proof” facilities to house dairy stock
- Inability to source quality dairy stock - Limited supplies of quality supplement

Generally, markets are readily available while post farm gate infrastructure is often
sub-optimal. On the whole, government or cooperative support to smallholder farmers
could also be improved.

2. Problems with farmer skills

- A general lack of comprehension and knowledge

- Misunderstandings that dairy farming is very different to other livestock enterprises
- Limited understanding of the high nutrient requirement of milking cows
- Limited understanding of farm business management.

3. Miscellaneous problems

- Farms are small size hence only generate small cash flow
- Too much concern is placed on genetic merit and imbalances in feeding must be addressed first
- There is a general lack of dry season forage production schemes and farmers cannot depend on
current poor quality forage supplies
- There are poor quality assurance schemes for byproducts and concentrate formulations
- Milk harvesting systems always limit milk quality.
- Dairy advisers often not available and understand little of economics of balanced feeding

II. THE PHILIPPINE DAIRY INDUSTRY

The Philippines produces less than one percent of its total annual dairy
requirement and imports the balance. Local milk production is projected to reach 25,000
MT this year and will likely hit 26,000 MT in 2020 due to increasing consumer preference
for fresh milk and growing local dairying capabilities.

There are two distinct sectors that make up the Philippines’ milk industry: a huge
importing and processing sector that supplies over 99% of the milk requirement of the
country and a small milk producing sector that provides the rest of the supply.

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 The milk producing sector consists of an informal group of individuals or
unorganized producers and a formal sector that is made up of about three distinct groups:

1. The smallholder producers with 1 to 10 head of milk animals

2. The smallholder producers with growing dairy herds numbering from over 20 to
about 75 head of milk animals
3. The producer-processors that maintain farms with about a hundred milk animals
or more, operate a milk pasteurizing plant and undertake marketing of milk
in urban centers.

In all cases, the producer-processors also procure raw milk from smallholders.
Hence, the Philippines’ milk producing sector may be characterized, on the whole, as a
smallholder-based sector.

The major constraints of the Philippines’ dairy sector are as follows:

1. Shortage of dairy stocks

2. Limited industry entrants
3.Competition with cheap imported milk powders
4.Trained technicians and farmers leaving the country to work in dairy farms in
New Zealand and Australia

Opportunities are as follows:

1. Improved productivity of animals on the ground.

2. Increased herds through intensive local upgrading.
3. Increased number of small-hold farmers generating profits from dairy
enterprise.
4. Government support in the establishment of breeding farms to supply new
industry entrants with good dairy stocks.
5. Continued training of farmer technicians

A. Expanding Economic Opportunities in Dairy

1. Improved Productivity. Philippine Dairy Industry Performance Dairy registered the

second highest increase both in volume and in value of production at 1.55% and
8.25%, respectively. According to PSA, dairy production grew by 1.55% due to the
increase in the inventory of dairy animals, more animals in the milk line and higher
farm gate prices offered by traders and processors. Total dairy production reached
12.41 thousand MT-level and grossed P491.02 million at current prices. On the
weighted average, farm gate price of dairy reached to P39.56 per liter.

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 2. Increased Incomes of Dairy Farmers. Increasing profitability of farmers has always
been the end goal of the mission of the agency to increase milk sufficiency through
increased dairy animal productivity. The total gross revenue of small hold dairy
farmers was recorded at Php112.10 million for the 1st semester 2019 as against
last year’s gross revenue of Php67.12 million in the same period.

B. Access to Dairy Animals Provided

1. Safe and Good Quality Milk and Milk Products Made Available and Affordable to
Filipino Consumers. Farmers, processors, and all government agencies primarily the
NDA all work together to ensure that the locally produced milk and milk products
provided to consumers are safe and of good quality. The NDA is committed to develop
a dairy industry that provides locally produced milk that meets global standard. Some
8.460 million liters of milk were produced locally as of June 2019 in NDA assisted dairy
areas of which around 90% were made available to local consumers either sold as raw
milk or processed into milk and milk products.

2. Access to Dairy Animals Provided

2.1 BUY-BACK ENGAGEMENT FOR LOCALLY PRODUCED DAIRY ANIMALS.

The Buyback program of the NDA which serves as an effective strategy to provide
locally sourced dairy animals to interested dairy farmers is continuously implemented
in all dairy areas. Through the program, the NDA procures local-born dairy animals
from qualified dairy farmers, and these animals are distributed to interested new and
existing dairy farmers.
The program is part of the Herd Buildup Program of the NDA. A total of 4,311
heads of dairy cattle have been procured since the program started in 2012 valued at
Php196.17 million. From January to June of 2019, 24 heads were bought and
distributed to interested dairy farmers and cooperatives nationwide valued at Php1.84
million.

3.Increased Access to Dairy Technology

.
3.1 Capacity Building Investing in capability building to increase the skills and
knowledge of all dairy workforces including farmers, farm workers and extension
personnel is one of the key factors in the rapid expansion of dairy farming business in the
country. NDA successfully conducted 18 trainings benefiting 446 farmers and extension
personnel. It is the responsibility of the NDA to conduct trainings that will hone the dairy
workforce, making the industry more competitive.

3.2. Dairy Technology Adopted Higher level of technology adoption is reflected in

the high acceptance rate of raw milk delivered to milk plants for processing. A total of
4,253 million litres of milk were delivered to milk plants for processing with a 99%

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 acceptance rate. Higher technology adoption is associated with the transfer of good dairy
farm management systems and better milk yield as a result.

3.3. Technical Services Rendered In the pursuit of a more vibrant dairy industry,
the NDA is committed into providing technical services to dairy farmers and other dairy
stakeholders. As of June, 2019, a total of 3,389 animals were bred. Previous breeding
and upgrading activities led to the production of 2,161 calves which are potential additions
to current dairy animal population. Animals tested for tuberculosis numbered to 3,606
heads, tested for brucellosis is 3,293 and vaccinated for hemosep is 2,428.

4. Access to Venue in Promoting Dairy Farming and Locally Produced Milk

4.1 NDA and partners celebrate 24 years of growing together in dairy. The National
Dairy Authority celebrated its 24th founding Anniversary last March 12, 2019
with the theme “Growing Together in Dairy”. The event aimed to recognize and
celebrate the progress and achievements of all dairy players. The anniversary
was also celebrated in all NDA Regional Offices together with its stakeholders.

Source: https://psa.gov.ph/content/dairy-industry-performance-report-2

Reading Assignment: Situation Report of Dairy Industry in the Philippines (you may
click the link provided below or you may also refer to the attached file)

Link:
https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/Report/DownloadReportByFileName?fileNam
e=Dairy%20and%20Products%20Annual_Manila_Philippines_10-15-
2020#:~:text=The%20Philippines%20produces%20less%20than,of%20new%20dairy%
20development%20projects.

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 REFERENCES:

Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and
Development.(2004). The Philippines Recommends for Goat Production. PCAARD Publisher.
Laguna, Philippines.

Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and
Development.(2004). The Philippines Recommends for Goat Production. PCAARD
Publisher. Laguna, Philippines.

Pomares, C.C. and Pomares, M. 2012. Introduction to Livestock and Poultry. AS212 Manula.
University of Southern Mindanao.

University of the Philippines Los Baños. (2014). LEA Review Materials.

Dairo, F.A.S., Afolabi, A., and Jari Sanusi. (2018) ANP 302 Ruminant Animal Production. National
Open University of Nigeri.

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