Introduction

The world's population has reached nearly 7 billion people and, according to several
reliable projections, it is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050 (Haddad, 2023) Food
demand is predicted to increase significantly by 2050. The world population is
growing, which is a major component in this increase. As a result of this increased
need for food, the consumption of animal products is expected to double by the year
2050. (Ritchie, 2023).Agricultural systems, particularly dairy farming, are critical to
global food production and economic stability. The pursuit of sustainable and efficient
procedures in this industry has grown increasingly important, driven by the combined
challenge of satisfying rising demand for high-quality dairy products while addressing
environmental issues and guaranteeing cattle welfare.

A study carried out by The National Dairy Authority (NDA) found that 16.8% of the
Philippines' overall agricultural value came from the dairy sub-sector, which comprises
dairy goats, dairy cows, and carabao/buffalo. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)
reports that the total dairy output for 2021 was 26.3 thousand metric tons, or Php
1.408 billion at current exchange rates. With a 16.7% increase in gross revenues, the
dairy subsector displayed a positive trend. The recorded gains in value for goats,
cattle, and buffalo were 14.6%, 18.5%, and 22.1%, respectively. 99% of the dairy
products in the Philippines are imported, despite the fact that the National Statistical
Coordination Board (NSCB) reports that the country only meets 1% of its 2.5 billion-
liter milk demand.

The Philippines' dairy sector is relatively new and undeveloped. With herds of five to
ten cows and farms covering little more than three hectares, the bulk of producers are
small-scale operations. Production is gathered, processed, and distributed by
cooperatives. The main problems facing the dairy industry include a lack of records
that would help follow the evolution of farm output, low reproductive efficiency, low
feed production, insufficient automation, and limitations of water. Because of this, total
output can only meet 1.8% of domestic demand; the remaining amount must be
imported.

Materials and Methods

Study Description

The study was conducted out in Laguna's Brgy, Calusiche, Pagsanjan. The
geography in the area is a mix of plains and mountains. The farm lot is roughly three
hectares, of which only two are used for grazing and moveable land. The remaining
one hectare is used for grass plantations, which provide sustainable feedstocks. The
farm was registered and granted an all-natural certification in 2017. Small-scale dairy
farms that met certain criteria were included in the study; these farms were selected to
be representative of the area and had the following characteristics: i) a high level of
forage self-sufficiency; ii) a local dual-purpose breed (the farm was registered and
accredited by PCC and ATI); iii) processed pasture exclusively using natural methods;
iv) exhibit sustainable farming .

The questionnaire covered modern and traditional farm structure (buildings,

machinery, equipment), management (herd composition, housing system, manure
management, ration composition), grazing period (management of pastures, duration
of grazing period, characteristic of grassland area), and data on input and output mass
flow (forage, concentrate feed, milk, fertilizer, pesticides). The dairy farm registered
with the National Dairy Authority (NDA) supplied information regarding the quantity
and quality of milk as well as its protein and fat composition. Also including the
profitable enterprise involving high-value products and farm access to markets and the
farm's interaction with the community. The assessment also covered the farm's
equipment, structures, medications, and other little essential supplies.

Data collection

The data collection methodology employed in this dairy farm assessment utilized a
purposive sampling strategy to ensure the meticulous selection of small-scale dairy
farms that exemplified specific characteristics pertinent to the study objectives. The
adoption of purposeful sampling was deemed imperative to concentrate on farms
possessing distinct attributes, notably those showcasing high forage self-sufficiency,
maintaining a locally accredited dual-purpose breed by ATI and PCC, and utilizing all-
natural pasture processing methods. This intentional selection approach heightened
the relevance and applicability of the findings to the targeted research questions,
facilitating a comprehensive understanding of sustainable and locally adapted farming
practices. By intentionally choosing farms meeting these criteria, the data collection
process assured the study sample accurately represented the key features crucial for
evaluating the sustainability and performance of dairy farming in the study area. This
meticulous approach significantly contributes to the robustness and specificity of the
data, thereby enabling profound insights into the practices and challenges confronted
by dairy farms, aligning closely with the study's objectives and research inquiries.

Concurrently, a field study was conducted directly on the farm premises, allowing for
firsthand observation and documenting of critical features such as agricultural
infrastructure, machinery, and equipment. This complex data gathering system was
created to provide a comprehensive picture of the dairy farm's performance and
dynamics.

In the context of dairy farm assessment, the principal instrument employed was a
standardized questionnaire featuring both structured and semi-structured questions.
This questionnaire served as the cornerstone of the data collection methodology,
facilitating face-to-face interviews with dairy farm owners. The information garnered
through these interviews was comprehensive, covering various aspects including
socio-demographic variables of the respondents and their livestock and crop
production practices spanning from 2010 to the present. As an integral component of
our approach, direct observations were conducted during the interviews. This involved
on-the-spot assessments of the livestock being kept on the farm and the specific
crops in cultivation on the day of the visit. This layered methodology ensured an
extensive assessment of the dairy farm dynamics, integrating structured insights
gained from the questionnaire with real-time observations, enhancing the depth and
contextual significance of the data collection process. This careful method provides to
a complete understanding of dairy farm operations within the stated timeframe, which
is well aligned with the aims of the study.

Data analysis

Haddad, M. (2023, July 11). World Population Day: What will the world look like in

2050? Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/11/world-

population-day-what-will-the-world-look-like-in-2050

Ritchie, H. (2023, November 13). Meat and dairy production. Our World in Data.

https://ourworldindata.org/meat-production

Dairy – Industry Strategic Science and Technology Plans (ISPs) platform. (n.d.).
https://ispweb.pcaarrd.dost.gov.ph/dairy/#:~:text=In%202021%2C%20PSA
%20reported%20the,cattle%2C%20and%20goat%2C%20respectively.