Dairy tech must boost efficiency
A substantial increase in domestic dairy production using technology will meet domestic demand and prepare local manufacturers for the export market, an official of the National Dairy Authority, or NDA, said.
“The focus of other countries for their industries, like Europe, Australia and New Zealand, is the export market,” NDA Administrator Gabriel Lagamayo said in a recent interview on DAILY TRIBUNE’s digital show Straight Talk.
The Department of Agriculture’s attached agency earlier gave a targeted output increase to 80 million liters by 2028, which is a small portion of the projected demand of 2.143 million metric tons by that year. Total milk consumption in 2023 was 1.937 million metric tons, while production was only 17,850 metric tons. One liter of liquid is roughly one kilogram, so a metric ton is around 1,000 liters. Thus, milk demand in 2028 would be around 2,143 million liters. “Look at what will happen if we increase production; we will go head-to-head with the multinationals. That means we need to be very efficient,” Lagamayo said.
He said there is a need to maximize technology for dairy farms, citing available know-how that allows cows to report their condition using electronic tags.
The sensor monitors a cow’s health, including if she’s sick or in heat. The use of the technology is crucial in boosting output, Lagamayo said.
He said improved feed technology is required to make the domestic dairy industry globally competitive. “There is now a move to find other sources of protein for cows because, actually, even with the present requirement, soybean meal is imported. We need to find an indigenous source of protein that is abundant and sustainable to feed cows,” Lagamayo said, adding that the DA’s National Livestock Program is working on these goals.
Increased market potential
Ensuring the quality of the milk is also necessary to increase the potential of local products hitting the international market.
“The more efficient we are, the more we can say that we can export milk because we can now compete with the world price,” he said, noting that the government will prioritize expanding local dairy production.
Lagamayo said a dramatic increase in the number of animals in the milking line, improved dairy productivity, the expansion of distribution networks, construction of more dairy-related infrastructure, and the promotion of the consumption of local milk and dairy products are necessary to increase milk output 2.5 times in the next five years.
In the interview, Lagamayo said over 7,000 dairy animals produced 17 million liters of milk last year, but more is needed to meet local demand.
To achieve this, an increase in the number of the right breed of dairy animals is needed.