Senate Hearing - 2 March 2020
Philippine Cattle Industry Development
Rene G. Abad, Pres., Camiling Cattlemen✥s Assoc.
As of 01 January 2020, the total cattle inventory of the country was estimated at 2.542 million
heads, with 2.392 million heads or 94% are owned and/or managed by small cattle raisers, where
the increase in population of 0.3% mostly came from. Based on this, small cattle raisers should be
Represented in the relevant livestock policy councils of the government.
In 2018, there were 25,481 heads of dairy cattle, 18,291 heads of dairy carabaos, and 16,610
heads of dairy goats. Local dairy production was 23.69 million kilograms. Imports of milk and dairy
products was 531.47 million kgs. worth about P51 Billion, money that should have provided good
income to millions of local small cattle and dairy producers.
Government must be free to create and engage in missionary companies for cattle industry
developmental initiatives, for later divestment and sale to small farmers.
The large money being spent for the Importation of Expensive Uneconomical cattle, is better
utilized for the massive crossbreeding of the cattle raised by small farmers, using Dual Purpose breeds,
to increase local production. P180,000 vs. P5,000 per head cost.
PROPOSALS:
1. Genetics
a. Converge Government-supported cattle breeding programs to Dual Purpose production and
breeds.
b. Streamline the process of importing foreign cattle genetics.
c. Introduce New Dual Purpose Germplasm - Braunvieh, Normande, Simmental, Fleckvieh,
Montbeliarde, MRY, Pinzgauer, Nellore, Guzerat, Caracu, etc.
d. Develop and propagate the Philippine Cattle Breed as an essential genetic input in breeding as
a source for fertility and hardiness traits.
e. Enhance the AI program with additional Liquefied Nitrogen Gas plants, training programs,
and AI technicians✥ mobility, equipment and funding.
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Senate Hearing - 2 March 2020
2. Marketing
a. Local production and distribution of Mobile Weighing Scales via DOST design prototype.
b. Web and other monitoring mechanisms for cattle and milk prices.
c. Development of an smartphone app for body weight estimation and other small cattle raiser
uses.
d. Construction of Dried Milk Processing plants to serve as the NFA✁ of small dairy farmers.
e. Government supported cattle and dairy production performance shows and competitions.
f. Implement strictly the NDA law mandating the purchase by local milk processors of milk
produced by local producers. More specific amendments may be necessary for better
compliance.
3. Health
a. Training of Paravets by TESDA - An Ounce of prevention is better than a Pound of cure✁
b. Providing Dewormers at least, at cost, to small raisers.
4. Training
a. Radio, Web and SMS based training, with content provided for by the Government, using
existing Government telecoms facilities.
b. Simplified, low cost printed training materials on
Essentials of Dual Purpose Cattle
Production✁, including silvopasture.
5. Financing
a. Accessible, Affordable loan program for animal acquisition by small cattle raisers.
b. Livestock Bond, directly sold to Pilipino citizens by LBP and DBP, specially to the OFW✥s,
BPO employees and other interested citizens.
c. Stricter compliance monitoring of banks on loans to the agricultural sector based on legal
requirements.
6. Production
a. Enable small farmers to access mountainous areas for cattle production utilising silvopasture,
under stewardships that can be inherited.
b. Study the feasibility of importing cattle from India through their goshala institutions using
quarantine islands, to increase cattle population.
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Senate Hearing - 2 March 2020
c. Law for the protection and utilization of agricultural by-products for cattle feedstuff.
7. Research
a. Research on the more efficient use of agricultural by-products for dairy cattle feeding, and
cattle methane gas emissions reduction.
8. Notes
Milk Prices:
Farm gate
European Union € 35.36 per 100kgs P19.67/kg
New Zealand € 30.38 per 100 Kgs P16.90/kg
Brazil €32,07 per 100 Lt.
P17.84/kg
Fonterra US$4.20-$4.84 per kg Milk Solids P214.54/kg Milk Solids
Processed
U.S. $3321 per tonne Whole Milk Powder
P169.64/kg
How many heads of dairy cows in total have been imported by the former Philippine Dairy Corp.
and by the National Dairy Authority?
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