PHILIPPINES TO IMPORT DAIRY CATTLE FROM BRAZIL
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol poses with Mr. Marco Túlio Paolinelli, owner of Agronelli Farm which breeds Girolando cattle in Uberaba, Brazil.
The Philippines will import Girolando cattle from Brazil for at least five years starting with 10,000 heads in 2018 to as high as 250,000 cows in 2022 to boost the country’s cattle stock and improve its milk production.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol, who was in Brazil on 04-07 December 2017 for a Study Visit of the Brazilian Agriculture, was particularly impressed by the Girolando cattle, created in Brazil from the cross-breeding of Gyr and Holstein, for its milk production capability and high adaptability to tropical climate.
Under the Philippine Government’s Five-Year National Dairy Program (2018-2022), the Department of Agriculture plans to double the number of dairy cattle from 2.5 million to 5 million heads and increase the national milk production in the Philippines from the current 1.8% to 10% of the domestic requirement equivalent to 190,000 metric tons of milk.
The Brazilian cattle will be raised at the government-owned Ubay Stock Farm in Bohol. The calves produced by the first batch of Girolandos will be used in establishing smaller dairy farms of between 100 to 200 heads, to be run by smallholder farmers especially rural women, first in the different towns of Bohol and then later in other parts of the country. Secretary Piñol is also planning to invite companies such as Nestlé to establish a fresh milk packaging plant in Bohol to further generate jobs for the local residents.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol (4th from left, front row) poses with the rest of the Philippine Delegation and the owner and staff of Agronelli Farm in Uberaba, Brazil.
Philippine media entity UNTV interviews Secretary Piñol at the Philippine Embassy in Brasília.
