Council Embarks On Dairy-Focused Technical Consultations In Southeast Asia To Boost Local Milk Production

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) recently executed a series of comprehensive technical workshops for dairy farmers in Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, underscoring USGC’s commitment to developing and growing Southeast Asia’s budding dairy industry.

The region’s growing demand for milk is generating dynamic capacity building and trade opportunities for U.S. farmers, particularly as countries like Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia strive to increase their dairy cattle populations to more than one million head to meet domestic demand and strengthen childhood nutrition programs.

These technical workshops, held last month, included in-person advisory exchanges between local dairy stakeholders and U.S. dairy experts Dr. Walter Chen and Dr. Todd Meyer, with on-site consultations focused on animal health, nutrition and dairy farm management. The technical experts worked closely with local dairy farmers to enhance practices that can drive higher milk production and efficiency, ultimately reducing costs for consumers and increase demand for both local dairy farmers and U.S. corn farmers.

“The growing regional interest in boosting local milk production presents a perfect opportunity for the U.S. Grains Council to share its technical knowledge and promote the benefits of incorporating U.S. distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) into local feed rations,” said Rowena Ngumbang, USGC Regional Marketing Manager for Southeast Asia & Oceania.

“By optimizing feed formulations, we can improve milk yields and overall dairy farm productivity. Our experts also provided invaluable insights on animal health, heat stress management, mastitis control and even barn design – critical elements for sustainable dairy farming.”

This initiative is part of USGC’s broader strategy to strengthen the region’s dairy industry, that is experiencing rapid growth thanks to rising incomes, changing consumers preferences and government initiatives.

A key element of the Council’s regional strategy was the establishment of the U.S. Grains Council Feed Quality Research Laboratory in Saraburi, Thailand. This facility serves as a focal point for addressing challenges confronting the local dairy sector. Saraburi is home to approximately 2,600 smallholder dairy farmers who rely on raw milk production for their livelihoods. Among the predominant hurdles faced by these farmers is the exorbitant cost of milk production, primarily attributed to the inadequate quality of feed concentrates and limited forage availability. Consequently, the average daily milk yield per cow ranges from eight to 10 liters, insufficient to sustain their economic viability.

This regional hub focusing on advancing feed formulation research and supporting pilot projects on ruminant nutrition is a critical component for the sustainable growth of dairy farming in the region. Through these technical visits and ongoing partnerships, the U.S. Grains Council is playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of the dairy industry across Southeast Asia, helping to build a foundation for long-term growth in local milk production.

Learn more about the Council’s programs in Southeast Asia here.