The U.S. Grains Council (USGC), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) Jakarta and other key USDA cooperators and local stakeholders, recently organized a series of seminars aimed at bolstering Indonesia’s dairy sector. The seminars were held across three cities on Java Island, the nation’s most populated island and the heart of Indonesia’s domestic fresh milk production.
“Indonesia’s dairy landscape primarily consists of smallholder farmers, belonging to 59 dairy cooperatives,” said Caleb Wurth, USGC regional director for Southeast Asia and Oceania.” Despite contributing significantly to the country’s fresh milk production, challenges – including genetic quality and feed availability persist. The recent foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak further exacerbated these issues, leading to reduced milk yields.”
The seminars, held in Malang, Yogyakarta and Bandung, addressed these challenges by advocating for improved feed management practices and the use of high-quality feed ingredients like distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS). Through workshops and discussions, participants explored the integration of U.S. feed ingredients into existing formulations, aiming to enhance the nutritional value of dairy cattle feed.
Despite a dairy population of approximately 18 million, there is very little use of DDGS in Indonesia, which provides a significant opportunity for growth via Council programming.
Seminars drew participants from dairy cooperatives and academia, along with industry professionals. Discussions centered on optimizing feed formulations and exploring alternative feed sources like alfalfa and corn silage to mitigate fodder scarcity as well as corn and DDGS to increase the net energy in the rations. The general manager of GKSI’s East Java chapter, an Indonesian milk processor, emphasized the importance of such initiatives and urged continued collaboration to address industry challenges.
Supported by key industry players and universities, including Muhammadiyah University and the Bandung Institute of Technology, the seminars garnered media attention, enhancing awareness of USDA initiatives in Indonesia and fostering bilateral partnerships in agriculture.
“Moving forward, these seminars signify a concerted effort to strengthen Indonesia’s dairy industry, fostering innovation and sustainability” Wurth said.
Read more about the Council’s work in Southeast Asia and Oceania here.
About The U.S. Grains Council
The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union. The Council believes exports are vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s profitability. Detailed information about the Council and its programs is online at www.grains.org.