Productivity of Local Indonesian Dairy Cows

Productivity is a combination of genetics and environment.

In this context, genetics refers to the inherent traits and characteristics of the cows. Nowadays, we can identify these traits and characteristics through precise DNA testing.

Environment refers to management and treatment because we are talking about dairy cows that are maintained by humans. Therefore, their environment depends on how humans manage them.

 

For decades, we have discussed management extensively. We have had numerous discussions on barn management, feed, nutrition, health, reproduction, and so on. For decades, we have also talked about breeding strategies to obtain better offspring of local Indonesian dairy cows using advanced breeding technologies.

 

Interestingly, we found that local Indonesian dairy cows, under the same maintenance patterns, have production potential ranging from 1800 to 2400 liters per lactation. This variation heavily depends on their genetic quality. We also discovered that if the same cows are managed under a more precise and uniform commercial system, their production potential ranges from 3200 to 4200 liters per lactation, again with variation depending on genetic quality.

 

Genetic variation becomes a fundamental determining factor because it is closely related to the selection of cows that will enter the barn. We found that differences in DNA alleles significantly impact production variations. In smallholder farms, this can result in differences of 200–400  liters per lactation, while in commercial farms, it can lead to differences of 400-800 liters per lactation.

 

This means that if smallholder farmers choose the wrong cows, the potential losses range from 1.4–3.2  million IDR per cow per lactation, or 7–14 million IDR per cow over its lifetime (assuming a milk price of  7,000 IDR, maintenance for 5 years, and a calving interval of 12 months). For commercial farmers, the potential losses range from 2.8–5.6 million IDR per cow per lactation, or 14–28  million IDR per cow over its maintenance period.

 

Considering this, it is crucial for dairy farmers to not choose the wrong cows and ensure they select cows using precise genetic testing methods.

 

How many dairy cows in Indonesia fall into the not suitable category for dairy production, consuming resources without benefit? The question is, how many tens of thousands are like this? How much loss are we all facing because of this? If out of our current 500,000 dairy cows (according to the BPS survey in 2022), 10% fall into this category, we have a potential loss of 70–160  billion IDR per year due to lost milk. This figure does not include losses from wasted feed resources, wasted labor, wasted medications, and so on.

 

It’s quite alarming, isn’t it?

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