The National Dairy Authority (NDA) said it is conducting a massive upgrading of dairy animals by crossbreeding local cows with imported pure dairy breeds.

NDA administrator Salvacion Bulatao said the agency is supporting the efforts of the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) in promoting the carabao industry. "We have been importing these pure breeds since 2003.

Presently the landed cost of a pregnant cow is P 73,000," she noted.

The NDA is also supporting the development of other livestock sectors that are sources of milk.

"The great demand for cows' milk by processors, restaurants, hotels and local consumers offers wide opportunities for potential entrepreneurs.

Through the NDA, local producers are able to maintain a high standard of quality which meets the requirements of said markets."

The Department of Agriculture has been advocating this type of product diversification and value adding for local agricultural producers to widen their expertise and increase their income by broadening their markets.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap has been urging producers of grains, fruits, vegetables, livestock and fisheries to transcend resource-based production and go into high value-added products for the local and foreign markets.

During the World Buffalo Congress, Yap named the carabao as the country's hope for self-sufficiency in milk and beef.

However, he said much needs to be done to achieve this, including increasing the current three million carabao population, adapting the crossbreeds to local conditions and developing more food and industrial uses
for carabao meat, milk and byproducts.

The NDA has been the recipient of a US government donation to feed 100,000 children, especially in areas with high incidence of malnutrition.

Bulatao dreams of the day that the agency can increase its
beneficiaries to 500,000, or even all the six million malnourished kids in the country.

Bulatao expressed belief in ensuring the profitability and have been able to accumulate as much as 25 animals through proper farm management.

Farmers get the animals through loans from Quedancor. The NDA assists them by consolidating shipments, as it is cheaper to import by the boatload.

Earlier, the NDA said the Philippines is looking at local and
international Muslim consumers of halal products as new markets for local producers of milk and milk products.

"For milk to be halal, it must come from animals the Muslims are permitted to eat. Milk products must not be mixed or contaminated with forbidden substances like alcohol, blood, lard, gelatin, glycerin, lecithin and enzymes. They must be processed using utensils and equipment that are cleaned according to Islamic law. It is important that substances used are derived from sources certified by the Halal Certification Committee," Bulatao explained.