Herd Build-Up
This program aims to ensure and accelerate the increase in both local dairy stocks and local milk production. Increase in local dairy herd may be realized thru the importation of genetic materials like dairy animals and dairy breeding materials, upgrading of existing local animals to dairy breed, production of replacement stocks thru dairy breeding programs like artificial insemination programs and multiplier farm establishment, and the preservation of existing stocks. Increasing the milking animals will significantly affect overall local milk production in the country. The following sub-programs concretize the herd build-up program.
Save-the-Herd (STH) Program.
This program was designed to channel dairy animals into a scheme which will stimulate animal trading, dairy enterprise enhancement and herd conservation. Under this program, the STH partner receives from NDA a dairy animal which he is obligated to rear, condition and impregnate according to prescribed dairy husbandry management standards.
Herd infusion.
This includes importation of dairy stocks, diversification of sources and local procurement of dairy animals.
Improved breeding efficiency.
Breeding is a primary concern not only in building up the dairy herd but also in producing the right genetics that will produce significant volumes and augment the present milk production. Breeding services are regularly provided to maximize the reproductive capacity of dairy animals either thru artificial insemination or natural (bull) breeding. To keep track of these services and validate efficiency, computer-based monitoring of NDA- assisted herds, regular reporting on the ratio of pregnant animals to total breedable herd and tracking calving intervals are being done.
Animal financing.
Tailoring of animal loan programs to the dairy business cycle and tapping new sources of affordable animal loans. Financing institutions are being tapped for this purpose. Presently though, with the current tight global financial situation, a payment-in-kind scheme is being pursued.
Palit-Baka Scheme of Dairy Animal Distribution.
Refers to the program whereby NDA distributes potential dairy animals to new but eligible and qualified participants who in a certain period of time, would resort to a payment-in- kind by way of female dairy animals.
Upgrading of local animals.
Another strategy used to increase the number of dairy animals is through upgrading. It is done by artificially inseminating local cattle with 100% purebred Holstein-Friesian semen. Calves born from upgrading programs are distributed to new farmers interested in dairying. Despite the longer waiting period to earn money from upgrading, other farmers, LGUs and private organizations still prefer such approach to dairying because of the readily available native animals in their localities.
Breeding/Multiplier farm Operations.
Engaging and encouraging private-public partnership in producing local born dairy stocks to become major sources of affordable quality dairy animals.
Bull Loan Program.
NDA delivers purebred and crossbred dairy bulls to Regional Field Units of the Department of Agriculture or other Dairy Bull project partners to be managed, trained and maintained for semen production, collection and processing purposes.