Milk Output Churns Higher in H1 as Dairy Herd Grows

The country's dairy sector showed mixed but positive gains during the first half, with milk production rising by 11.4 percent and the national dairy herd expanding by nearly eight percent, the Department of Agriculture said yesterday.

- By Alden Monzon

The DA said its attached agency, the National Dairy Authority (NDA), reported that the country's milk output reached 18.16 million liters during the period, up by 11.4 percent from 16.30 million liters recorded in the same period last year.

Of the total milk production, the DA said 14.72 million liters came from NDA-assisted and monitored areas, up by 11.9 percent and accounting for 81 percent of the total.

The remaining 3.44 million liters were produced outside the agency's oversight, it added.

Dairy cattle remained the main source of milk, contributing 10.98 million liters, or 60.4 percent of total output.