These four people were our closest companions during our visits to the various municipalities. Circling around the table to my left is the Provincial Veterinarian, Dr. Naui; his assistant and agricultural technologist, Sergio Galamgam; a member of the Provincial Planning and Development Council, Willie ----- (never figured out his last name) and the Senior technologist with the Department of Trade and Industry, Gigie Turingan. Here we are finalizing our report and planning for our exit conference on December 15.

On Decmber 15 we provided a number of recommendations, most significantly suggesting that a comprehensive school fresh milk program be the beginning market for a new dairy industry. It would be a measurable market according to funds available and coupled with potential production The province of Isabela has the highest (17%) below normal growth rates of all school children (totalling 160,000 children) in grades 1-6 in Region 2...an area of 5 provinces in Northern Luzon. A milk feeding program in some individual schools has already shown a significant decrease of the BNG rate. A government support of 10,000,000 pesos ($250,000CAD) would already help over 10,000 students and require 6500 litres weekly. Certainly a small weekly volume by Canadian comparison but a start here for 10 farmers milking 10 cows producing 10 litres daily. To feed all of them would take 160 million pesos with a requirement of 100,000 litres per week. Although the current raw milk price is over a $1.00CAD, it would be virtually impossible to accomplish such a volume even if the funding would be available.

My premise is to not overwhelm them with large numbers of animals because all dairy technology from producing forages to feeding cows; breeding cows and handling milk production has to be learned from the most elementary level. Furthermore if forage production can accommodate these animals on 2-3 hectares as suggested by agricultural studies...then the return per hectare will be at least double or triple the returns from corn or rice on lesser quality land.

I had someone ask me yesterday...can I breed my beef heifers artificially? Would it be OK to breed them to Holsteins to upgrade them to milking animals? The dairy knowledge base is very limited and will require considerable guidance in the foreseeable future...but not without potential or hope. It can happen here. We have heard and seen magazines from Vietnam and Thailand that it is happening in those similar tropical countries. China's dairy industry is growing 20% annually. With a strong initiative, the Philippines can do the same.