Dairy farmers' output drops

Dairy farmers' output drops

PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): At least 500 dairy farmers in
Purwokerto, a dairy center in Central Java, are experiencing
declining output due to increasing feedmeal prices.

The chairman of the Pesat dairy cooperative, Siswadi, said
that milk produced by the farmers' cows had declined more than 60
percent to an average of 8,000 liters per day from an average of
13,000 liters two months ago.

A healthy, well-fed cow usually produces up to 12 liters of
milk a day.

"The 70 percent increase in feedmeal prices in the last two
months has cut the farmers' incomes because it exceeds the
increase in fresh milk prices," he said.

All the farmers in the area are members of the Pesat
cooperative.

The government raised the price of fresh dairy milk in
February 17.5 percent to Rp 670 (9 U.S. cents) per liter from Rp
570 per liter.

Siswadi said that the price of concentrate, a protein-rich
ingredient of feedmeal, has increased by 80 percent to Rp 350 per
kilogram from Rp 280 per kg two months ago.

He added that many dairy farmers had reduced the amount of
concentrate given to their cattle by around 50 percent and
replaced it with grass and soybean residues which had a lower
protein content.

"As less protein has been given to the dairy cattle, their
milk production has reduced," he said.

Nasihin, a farmer in the area, said that the feedmeal price
increases should be compensated for by hiking the price of milk
300 percent. (45/gis)