Feeding Systems with Legumes to Intensify Dairy Farms - cgiar

producers who collaborate with the Tropileche Consortium thought that if
they increased their milk production, they would have problems to market the
additional milk because the market was already saturated. The other five
producers sell their milk to the School Milk Program, a public-funded project
that provides fluid milk to children during school hours.
Another factor that affects the potential to increase the milk market is the
substitution of protein sources existing in the region. River products are a
good example: the kilogram of DM of fish protein costs US$2.90 in Pucallpa,
while the kg of milk protein costs US$8.80. In other words, milk protein is
303% more expensive than fish protein. Furthermore, there are other energy
sources, such as cassava and rice, equivalent in dry matter and significantly
less expensive than milk. As a result, the market of raw milk in Pucallpa is
limited to the upper-class population and its possibilities for growth are very
limited, unless a milk processing plant can be established in Pucallpa to
satisfy the demand for evaporated milk that hich is now brought from Lima.
Base scenario versus alternative options in Peru. Figure 6 shows milk
production costs under different forage alternatives. Unlike the results from
Costa Rica and Nicaragua, the most profitable option for Pucallpa under the
current situation in Peru is the base scenario found on farms. In other words,
the most competitive option is to maintain the herd in native pastures and
provide milking cows with a supplement of brewers’ yeast during the short 3month
dry season. Brewers’ yeast is a viable option because it is abundant
and inexpensive (US$0.15/kg DM, 22% CP and 65% digestibility).
Cost (US$/kg)
0.40
0.35
0.30
0.25
0.20
0.15
0.10
0.05
0
800 1500
Native grass + brewers’
yeast
Milk (kg/lactation)
Figure 6. Milk production cost with different forage alternatives in Peru,
assuming the same herd size.
100
Brachiaria +
Cratylia
2000
Brachiaria + Arachis