Global breeding programs

Milk production recording: Challenges and opportunities for Indonesian smallholder dairy farming

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Abstract

The Indonesian government is committed to improving the dairy sector, particularly through the optimization of animal breeding programs, as the country is only able to meet approximately 20% of the national demand. The effectiveness of a breeding program is influenced, among other factors, by the accessibility of precise data to established breeding selection criteria. Milk yield is considered one of the key performance indicators in dairy farming. It is also recognized as an important parameter in the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) to produce dairy cattle breeding stock. Having access to such data would enable the selection of potential cows for genetic improvement and breeding program initiatives. However, the available information is very limited, especially among Indonesian smallholder dairy farmers. Thereby, the study aimed to investigate milk production recording practices, identify constraints, and propose strategies for improvement. Data were collected through a survey of 72 farmers, field observations of 10 dairy farms, and interviews with four dairy cooperatives and two milk processors in Bandung, Boyolali, and Malang Regencies. Quantitative data were analysed using multiple response analysis, descriptive statistics, and the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test. Thematic analysis was used for qualitative data. The survey showed 65% of respondents focused on milk quantity sold collected at the farm level. Individual cow data, such as reproductive parameters (artificial insemination and calving dates), were collected by 18% of respondents. 11% of them recorded individual milk production, and 6% addressed health data, including disease history, vaccinations, and treatment. Field observations indicated that only two out of ten farmers recorded daily milk production per cow. Farmers stated that time constraints, insufficient knowledge, and inadequate support as inhibiting factors in dealing with regular record-keeping. Despite this, 76% of respondents expressed their willingness to improve record-keeping practices. Results showed that farmers emphasized support through training and assistance in data collection from relevant stakeholders in the dairy value chain. Since daily data collection remains unrealistic for most farmers, monthly data collection for milk production, for example, by using a test interval method, may serve as an alternative. Having this data could enhance data availability in estimating milk production per lactation per cow, therefore assisting the animal selection process, especially in identifying cows with high genetic potential. In addition, individual data allows the estimation of breeding values, enhancing the accuracy of selection compared to farm level data. As the main partner of dairy farmers, dairy cooperatives could also assume their roles in supporting the improvement of these record-keeping practices, e.g., facilitating data collection, providing regular feedback, training, and monitoring. This enables cooperatives to have accurate data for selecting potential cows, strengthening their position in expanding access to financing and implementing breeding programs, thus contributing to the future growth of Indonesian dairy production.

Keywords: 2026

How to Cite:

Indriasari, S., Jakaria, J., Resti, Y. & Wurzinger, M., (2026) “Milk production recording: Challenges and opportunities for Indonesian smallholder dairy farming”, World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production Digital Archive 2026(1): 2277972. doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/wcgalp.23429

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