USJersey Participates in Indonesia Dairy Workshop
On March 29, the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture hosted a workshop for their dairy producers called “Building Indonesia’s Dairy Industry: Learning from the U.S. Dairy Industry’s Experience.” The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection invited various speakers to present on topics relevant to building a dairy industry.
In Indonesia, the demand for dairy products continues to grow. The country currently meets 20% of their domestic demand for dairy, the other 80% is currently imported. Because of this situation, there is a strong push to build their existing industry and increase production internally.
Over 500 people registered for the webinar. Over 250 joined live the morning of the presentation. Presenters included Dr. Sophie Eaglan of NAAB covering a brief overview of the A.I. industry in the United States, Paul Thomas of ABS speaking on maximizing profit through improving genetics, Sydney Endres of the American Jersey Cattle Association on Jersey genetics and adaptability, and Timothy Anderson of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture explaining the Grade A program and how the U.S. ensure milk quality. Dr. Deddy Fuchruddin Kurniawan of Dairy Pro Indonesia also presented on the outlook of the Indonesia dairy industry.
After presentation, participants had the opportunity to ask questions. Many questions were directed towards the Jersey presentation. Participants showed strong interest in the efficiency of the Jersey cow and her ability to adapt to tropical climates. Dr. Deddy made comments that he believed that Jerseys show strong potential to adapt well in Indonesia and increase their production.
Jerseys were recently recognized as a dairy breed in Indonesia in December of 2021. The country has been working to approve the import of Jersey genetics. The characteristics of the Jersey, and the demand for improving and expanding the Indonesian dairy industry shows strong potential for a new export market for U.S. Jersey genetics.
