Did you know that the country’s biggest dairy farm is in Lanao del Norte? That’s the LFI Farm operated by the Lanao Foundation, Inc., a private foundation headed by Congressman Abdullah Dimaporo.

The dairy farm boasts 4,000 head of Holstein-Sahiwal crosses, including the young progenies of the original breeders imported from New Zealand. Importation started with an initial 50 breeders in 2004, followed by 750 in 2005 and 300 more in 2006. Another 600 head are scheduled to arrive shortly after preparations for their housing and forage crops are in place.

The present cattle population is still below the target since the milk processing plant that has been set up can process no less than 72,000 liters of milk a day. That will require some 20,000 dairy animals, according to Dr. Usodan Samporna, the provincial veterinarian.

Why are they raising Holstein-Sahiwal crosses? They are the ones adapted to the tropical conditions such as those obtaining in the Philippines.

The Holstein Friesian is a high-yielder but it is a temperate breed and the purebred animals will not adapt very well to the country’s hot climate. Sahiwal, on the other hand, is a tropical breed that is hardy and also gives some milk. Today, the Holstein-Sahiwal crosses in Lanao are giving an average of 8 liters per day, according to Dr. Samporna. There are, of course, animals that yield more.

The dairy animals are raised in different places in the town of Sultan Naga Dimaporo, formerly known as Karomatan. Some are grazed under coconuts.

Daily milk production is by the tons and bottled fresh and flavored milk is sold through outlets in Iligan, Cagayan de Oro and elsewhere. The bulk of the production, however, goes to the milk feeding program in the province where students in more than 200 schools are each given 200 ml per day. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is shouldering much of the payment for the milk. Last year, it appropriated R10 million for this purpose, according to Dr. Samporna.

The dairy cattle population in Lanao del Norte will increase faster as a new project is soon to be implemented.

A memorandum of agreement has been made between LFI and Land O Lakes, the biggest cooperative
in the United States dealing in dairy products. Under the agreement, Land O Lakes will supply LFI with 250 breeders for multiplication. The calves produced will be bought by Land O Lakes which it will disperse to dairy zones it intends to put up in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.