Tags: Agribusiness, Cottage Industries, Livelihood Programs
By Alexander Villafania
LAOAC, PANGASINAN – A dairy farm is providing an alternative livelihood for residents of this small, fourth-class municipality, which has subisted on farming for decades.
The sprawling 5.5-hectare farm is located near the border of Laoac and Urdaneta City. It is one of the first cow farms that is dedicated to dairy as many other livestock farms in Pangasinan are abbatoirs (or meant for slaughter).
The Laoac Dairy Farm, established by former Congressman Mark Cojuangco, is also among the few of its kind in the province that is run as a cooperative.
Already, the farm has at least 600 heads of cows, most of which are dairy cows imported from Australia and New Zealand. These include the breeds Indicus, the Australian Friesian Sahiwal, and the more widely known Holstein with the white and black patches.
The farm itself could be used for cross-breeding purposes to make new breeds of cows that produce more milk and are resistant to diseases.
Rolly Casaway, a manager at Laoac Dairy farm, said each cow produces between 18 to 23 liters of milk a day. Their daily average for the entire farm is around 1,100 liters. While traditional cow milking is done by hand, the farm utilizes machines for milking.
The milk is pasteurized and bottled in the farm. The milk is so fresh that letting it stay chilled for two days could curdle and form white particles, which is cheese in its earliest form. Of course, it is safe to consume, though it is recommended that milk must be consumed within four days of its purchase to retain its freshness. The farm itself also makes kesong puti and sold along with pasteurized milk.
There are several dozen workers, mostly from Laoac, who work as farm hands. They also collect the hay that they use to feed the cows. These are stored in huge silos.
Much of their products are sold to nearby towns and other major districts in Pangasinan. Casaway said plans are underway to market their products to other regions.
“Congressman Cojuangco is also giving free fresh milk to some schools as contribution to their health programs. This way, people will also know that they have a fresh source of milk,” Casaway said.
Casaway emphasized on the importance of having the dairy farm in Laoac, which helps build an industry in their district and builds its economic capacity. He said that the farm can employ people who are mostly subsistence farmers.
Plans are underway to establish similar dairy farms in Alcala, Villasis and Sison. He said these should expand the milk industry in Pangasinan.
“Not only do we have bangus (milkfish), but we should also be a major producer of milk,” Casaway said.
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Revisiting the Hundred Islands of Pangasinan
Visiting the century-old lighthouse of Bolinao in Pangasinan
Why we Pangasinenses celebrate the Bangus Festival
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