Indonesia boosts dairy industry with import of 200,000 dairy cows planned for 2025

INDONESIA – Indonesia has embarked on an ambitious plan to import 200,000 dairy cows this year to strengthen its domestic milk production and reduce reliance on imported dairy products.

The initiative kicked off with the arrival of 1,250 dairy cattle from Australia at Tanjungwangi Port in Banyuwangi, East Java, on March 9. 

This move is part of a broader government strategy to expand the national dairy herd and enhance food security through increased dairy output.

The imported Frisian Holstein cattle, with a gestation period of three to five months, were welcomed as a significant step toward achieving these goals. 

Agung Suganda, director general of the Ministry of Agriculture’s animal husbandry and animal health, emphasized the importance of this effort. 

“This step is included in the government’s long-term strategy to increase food security with the help of dairy products,” he said, as reported by Antara. 

He further explained that boosting the population of high-quality dairy cows is expected to ramp up fresh milk production across the country.

The initiative aligns with Indonesia’s national dairy cow development road map, which fosters collaboration between the government and private sector. 

Suganda noted that the growing dairy herd will not only meet rising domestic demand but also support the milk processing industry. 

Additionally, it will contribute to the sustainability of the Free Nutritious Meals Programme, a key government project aimed at improving public nutrition. 

“The increase in the dairy cow population is expected to strengthen the supply of fresh milk,” Suganda stated, highlighting the program’s role in ensuring a steady milk supply.

This first shipment marks just the beginning, with a second batch of 1,250 cows scheduled to arrive from Australia in June. 

Earlier imports this year included around 3,000 dairy cows from the same country, showing a consistent effort to build the herd. 

Looking ahead, Indonesia plans to diversify its sources, with future imports expected from Brazil, Vietnam, Denmark, and the Netherlands to meet the target of 200,000 cows by the end of 2025.