The country’s milk production grew by 11.4 percent in the second quarter of 2025, driven by herd expansion and government-backed programs, the National Dairy Authority (NDA) reported Thursday.
“The steady growth in both milk output and dairy herd shows that our current programs are bearing fruit. By expanding the herd and improving productivity at the farm level, we are creating more opportunities for our dairy farmers and increasing the availability of fresh, local milk for Filipino families,” NDA Administrator Marcus Antonius Andaya said.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, milk production from April to June reached 18.16 million liters, up from 16.30 million liters in the same period last year. Of this total, 14.72 million liters came from NDA-assisted areas, while 3.44 million liters were produced by other stakeholders.
Dairy cattle remained the top contributor, accounting for 60.4% or 10.98 million liters, followed by goats with 2.14 million liters. The Philippine Carabao Center supplied 2.64 million liters, or 14.5% of national output.
The country’s dairy herd population also increased by 16.4%, reaching 166,411 heads as of June, up from 154,252 in June 2024. This includes 37,369 dairy cattle, 89,907 carabaos, and 39,035 goats.
Andaya expressed optimism that milk production targets will be met, citing government programs implemented across 70 provinces and 463 municipalities. Five stock farms have been established in Nueva Ecija, Bohol, Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, and Cotabato, with three more underway.
“We are confident that these facilities will further accelerate the increase in both herd population and local milk output in the years ahead,” Andaya said.
Currently, the NDA’s herd build-up programs and partnerships cover 1,307 dairy entities, supporting 2,355 assisted and monitored farmers nationwide.