DOST, UPLB Develop Quality Forages for Dairy Animals

To boost dairy productivity in the Philippines, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) has partnered with the University of the Philippines Los Baños – Institute of Plant Breeding (UPLB-IPB) to develop high-quality forages for dairy animals.

The project, “Improvement of forage species for high yield, improved quality, persistence to cutting, and drought tolerance towards a sustainable dairy production,” is led by Mariecris Rizalyn D. Mendoza of UPLB-IPB.

It aims to improve dairy animal nutrition and productivity through forage selection and breeding.

The initiative focuses on strengthening the forage gene bank, identifying elite accessions through agro-morphological characterization, drought tolerance evaluation, and nutrient profiling.

Selected elite forages will undergo further evaluation in dairy farms and be bred for traits such as increased crude protein content and herbage yield.

In its first six months, the project has established a collection of six sorghum-sudan grass varieties, 25 legumes, and 31 grasses.

Additionally, 23 forage accessions have been characterized for agro-morphological and biochemical traits, and four personnel have been trained in forage characterization techniques.

The project is expected to benefit livestock farmers and the dairy industry by developing high-yielding, nutrient-rich, and drought-tolerant forages.

This could support the growth of a local forage production industry, helping small-scale farmers increase income and reduce feed costs.

Proper forage cultivation and management can improve yield and nutrient availability, ultimately boosting milk production.

Increased dairy productivity may help meet rising demand for milk and dairy products at both regional and national levels. (Rundolfo P. Llamas and Stephen A. Mendoza, DOST-PCAARRD S&T Media Services)