Alternatives sought for cattle diets
By RACHNA LAL
The Fiji Co-operative Dairy Company Limited says the decline in the copra industry is a major factor affecting milk production in the dairy industry.
Chief executive, Sachida Nand, stressed copra meal is a mainstay in dairy cattle diets because of its high protein content which is of major importance in the production of milk.
“Without a consistent supply, the quantity of milk will be affected and we are presently experiencing a downturn because of the lack of this essential feed supplement,” he said.
The shortfall and reason
The shortfall in copra has been described to be quite substantial.
Figures have indicated the dairy industry requires 25 tonnes a week, but the millers can only supply at best six tonnes per week on average.
To illustrate the shortfall in copra production, the country produced 40,000 metric tonnes per annum in 1950.
According to the Fiji Bureau of Statistic, this figure had fallen to 6496 metric tonnes in 2011.
Whilst the weather is said to have played its part for this shortfall, low copra prices have also discourage farmers from the industry.
The coconut trees have aged resulting in low yields, as well high land and sea freight charges to growers.
Government strategy
Government recently announced long and short-term strategies that include reviewing the pricing structure and freight costs.
Government’s major plan to revitalise the industry is through the planting one million coconut trees. The campaign was launched in January this year.
Dairy industry’s plan
Meanwhile, the Fiji Co-operative Dairy Company Limited has started looking for alternatives outside of Fiji.
It is already importing a container of palm kernel feed from Papua New Guinea and is exploring the importation of copra from Vanuatu.
“We are also considering increasing the imports of soya meal that has a much higher protein content than copra,” Mr Nand said.
“But there is a large price differential: copra sells for $17 a 25kg bag while soya meal may sell for as much as $36 a 25 kg bag – and we are looking at ways to reduce that price to the farmers.”
Presently, the co-operative distributes much of the supplements directly to the 250 dairy farmers that comprise the co-operative.
In addition to copra, this includes mill mix (the highly nutritious wheat germ and bran that remains when wheat is ground into flour) and molasses, a bi-product of sugar.
New facility
The co-operative is now considering the purchase of a Feed Mixing Facility that would mix all of the feed supplements together.
It can then be delivered to the farmers with the maximum benefit at the least cost.
Mr Nand said: “History tells us that we must be continually vigilant to ensure supply.
“It was not too long ago the dairy industry had a greater choice of feed supplements including rice pollard, the skins that covered the white rice.
“With the end of commercial milling of rice in Fiji it no long exists. This is also true for dhal and pea meal.”