Dairy sector/industry is one of the major contributing sector for Sri Lanka Livestock sector. This presentation provides a brief overview about the current status of Sri Lanka dairy industry and the potentials, constraints and suggestions to improve it according to the perspective of an undergraduate of a Sri Lankan university who are studying Livestock and avian sciences.

1. Department of Livestock & Avian Sciences
Faculty of Livestock Fisheries & Nutrition
Wayamba University of Sri Lanka
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An Overview
“Dairy Sector of Sri Lanka”

2. 2
Gross Domestic Production
Agriculture Sector
Livestock Sector
13%
1%
6% of Agriculture GDP{ }
At a glance

3. 3
Total Herd
1 Million
At a glance
Milking Herd
300 000
Land Area
0.56 Million
hectares
30% of Lanka
Per Capita
Availability
55.5
litres
Total Farms
180 000
Majority in
Kurunegala & Jaffna
99% Small Holdings
Farmers
700 000

4. 4
Production Systems
35%
50%
15%
Extensive
Semi Intensive
Intensive

5. 5
Dry Zone
Wet Lowland
Up & mid country
Coconut Triangle
Jaffna Peninsula
Major Climatic Zones

6. Governments interests and new policies
Establishment of a breeding policy
Importation of Pregnant heifers to Sri Lanka
Established target of reaching 50% self
sufficiency in near future
Actions that count
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Towards
Sustainable Milk Production

7. Breeding enhancement methodologies
Expansion and smooth operation of Artificial
Insemination
Introduction of sex semen
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Actions that count
Towards
Sustainable Milk Production

8. Technological intervention
Modern Milking parlors
Enhanced animal identification methods
Modernized milk quality analysis
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Actions that count
Towards
Sustainable Milk Production

9. Efficient animal nutrition fulfillment
Increased fodder cultivation
Introduction of Total Mixed Ration (TMR)
Feed conservation methodologies
Introduction of high yielding pasture/fodder varieties
Consultancy programs to increase milk production
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Actions that count
Towards
Sustainable Milk Production

10. Higher labor availability
Higher demand for value added
products like yogurt, cheese etc.
Pathways to enter export market
Ability of integrated
farming methodologies
Potentials of Sri Lankan Dairy Industry
In reaching self sufficiency near future
10
Ability of increasing milk
yield by continuous
breed upgrading
Availability of Land Area

11. low productivity of animals
failure to update the
technologies
absence of proper consumer
education to appreciate the value of
fresh milk and milk products.
poor extension services and
inadequate education on animal
health among dairy farmers
Constraints of Sri Lankan Dairy Industry
In reaching self sufficiency near future
11
poor marketing options
available
low farm gate price of milk
absence of new investments
in the dairy sector

12. Suggestions
Transformation of subsistence level management system to
commercially viable and sustainable enterprises
Increasing availability of quality animals suitable for different
environment and production systems
Development of low cost feeding strategies
Improving management skills
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13. Suggestions
Provision of breeding services in order to upgrade the breed
characteristics of local breeds
Taking action to control disease prior to an outbreak
Development of low cost feeding strategies
Improving quality of livestock products
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14. Suggestions
Promoting and expanding liquid milk market
Increased research in grey areas of the sector in order to find solutions
for problematic situations
Establishing a pricing mechanism to reduce the price gap between farm
gate price and selling price
Encouraging private sector involvement and combined development
with subsistent level enterprises
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15. Suggestions
Involvement of resource personnel like veterinary surgeons to
facilitate efficient knowledge transfer.
Establishing new technological equipment to increase the efficiency of
milk production as well as convenience.
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16. Dairy cattle feed enhancement
Introduction of low cost feed rations
Spent brewers yeast as a protein rich ingredient for dairy cattle
Formulation of cattle feed using different byproducts
Dietary cobalt supplementation
Conservation of forages in pelleted form
Silage pelleting
In developing a nation enriched with milk nutrition
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Contribution from Wayamba University

17. Development of cow milk based value added products
(ex: curd, yogurt, cheese, butter etc.)
Whey based drinks
Cheddar cheese value addition
In developing a nation enriched with milk nutrition
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Contribution from Wayamba University

18. Milk quality control
Quantification of heavy metals and trace elements
Evaluation of sources of raw milk contamination
Microbial analysis
In developing a nation enriched with milk nutrition
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Contribution from Wayamba University

19. Reproductive performance enhancement
Analysis of SNP’s in Cattle genome
Disease control and eradication
Development of PCR protocol for subclinical mastitis
detection
In developing a nation enriched with milk nutrition
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Contribution from Wayamba University

20. Thank You
Wayamba University of Sri Lanka
Department of Livestock & Avian Sciences
www.wyb.ac.lk
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