Johor To Import 1,000 More Dairy Cows To Raise Milk Production Capacity In JDV

MERSING, Feb 5 (Bernama) -- The state government will add 1,000 more A2 Jersey Friesian dairy cows from Victoria Harbour, Australia to strengthen the food security agenda.

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the implementation of the initiative would increase local milk production capacity through the construction of the Jemaluang Dairy Valley (JDV) dairy factory.

He said therefore, milk processing would be carried out entirely at the factory which is part of the second phase of the project.

"Local cows can produce about 12 litres a day, but the cows we import can produce more than 27 to 30 litres a day.

"Therefore, Johor (is expected) to become the country's largest milk producer when it is fully operational in 2027," he said when speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of JDV Dairy Factory here today.

Also present were JDV chief executive officer Qasem Alhasan and state Agriculture, Agro-based Industry and Rural Development Committee chairman Datuk Zahari Sarip.

Meanwhile, Qasem said the area was expected to be opened to school students with an agro-tourism concept by mid-2027.

He said various interesting activities had been planned including an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), camping and a mini zoo.

"Meanwhile, the second phase will be opened to the public in 2028," he said.

According to Qasem, his party also plans to produce own products such as fresh milk, date-flavoured milk, strawberry, chocolate, followed by yogurt and ice cream which will be processed at the factory.

He said, JDV is capable of accommodating up to 4,000 cows with the potential for continued expansion as a result of strategic collaboration with the state government.

The collaborative project between the Johor State Government, the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) and JDV Sdn Bhd involves an investment of approximately RM80 million, with a target of producing three million litres of milk in the first year, increasing to between four and five million litres in the following year and reaching 12 million litres per year within five years.

On Nov 1 last year, 1,000 dairy cows of the same breed from Victoria Port, Australia arrived at Pasir Gudang Port as the start of JDV's large-scale dairy industry development here.

-- BERNAMA