Australian Dairy Cattle Land in Indonesia to Support Free School Lunch Program
Source: DairyNews.today
A shipment of Australian dairy heifers arrived in Indonesia this week to support an ambitious nationwide free school lunch program initiated by President Prabowo Subianto. The initiative, which aims to combat childhood malnutrition and stunting, marks a significant step in Indonesia's efforts to enhance nutritional standards for its youth.
First Shipment Marks New Era in Dairy Collaboration
The export, organized by Consolidated Pastoral Company (CPC), included 50 dairy heifers sourced fr om New South Wales. The cattle were flown to Jakarta, transported across Java by truck, and ferried to Sumatra, wh ere they now reside at CPC's feedlot in Lampung.
“They were unloaded last night and given vaccinations for foot and mouth disease and lumpy skin disease,” said CPC Chief Executive Troy Setter. “They were checked by vets and are now happily on feed today.”
This is the first time Australian dairy cattle have been sent to Indonesia specifically to support a government-led nutrition program.
Feeding Indonesia’s Youth
The free school lunch initiative, a cornerstone of President Subianto’s agenda, aims to provide milk and meals to over 85 million students nationwide. A pilot phase of the program has already begun, with full-scale implementation planned over the next two years.
The dairy cattle will be milked on-site up to three times daily, with CPC exploring options to either pasteurize or ultra-heat-treat (UHT) the milk locally or transport it to centralized processing hubs, known as "kitchens."
“This program is absolutely commendable,” Setter remarked. “What the Indonesian president is trying to achieve—eliminating malnutrition and childhood stunting—is incredibly important, and we’re proud to be part of the solution.”
Scaling Up Indonesia’s Dairy Capacity
The Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture plans to import two million beef and dairy cattle over the next five years from countries including Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil. The school lunch program, which also includes meals for expectant mothers, will require an estimated 4.1 million tonnes of milk annually.
Agung Suganda, Indonesia’s Director General of Livestock and Animal Health, expressed optimism about the role of private sector partnerships in scaling up the country’s dairy production.
“These Australian dairy cattle will not only provide calves but are expected to begin producing milk to meet local demand by mid-next year,” Suganda said.
Future Investment Potential
CPC is considering further investments in Indonesia depending on the success of this trial shipment. The company has a long-standing presence in Indonesia, operating two feedlots in Sumatra.
“Our previous foray into Indonesian dairy production, 10 years ago, was premature due to insufficient demand for fresh milk,” Setter explained. “But with this program and increased focus on dairy nutrition, the timing is right to revisit this opportunity.”
The export, organized by Consolidated Pastoral Company (CPC), included 50 dairy heifers sourced fr om New South Wales. The cattle were flown to Jakarta, transported across Java by truck, and ferried to Sumatra, wh ere they now reside at CPC's feedlot in Lampung.
“They were unloaded last night and given vaccinations for foot and mouth disease and lumpy skin disease,” said CPC Chief Executive Troy Setter. “They were checked by vets and are now happily on feed today.”
This is the first time Australian dairy cattle have been sent to Indonesia specifically to support a government-led nutrition program.
Feeding Indonesia’s Youth
The free school lunch initiative, a cornerstone of President Subianto’s agenda, aims to provide milk and meals to over 85 million students nationwide. A pilot phase of the program has already begun, with full-scale implementation planned over the next two years.
The dairy cattle will be milked on-site up to three times daily, with CPC exploring options to either pasteurize or ultra-heat-treat (UHT) the milk locally or transport it to centralized processing hubs, known as "kitchens."
“This program is absolutely commendable,” Setter remarked. “What the Indonesian president is trying to achieve—eliminating malnutrition and childhood stunting—is incredibly important, and we’re proud to be part of the solution.”
Scaling Up Indonesia’s Dairy Capacity
The Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture plans to import two million beef and dairy cattle over the next five years from countries including Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil. The school lunch program, which also includes meals for expectant mothers, will require an estimated 4.1 million tonnes of milk annually.
Agung Suganda, Indonesia’s Director General of Livestock and Animal Health, expressed optimism about the role of private sector partnerships in scaling up the country’s dairy production.
“These Australian dairy cattle will not only provide calves but are expected to begin producing milk to meet local demand by mid-next year,” Suganda said.
Future Investment Potential
CPC is considering further investments in Indonesia depending on the success of this trial shipment. The company has a long-standing presence in Indonesia, operating two feedlots in Sumatra.
“Our previous foray into Indonesian dairy production, 10 years ago, was premature due to insufficient demand for fresh milk,” Setter explained. “But with this program and increased focus on dairy nutrition, the timing is right to revisit this opportunity.”
