Dairy Cooperatives in Goiás Boost Production Through Strategic Initiatives
Dairy production in Goiás, Brazil, has seen a remarkable increase, largely attributed to strategic actions taken by cooperatives. Centroleite, a central organization comprising 37 cooperatives and about 4,500 producers, reported an increase in milk volume from 231 million liters in 2023 to 266 million in 2024, with projections of reaching 332 million liters by 2025.
These gains were achieved by expanding the number of affiliated cooperatives and enhancing technical support, leading to better collective negotiations and higher milk remuneration. The daily milk collection capacity rose from 400,000 liters to 1 million liters, with participating cooperatives growing from 18 to 25.
The Cooperativa Mista dos Produtores de Leite de Morrinhos (Complem) offers a practical example of this model. Despite a 29% reduction in membership from 2023 to 2025, Complem increased its milk collection by 7.32%, raising production from 37 million to 40 million liters. This was facilitated by advances in technology and professionalization among producers.
Complem reported a 30% increase in the average volume produced per member, driven by investments in genetic improvements, technical assistance, and enhanced production skills. Special purchasing conditions for feed, interest-free livestock financing, and favorable credit terms are among the benefits provided to its members.
Producer Paulo Antônio Fernandes exemplifies the impact of these initiatives. After joining a credit cooperative in 2023, he utilized his first loan to expand his dairy area, investing in pasture correction, genetics, machinery, and infrastructure. His herd increased from five cows to 130 girolanda cows, boosting daily production from 15-20 liters to 300-400 liters, averaging 15 liters per cow.
Fernandes adopted a breeding system using girolanda and guzerá dairy cattle, aiming for a balance between milk production and the commercial value of male calves. These cooperative examples indicate that productivity growth stems from a combination of credit, technical assistance, management, genetics, and infrastructure investments.
