Genomic Advances Accelerate Brazil’s Dairy Industry
Brazil consolidated its position as the world’s third-largest milk producer in 2025, according to data from the Municipal Livestock Survey released by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. National output rose by 2.7% year on year to 36.7bn litres, the highest figure recorded in the survey.
Producers have nevertheless faced narrow margins and fluctuations in international prices. The average price paid to Brazilian farmers reached R$2.87 per litre in recent months, according to Cepea. The recovery in the farm-gate price has coincided with higher expenses for feed, mineral supplements, electricity and fertiliser.
Brazil’s domestic market has also faced increased supplies of dairy products and milk powder, mainly from Argentina and Uruguay. Parts of the national dairy industry have described the imports as linked to unfair competition and alleged dumping. Brazilian exports remain focused on selected processed products, while live genetics and dairy cattle adapted to tropical conditions have gained importance in international trade.
Jônadan Ma, a dairy producer and sector leader, said farmers needed to manage their operations as highly efficient businesses rather than simply produce milk. He called for mechanisms that would make prices more predictable and for active trade protection against what he described as distortions caused by international dairy dumping. In his view, greater stability would allow producers to plan investments in technology and animal nutrition.
Ma also said the government should consider policies supporting milk production and the wider dairy-products chain. He said rural submissions on possible anti-dumping measures were expected to conclude in October. According to Ma, imported products had entered Brazil at prices 25% to 27% below those charged in their domestic markets, a gap he said could weaken the local production chain and eventually affect consumers.
Genetic selection has been accompanied by higher productivity indicators. The number of milk cows fell by 2.7% to 14.7m head, but average output increased by 5.6% to a record 2,498.7 litres per animal per year. Girolando and Holstein cattle remain central to Brazilian dairy production, combining European output levels with traits suited to tropical conditions. Gir Leiteiro, Guzerá and Sindi Zebu cattle contribute heat tolerance, parasite resistance and feed-conversion characteristics, according to Rafael Vizoná, ABCZ’s manager for dairy genetic improvement.
The ABCZ’s PMGZ Leite programme uses genomic assessments to analyse young animals’ DNA and estimate their productivity, longevity and health. Vizoná said the wider use of genomic tools in dairy Zebu breeds had increased the speed and precision of selection in tropical herds. The approach is intended to identify animals more likely to perform well in Brazilian conditions and to reduce spending on unproductive cattle. These issues will be discussed at the Debate Agroleite on October 16th at 10am at Parque Fernando Costa, during the 4th ExpoLeite. The event is organised by ABCZ and will bring together dairy co-operatives, agribusiness leaders and producers from across Brazil. The fair is scheduled to feature more than 700 animals in judging, exhibitions and a dairy competition. It is supported by Banco do Brasil, ApexBrasil, Emater Minas Gerais, Fazu, Sebrae, Sicoob and the CNA/Faemg/Senar system; Neogen and Romancini Troncos & Balanças are official sponsors.
