By Wan Muhammad Aslah Wan Razali
MERSING, June 7 (Bernama) -- Amid the rolling green landscape of Mersing, Johor, a herd of Australian-bred dairy cows is helping shape a local ambition to strengthen Malaysia’s fresh milk industry, reduce dependence on imported premium milk and build a new economic ecosystem around dairy farming.
Jemaluang Dairy Valley (JDV), located on about 275 hectares of land in Jemaluang, is being developed as an integrated dairy farming project with a target capacity of 4,000 cows and annual milk production of 10 million litres by its third year of operation.
The farm, which began operations about seven to eight months ago, is a partnership between A2 Fresh Holdings Sdn Bhd and Kulim (Malaysia) Berhad, a Johor state government-linked company under JCorp.
It was among the businesses featured during a media visit organised by the Australian High Commission in Malaysia, reflecting the role of Australian livestock and dairy expertise in supporting Malaysia’s agriculture and food security agenda.
For JDV chief executive officer Qasem Alhasan, the project is not merely about producing milk but about building a larger dairy value chain involving farming, processing, farmer support, training, feed production and agro-tourism.
“In Jemaluang Dairy Valley, our mandate has never been confined to generating profit only, while our dream is building a lasting legacy that benefits rakyat Malaysia and rakyat Johor specifically,” he said.
At the heart of the project are Australian cross-bred dairy cows, selected for their ability to adapt to Malaysia’s heat and humidity.
The Syrian-born entrepreneur said Australia had developed dairy cattle that are better suited to the local climate, making them integral to JDV’s efforts to scale up fresh milk production in Malaysia.
“The cows imported from Australia are well suited to the Malaysian environment. Australia is a safe country, free of Foot and Mouth Disease and Brucellosis, so the cows do not even require quarantine in Malaysia,” he said.
JDV currently has 1,900 cows, including calves, after importing 1,000 cows from Australia. Another 500 cows are expected to arrive around September or October this year.
The farm uses breeding technology, including sexed semen, to increase the number of female calves needed for dairy production.
The calves born in Malaysia are expected to be better adapted to the local environment, forming part of JDV’s longer-term plan to develop a locally raised dairy herd.
Qasem said Malaysia currently produces about 42 million litres of fresh milk annually, while JDV is targeting five million litres this year, seven million litres next year and 10 million litres by its third year.
That output would make the farm a significant contributor to local fresh milk production, particularly in the premium A2-A2 milk segment.
All JDV cows are A2-A2 cows, DNA-tested in Australia. A2-A2 milk contains beta-casein A2-A2 protein, which Qasem described as easier to digest and closer to mother’s milk.
Currently, much of the A2-A2 milk in Malaysia is imported and sold at a higher price than regular milk. JDV aims to change that by producing local A2-A2 milk at a price closer to that of ordinary milk.
“We want to be a local player producing this healthier milk at a price similar to normal milk, so everybody can afford it,” he said.
The downstream move is already taking shape, with a milk factory under construction less than 200 metres from the milking parlour. The factory is expected to be completed by year-end, with JDV targeting entry into the market in the second quarter of next year.
For now, the farm supplies raw milk to manufacturers.
Beyond its own production, JDV is also positioning itself as a support system for small dairy farmers, with plans to supply high-quality feed and buy back milk through a collection centre.
Qasem said one of the biggest challenges for small dairy farms in Malaysia is market access, especially in finding a stable buyer for their milk.
The project also includes plans for a Johor ruminant feed hub, a training centre and a satellite farming programme, which could create wider spillover benefits for local farmers and young agro-preneurs.
JDV stated that its key activities include dairy farming, downstream processing, feedmill development, school tourism and training, with community impact involving 45 local staff and a satellite farming programme.
Modern dairy technology is also changing perceptions of the industry among local workers.
At the farm, rotary milking systems, smart herd management, feed analysis, cow comfort systems and data collection have created jobs beyond the traditional image of cleaning barns and handling cattle.
“The impression about a job in dairy farm is not just barn or cow shed cleaning. They have more positions to place themselves in, which is data collection, rotary parlour supervision and feed mill supervision,” Qasem said.
JDV’s rotary milking parlour, with 60 stalls, uses a computerised herd management system that records real-time data and can operate with up to three personnel at a time, compared with six personnel for a conventional system.
The farm also applies a zero-waste concept, converting cow manure into fertiliser for its fodder plantation and reducing the need for synthetic fertiliser.
Qasem said JDV has not purchased chemical fertiliser over the past two years, instead used organic fertiliser produced on the farm.
The farm has about 500 acres (202 hectare) of green pasture and plans to plant 300 acres (121 hectare) of corn for silage as part of efforts to improve self-sufficiency in feed.
JDV is also preparing to open its doors beyond the dairy sector, with school-focused agro-tourism planned in the first phase. Activities may include calf visits, camping, ATV rides and a mini zoo before the concept is later opened to the public.
For Johor, the project places dairy farming within a broader rural economic agenda, linking food security, technology adoption, local employment, farmer training and tourism.
For Malaysia, it shows how Australian cows, adapted to local conditions, may help produce more locally made fresh milk on Malaysian soil.
-- BERNAMA
BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; www.bernama.com; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies.
Follow us on social media :
Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio
Twitter : @bernama.com, @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio
Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial
TikTok : @bernamaofficial
