Impact of Good Dairy Farming Practices (GDFP) on Smallholder Dairy Farm Performance Tri Eko Susilorini(a), Muhammad Ilham Ramadhan(a), Rabbir Akbar Sanjaya(a) and Rini Dwi Wahyuni(a)*
(a)Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang Indonesia
*rinidwi_w[at]ub.ac.id
Abstract
This study examines the impact of Good Dairy Farming Practices (GDFP) on mastitis incidence, milk yield, milk quality, and economic outcomes for smallholder dairy farmers in Indonesia. Despite the known benefits of GDFP, its adoption remains inconsistent among small-scale operations, leading to preventable losses in productivity and income. The research aims to quantify the relationship between GDFP compliance, udder health, milk yield, and profitability across different farm scales to inform targeted interventions. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining surveys, milk quality testing, and interviews with 59 dairy farms in Wagir Subdistrict, Malang, East Java. Farms were categorized by herd size: small (1-3 cows), medium (4-6 cows), and large (>6 cows). Data collection includes production records, milk quality testing (somatic cell counts and California Mastitis Test), and farmer interviews. Milk samples were analyzed for somatic cell counts (SCC) using Breed methods, while mastitis prevalence was assessed via the California Mastitis Test. Farmer income data were derived from production records and cooperative pricing schemes. Results demonstrated significant production differences: large farms achieved highest daily yields (66.67 liters), followed by medium (49.40 liters) and small farms (20.08 liters). GDFP implementation showed strong correlation with productivity, with large farms scoring highest (3.78/4.00) and demonstrating lowest mastitis incidence (24.3%) and SCC levels (241,000 cells/mL) versus 476,500 cells/mL in medium-scale operations. Medium farms paradoxically showed highest mastitis rates (33.8%) despite moderate GDFP adoption (3.64/4.00), suggesting management gaps in herd density control. Small farms had lower mastitis (27%) but poorest yields and GDFP implementation (3.56/4.00), reflecting limited herd size and resource constraints. Economically, GDFP-adherent farms earned 3.4 times more daily income (IDR 681,922) than smallholders, underscoring the financial viability of standardized practices. These findings highlight the critical role of GDFP in enhancing dairy farm sustainability, particularly through improved milking hygiene and animal health management. The study recommends cooperative-led training programs and subsidized inputs to bridge adoption gaps among smallholders.
