Exploring South Korea Dairy Farming Systems and Practices

By Andi Anderson

A group of students from Michigan State University, including Michigan 4-H Dairy Educator Kendra Van Order, participated in an international educational program in South Korea. They were joined by students and staff from Oklahoma State University. This program allowed participants to study and compare agricultural practices in both South Korea and the United States.

During the visit, the group explored the Youngmin Farm located in Pyeongtaek-si. This family-owned dairy farm manages 65 Holstein cows and uses an automated robotic milking system. Each cow has an electronic identification tag, which helps track milk production and monitor individual animal performance. The farm operates throughout the year and supplies milk through a fluid milk system.

Milk quality plays an important role in the success of dairy farms in South Korea. Farmers receive extra payments if the somatic cell count in milk stays below 200,000 cells per milliliter. The visited farm maintained a high standard, keeping the count below 100,000. On average, each cow produced about 70 pounds of milk daily.

One major difference in South Korea is its milk pricing system. The government sets a fixed base price for milk, which provides farmers with stable income. Farmers also focus on efficiency, and cows that produce less than 55 pounds of milk per day are removed from the herd.

Geography creates challenges for farming in South Korea. About 70 percent of the land is mountainous, limiting crop production. As a result, dairy farms import around 95 percent of their feed, including cottonseed, soybeans, and hay.

The group also observed reproductive practices. Artificial insemination must be performed by certified professionals. The farm reported good conception rates between 50 and 70 percent. Heifers are typically bred between 15 and 16 months of age.

Students noticed that cows in South Korea are smaller in size compared to those in the United States. The farm also used modern equipment like automatic calf feeders.

Photo Credit: istock-simplycreativephotography