METRO Pacific Agro Ventures (MPAV), the agribusiness arm of Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Investment Corp. (MPIC), is aiming to be self-sufficient in the milk business by 2026 following its recent acquisition of Universal Harvester Dairy Farms Inc. (UHDFI), the operator of Bukidnon Milk Co. (BMC) for P700 million.

Jovy Hernandez, MPAV chief executive officer, said the new acquisition was "very complimentary to our existing dairy business in Laguna and gives us the opportunity to produce ice cream in Mindanao and distribute in [the] Visayas and Mindanao."

Hernandez added that the newly acquired dairy farm allows MPAV to hit two targets at once — ice cream production and milk supply.

"Finally, we've reached 140 milking cows in Laguna. Before, it was, on average, about 95-97 [cows]. We never broke the 100 mark. But because of the investments that we've done in Laguna Creamery, at the end of July, we already have 140 [milking cows], and [the number is growing," he added.

MPAV aims to reach 200 milking cows by December to double the company's output.

With its acquisition of Universal Harvesters, the company can enter the milk market because Bukidnon Milk has a 1,000-strong herd, 200 of which are milking cows that could be immediately added to the pool of milk supply.

"They have about close to 300. We call them heifers, meaning they're young cows" that have not had a calf yet, that can enter the milking pool, Hernandez explained.

"If you add now the investments that we've had with our Israeli partners, LR Group, that will open the largest integrated dairy facility in Laguna by [the first quarter] of 2025. We will be able to achieve what we call our dairy milk supply self-sufficiency [target] by 2026," he added.

The Laguna Creamery Inc. (TLCI) is known for its popular brands, Carmen's Best ice cream and Holly's Milk, and has doubled its sales in just two years.