Domestic Dairy Market Expands Premium Products with Jersey Milk and Buffalo Milk

The structure of the domestic dairy market is shifting away from being centered on white milk, and interest is growing in new raw milk suited for processed dairy products such as cheese, butter, and pudding. As the share of consumers drinking milk asis is declining and consumption of yogurt and cheese is increasing, the way raw milk is used is also changing. At a farm in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, water buffalo are being raised exclusively in Korea, and products such as kaymak and water buffalo milk cheese are being produced. This farm imported water buffalo from New Zealand in 2024 and succeeded in breeding them, and it is targeting the premium dairy market by using water buffalo milk, which has high fat and protein content. Jersey milk is also drawing attention in the premium dairy market. Although milk yield is low, its high butterfat and milk protein content make it advantageous for products such as cheese, butter, pudding, and ice cream, and sales of some products have increased despite their high prices. The government is supporting the spread of new breeds by introducing Jersey embryos and establishing breeding standards. However, for farms to increase Jersey cattle or water buffalo, the milk price system and the cost of building separate collection and processing facilities are cited as obstacles. Industry players believe that to grow into an industry, a pricing standard that reflects the value of raw milk with high fat and protein content, along with stable sales channels, must be established.