<P> The per capita consumption of milk and dairy products in Sri Lanka (about 36 kg) is less, compare to other countries in South Asian region . Since 1980's Sri Lanka import dry milk powder as their main dairy commodity from Australia and New Zealand up to now . </P> <P> A very few types of dairy products are locally processed by a few companies as well as house hold producers in the country . The most leading product among them is yoghurt and hundreds of trade names are available to buy it . Other main dairy products are ice cream, curd, ghee, liquid milk (pasteurized and flavoured), cheese and some sweets . </P> <P> Domestic breeds are rarely used as a livestock breed in Sri Lanka . Large portion of livestock breeds are cross or introduced breeds . Because local breeds have poor productive ability and improper quality of milk and meat . </P> <P> There are few breeds of dairy cattle used for milk production . The selection of a cattle breed largely depends on the bio-climatic condition in the region . European breeds are recommended for upcountry wet and intermediate zones, while Indian breeds are recommended for low country dry and intermediate zones . There are also cross breeds for the low country wet zone . </P>

Present status of cattle industry in sri lanka