Arla Foods Imports 216 Cows To Boost Milk Production

Arla Foods, makers of Dano Milk, have taken delivery of 216 Danish Holstein Heifers (a breed of cow) for its Kaduna dairy farm.

Dr Jimmy Johnmark, Arla farm manager, said the 216 Holstein-Friesian heifers, sourced directly from Arla’s farmer owners, travelled by air from Europe, arriving at the Mallam Aminu Kano Airport in Kano, Nigeria, in the early hours of Tuesday, May 9, 2023.

According to him, the heifers were then transported to the farm in special trucks that were adapted for their optimum comfort.

The heifers arrived Nigeria ahead of the official commissioning of the farm which is scheduled to hold later this month.

Dr Johnmark noted that the Holstein-Friesian breed has a much higher expected yield per cow compared to the local breeds.

“We are very excited to announce that the Arla Farm is fully set to commence operations for milk production, to boost local dairy production, with the arrival of the livestock from Denmark,” he said.

He explained further that the heifers have now settled into the farm and are getting comfortable in their new home, noting that milk production on the farm is expected to start in the third quarter of 2023.

Snorri Sigurdsson, the Senior manager, Raw Milk Supply and Production, disclosed that the ultra-modern Arla Farm, which is the first of its kind in Nigeria, has the capacity to house 400 milking cows and in total 1,000 animals, adding that it will feature modern technology for optimal animal comfort and milk production.

He noted that with completion of the construction work on the Arla Farm and the arrival and settlement of the heifers, all is now set for the official commissioning of the farm by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.