Arla Foods, the makers of Dano Milk, is set to boost milk production in Nigeria with the recent arrival of 216 Danish Holstein heifers for its Kaduna dairy farm. This move aims to shape the future of the dairy industry in the country.
Dr. Jimmy Johnmark, the Arla Farm Manager, disclosed that the Holstein-Friesian breed has a higher expected yield per cow compared to the local breeds. These heifers were sourced directly from Arla’s farmer owners and traveled by air from Europe, arriving at the Mallam Aminu Kano Airport in Kano, Nigeria, recently.
“The heifers were then transported to the farm in special trucks that were adapted for their optimum comfort. The heifers have arrived in Nigeria ahead of the official commissioning of the farm, which is scheduled to hold later this month,” Johnmark said.
The Arla Farm, situated in Kaduna State, is a state-of-the-art commercial dairy farm developed as a model for productive and sustainable dairy farming in Nigeria. The project officially commenced in 2021 and is one of Arla’s investments in Nigeria’s dairy sector and one of the steps taken towards backward integration in Nigeria.
Senior Manager, Raw Milk Supply and Production, Mr. Snorri Sigurdsson, highlighted that the farm has a land area of 400Ha and is designed to house 400 milking cows, and in total, 1,000 animals. The farm features modern technology to optimize animal comfort and milk production.
Sigurdsson explained that the farm had been developed to showcase sustainable and efficient dairy farming in Nigeria, with milk production expected to commence in the third quarter of 2023.
In a statement released by Arla Foods, it said, “We are very excited to announce that the Arla Farm is fully set to commence operations for milk production, to boost local dairy.”
This initiative aims to increase local milk production, reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported milk, and stimulate economic growth within the country.
