As part of its efforts to boost local milk production in Nigeria, the Ikun Dairy Farm Limited (IDFL), a joint venture between Promasidor Nigeria Limited (PNG) a leading food manufacturing company in Nigeria & Ekiti State Government (EKSG), has announced the arrival of the first batch of pregnant Jersey cows from a minimum pre-ordered pool of over 500 heifers from the United States of America as an addition to the biological pool of 192 indigenous and cross breeds available on the farm.
‘The Cages loaded on trucks for departure to Ikun-Ekiti in Ekiti State
According to Mr. Andrew Enahoro, Director External Relations, Promasidor Nigeria, “Ikun Dairy Farm Limited through PNG & EKSG, with the immeasurable support of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are frantically working to ensure that more of these breed of cows arrive Nigeria in the coming weeks, thereby making the dairy farm a model of backward integration in the sourcing and use of local raw materials for milk production”.
The Cows arrive IDF
“But for logistic reasons, which is hinged on airlifting, the farm, would have taken delivery of at least 500 Jersey breed cows. Current milk production from the animals on Ikun Dairy Farm is being utilized by the calves, as the farm tries to ramp up volumes in preparation for processing”, Enahoro added.
Adjusting to their new home
Meanwhile, the company has also embarked on the adoption of out growers for milk collection as supplement to IDFL direct milk production.