Vietnamese Dairy To Be Largest in World
SAE Afikim is in the process of building the largest dairy in the world, in Vietnam no less, encompassing 34,000 cows on 12 different sites along with the processing capabilities to handle that volume of milk. The $1.6 billion project was initiated in August 2009.
The dairies are being constructed approximately 180 miles south of Hanoi. Three dairies, each milking 2,400 cows, are already in operation. By 2015, 12 dairies will be milking 34,000 cows and by 2020, another 12 units will be milking an additional 33,000 cows.
Milk will be marketed as “TH Milk,” or “True Happiness Milk,” with the goal of being able to provide every Vietnamese child with one cup of milk each day.
The project also involves growing the feed—corn, soybeans and local grasses. Feed centers—one center per three dairies--will produce total mixed rations for cow herds and young stock.
Afikim has provided project leadership, beginning with project development through building through start-up of the dairies for the first five years of operation. Israeli managers are working withVietnamese co-managers to operate the dairies and train local employees.
Heifers to populate the dairies are being imported primarily from New Zealand, but some have also come in from Australia and the United States.
