Vinamilk brought 1,000 dairy cows from the United States to the Lao-Jagro dairy farm in Laos.

DNHN - Vinamilk successfully received 1000 purebred HF dairy cows imported directly from the United States to Nghi Son Port, Thanh Hoa, for transport to the Vinamilk Lao-Jagro Farm in the Xieng Khoang Plateau, Laos, on July 6, 2022. This dairy herd is part of Vinamilk's batch of imported cows totalling more than 2500 heads, which will be used to strengthen the cows for the upcoming Green Farms in Thanh Hoa, Quang Ngai, and Lao-Jagro farms.

Vinamilk began the Lao-Jagro dairy farm in Xieng Khouang in 2019 and has since completed the basic construction items, installed machinery and equipment, and officially welcomed the farm's first dairy herd. The herd of 1,000 dairy cows was hand-picked by Vinamilk experts in the United States, transported by specialized ships to Vietnam, and then driven to Xieng Khoang, Laos. 

According to a Vinamilk representative, this is a purebred HF dairy herd that has been carefully selected by genetic experts over three generations of pedigree, with heifers ranging in age from 9 to 13 months. Each individual cow in this imported cow herd is tested and evaluated for a high total genetic performance index. Selected cows in the herd produce over 10,000 litres/head/cycle of 305 days, which equates to 38-40 litres of milk per day. 

Dairy cows are monitored by American experts for health, psychology, and specially designed care while sailing from the United States to Vietnam. Dairy cows docked at the port will continue to be inspected for health by Vietnamese experts before being received and loaded onto specialized vehicles. 

Each vehicle is accompanied by animal husbandry and veterinary specialist who will closely monitor the animals throughout the 450-kilometre journey to Laos. Experts from both Vietnam and the United States report, update and monitor all information online. 

Mr Trinh Phuong Nam, Vinamilk's Agriculture Director, stated: "This dairy cow import is quite favourable; the ship from the United States arrived safely at Nghi Son port in just 20 days. The dairy cows are in good health and ready to travel to their new home in Laos. The event of welcoming 1,000 dairy cows has also piqued the interest of your country's local government, which has created all favourable conditions for the 35-car convoy carrying the cows to move quickly and enter through the Nam Can border gate. 

According to Mr Sengphet Phetdara, Director of Lao-Jagro Farm (Laos), the area is reserved for new cows (newly imported cows), and the receiving process has been carefully prepared, including all necessary care and health monitoring conditions. The rations and living conditions are all tailored to help the new cows quickly integrate and adapt to their new surroundings. 

"The highland climate of Xieng Khouang is cool and temperate, making it ideal for dairy cows." The herd will, however, be closely monitored to ensure mental comfort and health. Following a period of experimentation, dairy cows are fitted with a separate electronic chip for each individual and are officially monitored on Vinamilk's herd management system's common database." Mr Sengphet Phetdara explained. 

In addition to Vinamilk experts working in Laos, many employees recruited in Laos have previously gone to Vinamilk farms in Vietnam such as Thong Nhat (Thanh Hoa), and Tay Ninh to gain experience and professional training. This is also the preparation of human resources for when the first farm of this complex, with a herd size of 8000 heads and milk production of nearly 44,000 tons/year, goes into operation.

"Because Vinamilk has a lot of experience receiving large quantities of imported dairy cows, the coordination activities went smoothly and smoothly in both Vietnam and Laos." This herd of imported dairy cows is very meaningful to our staff in Lao-Jagro because it is the first herd of cows imported to the farm and also the first time the locality welcomes cows. milk on such a large scale," Mr Daiji Imori, General Director of Lao-Jagro Company, added. 

Recognizing the potential for agricultural development and the benefits of developing dairy farming in the Xieng Khoang Plateau (Laos), Vinamilk invested in a large-scale dairy farming development project in Vietnam in 2019. this. The plateau climate is ideal for dairy cows, and the large clean land fund in Xieng Khoang facilitates the development of dairy farms. The Lao-Jagro project is part of Vinamilk's strategy to expand its raw milk material area by leveraging three joint venture partners from Japan, Vietnam, and Laos. 

The total planning for phase 1 is 24,000 animals, with a total investment of up to USD 150 million. Similar to Vinamilk's 13 dairy farms in Vietnam, the farm is completing final construction works and accelerating the installation of machinery and equipment, as well as the application of advanced technologies. The farm is expected to open in late 2022 or early 2023, with the import of 1,000 cows this time.

PV