Dear Reader,
Welcome to the Q4 2025 edition of the Arla-Dano Dairy Development Newsletter!
As we close out an exciting and impactful year at Arla Foods Nigeria, I am filled with gratitude for the strides we have made together in advancing a more sustainable and thriving dairy sector. The year’s highlight was undoubtedly our Arla-Dano Farm Open Day, which was a resounding success and a true testament to what collaboration and shared vision can achieve. We had the honour of hosting government officials including the Honourable Minister of Livestock Development Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha and the Secretary to the Kaduna State Government (SSG) Dr. Abdulkadir Mu’azu Mayere, as well as Livestock Commissioners from 5 different states and technincal and business partners, exhibitors, farmers, students, and other stakeholders from across the dairy value chain. Together, we showcased the strength of Nigeria’s growing dairy ecosystem and celebrated our shared commitment to progress.
A key milestone from the open day event was the commissioning of the Yoghurt Factory, which was a proud moment for all of us. This marked a new chapter for Arla and for Nigeria’s dairy industry as we introduce our nourishing Yoghurt made from 100% fresh milk sourced directly from the Arla-Dano Farm. It is yet another demonstration of our long-term commitment to delivering nutritious, high-quality dairy products that are locally produced and globally bench-marked. We are very excited to introduce this new product to the Nigerian market. Our commitment to animal welfare ensures that we get high-quality milk that makes Arla Cool Cow yoghurt delicious.
This quarter, we also saw remarkable progress on our seed trials, which form part of our wider efforts to strengthen local dairy feed production. By investing in better forage solutions, we are laying the foundation for a more resilient and sustainable dairy sector one that benefits farmers and the nation alike. We are equally proud of the development of the Nigerian Dairy Centre of Excellence, with our farm at the heart of this initiative. Through this platform, we continue to share knowledge, technology, and best practices that empower farmers, enrich students’ learning, and equip stakeholders with the tools to drive transformation in the dairy value chain.
Apart from it being an exciting and eventful quarter it has been a remarkable year full of milestones not limited to us marking 10 years of operations in Nigeria. We are proud for how far we have come and are grateful to be closing the year on a successful note. To everyone who took part in our activities this year from the dedicated exhibitors and hardworking farm teams to our government partners and industry collaborators, I extend my heartfelt appreciation. Your presence, participation, and continued support are what make our progress possible.
As we wrap up the year, I want to wish everyone happy holidays, to those who will be celebrating I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in advance to all.
Do enjoy the read!
Peder Pedersen MD, Arla Global Dairy Products Ltd.
ARLA-DANO DAMAU OPEN DAY 2025
The Arla-Dano Farm in Damau, Kaduna State, came alive on Wednesday, 29th October 2025, as we hosted the highly anticipated 2025 Open Day at our Damau site; a landmark event that brought together stakeholders from across Nigeria’s dairy value chain to celebrate progress, innovation, and collaboration.
Over 600 distinguished guests were in attendance, including senior government representatives from the Livestock Development ministry, farmers, students, international development partners, industry leaders, academia, and community members. Guests were welcomed to a fully immersive experience, beginning with guided tours of the state-of-the-art Arla-Dano Farm, where they explored the farm’s modern infrastructure, high-performing dairy herd, and advanced feeding systems. Participants observed firsthand how Arla’s dedication to animal welfare, biosecurity, and climate-smart practices continue to set new benchmarks in sustainable milk production.
There was also a vibrant suppliers showcase, bringing together over 20 key suppliers across various categories from feed additives, animal welfare, dairy farming equipment, irrigation systems and so on to highlight their products, innovations, and capabilities. The event provided a unique platform to network, strengthen partnerships, foster collaboration, and explore new opportunities for mutual growth.
The day’s highlights included the official commissioning of major initiatives that will shape the next chapter of Arla’s journey in Nigeria: The Yoghurt Factory, a symbol of Arla’s deep commitment to local value addition and product innovation. The Nigerian Dairy Centre of Excellence (NDCE), now established as a national hub for dairy research, farmer training, and knowledge exchange.
We were deeply honoured by the presence of the Honourable Minister for Livestock Development Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, and Dr. Abdulkadir Mu’azu Mayere Secretary to Kaduna State Government, who represented His Excellency Governor Uba Sani. Their attendance, alongside esteemed dignitaries such as Hon. Yakubu Dogara the former speaker of the house of representatives, and former Governor of Katsina State Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, reflected the government’s confidence in Arla Food’s model as a driver of agricultural transformation.
The Arla-Dano Open Day also showcased tangible results of our commitment: the farm’s herd size has grown from 215 cows in 2023 to over 400 animals in 2025. The event served as a powerful platform to showcase the results of years of investment in local dairy development and to reaffirm our shared commitment to building a sustainable and inclusive future for Nigeria’s dairy sector. The 2025 Arla-Dano Open Day was more than a celebration, it was a testament to how partnership, purpose, and persistence can transform an industry. As we look to the future, Arla remains steadfast in its mission to deliver nutritious dairy, empower local farmers, and build a resilient and sustainable dairy ecosystem for Nigeria.
ARLA YOGHURT FACTORY COMMISSIONING
The newly commissioned Yoghurt Factory stands as a testament of Arla’s dedication to quality, innovation, and sustainability. Designed to process fresh milk sourced directly from the Arla-Dano Farm and surrounding communities, the facility operates with strict hygiene, safety, and quality standards. It produces yoghurt using only natural fresh milk; with no added milk powder, additives, or preservatives which reflects Arla’s global commitment to transparency and purity. Guests at the commissioning ceremony were taken on a guided tour of the facility, where they witnessed firsthand the end-to-end process, from receiving raw milk at chilled temperatures to producing smooth, creamy yoghurt ready for market.
Over 1,000 bottles of freshly produced Arla-Dano Yoghurt were distributed to all guests in attendance, giving everyone a firsthand taste of the quality and freshness that define our locally produced Cool Cow yoghurt. This served as a gratified showcase of our new factory’s capability to deliver nutritious, high-quality yoghurt made entirely from fresh milk sourced within Nigeria.
For Arla, this achievement is not only about expanding production capacity but also about deepening its commitment to local empowerment. By sourcing milk from nearby communities, the factory creates stable market access for smallholder farmers, generates employment, and contributes to strengthening Nigeria’s food security. The Yoghurt Factory represents far more than a physical structure, it is a symbol of progress, partnership, and purpose. Through this investment, Arla continues to demonstrate that both sustainable growth and quality innovation can go hand in hand.
NIGERIAN DAIRY CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE
The Nigerian Dairy Centre of Excellence (NDCE) was officially unveiled during the Arla-Dano Farm Open Day, a pioneering platform designed to strengthen local dairy development through knowledge sharing, thus marking a significant moment in our commitment to advancing Nigeria’s dairy sector. NDCE stands as a key milestone in Arla’s long-term strategy to share knowledge, strengthen the value-chain collaboration, support the growth of local dairy farmers; provide stakeholders with a firsthand look at the vision and purpose. Key focus areas include:
Youth Development: Building the Next Generation of Dairy Professionals
It places strong emphasis on developing young talent across the industry. Through structured Internship programs, hands-on training, and guided field exposure, which provides students, trainees, and early career professionals with access to practical dairy knowledge. This initiative is designed to inspire the next generation of experts who will contribute to Nigeria’s evolving dairy landscape. We furthermore partner with universities offering dairy and veterinary science courses etc.
Dairy Sector Development: Strengthening National Collaboration
We aim to leverage the NDCE as a collaborative platform that connects the private sector, government agencies, and academic institutions. By sharing global best practices and supporting coordinated value-chain development, NDCE will help drive improved productivity nd competitiveness across the national dairy sector.
Knowledge Sharing: A Central Hub for Learning and Exchange
The NDCE serves as a dedicated hub for knowledge transfer, offering access to learning materials, and resources, demonstrations, technical workshops, and evidence-driven insights. It is designed as a space where farmers, researchers, students policymakers, and industry stakeholders can exchange ideas and adopt proven methods that foster sector-wide improvement.
Farmer Training: Empowering Local Producers for Sustainable Growth
A core function of the NDCE is the training of dairy farmers. Through practical programmes, participants will gain exposure to improved husbandry techniques, fodder cultivation practices, herd nutrition, milk hygiene, and farm management principles. These efforts support more efficient and sustainable local milk production.
Community Development: Strengthening Local Impact
NDCE will also contribute to broader community development through outreach, school engagements, and inclusion-focused activities. These efforts help ensure that the benefits of dairy sector growth are widely shared and that local communities remain actively involved in the progress achieved.
With the unveiling, Arla is deepening its Innovation and Sustainability long-term investment in Nigeria’s agricultural future. The NDCE represents a strategic step toward improved knowledge, strengthened local capacity, and a more sustainable dairy value chain. As collaboration with partners continues, the Centre will play a central role in shaping the next phase of dairy development in Nigeria.
CROP HARVESTING SEASON AT THE ARLA-DANO FARM
This year at the Arla-Dano Farm, we cultivated a total of 289 hectares for animal feed production. Most of this land was used for growing corn and forage sorghum for silage, while a smaller portion was dedicated to grass. These crops formed the core of our feed efforts throughout the season, serving as the main sources of roughage for the farm and guiding much of our planning, fieldwork, and harvesting activities.
Although the yield per hectare was slightly below what is normally expected, this outcome reflects the fact that the land is still new and requires substantial work to manage weeds and competing growth. Because the soil is in its early development stage, extra effort is still needed to support the crops and gradually improve overall performance. Even with these challenges, total feed production for the year was strong, and the farm remains well positioned for roughage feeding in 2026.
Planning for next season’s crop production is already underway, with preparations set to begin in the coming months. This early start will support a smoother and more efficient planting season as we continue building on the progress made this year.
SEEDTRIALS PROGRESS REPORT
The seed trial which was carried out in collaboration with several research institutes including IITA (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture NAPRI (National Animal Product-ion Research Institute), SeedCo, and DLF Seeds from South Africa has officially come to an end. Over the past months, these partners worked closely with our team to monitor the development of each crop variety grown at the Arla-Dano Farm.
As the trial concluded, scientists from NAPRI visited the fields to collect samples and conduct detailed measurements on all plots, ensuring that every crop type was properly evaluated. Although the final analysis has not yet been released by Napri, we anticipate receiving the full report soon and plan to share the results in the next edition of this newsletter. A total of 69 different crop types were included in the trial, and as expected, their performance varied. Some crops showed exceptionally strong growth, while others did not perform as well under the farm’s tropical conditions.
This variation is a natural and important part of the study, as the core objective is to identify which crops are most suitable for our environment and which ones are less adaptable. The early indications from field observations suggest that several of the tested crops could be valuable options for enhancing dairy feed production in the years ahead.
However, we must depend on the complete scientific evaluation before making any final judgments about the trial. The full clarity can only come once the research team releases the comprehensive results, as their detailed analysis will either validate or adjust the preliminary observations made so far and clearly identify which of the tested crops truly show the strongest potential for supporting the future of dairy farming in Nigeria.
SPOTLIGHT FEATURE: THE MILK TAXI
In this edition, we introduce a new segment of our newsletter; the Spotlight where we highlight innovative technologies used at the Arla-Dano Farm that are not yet common in Nigeria. Our first feature focuses on one of the most important tools in our calf-rearing system: the Milk Taxi.
As the Arla-Dano Farm continues to grow, we expect to have up to 100 calves on milk at any given time. With each calf consuming up to 8 litres of milk daily, efficiently delivering the right quantity at the right temperature becomes essential. This is where the Milk Taxi proves invaluable. The Milk Taxi is a motorized, mobile milk-distribution unit equipped with a large insulated tank, a heating system to maintain the ideal feeding temperature, and a hose dispenser for filling individual calf drinking bowls. Its design allows one person to effortlessly feed a large number of calves making the process faster, more hygienic, and significantly more efficient.
Beyond distribution, the Milk Taxi also functions as a fully automated pasteurizer and milk powder mixer. Whether the calves are fed fresh raw milk or milk prepared from powder, the machine ensures consistent quality by pasteurizing milk when needed and mixing milk replacer to the correct standards. With the Milk Taxi, the Arla-Dano Farm continues to adopt modern dairy practices that enhance animal welfare, boost efficiency, and support the healthy growth of the next generation of dairy cattle.
THE BIRDS OF ARLA-DANO DAMAU SITE
The Arla-Dano Damau site has welcomed more than just people since the development of our facilities, wildlife has flourished alongside us, and the most remarkable indicator of this growth is the vibrant birdlife now present on the farm. Mr. Julius Andrag, our bird specialist and former Assistant Farm Manager, recorded over 100 bird species on site during his 20 months at the Arla-Dano Farm which is a truly extraordinary discovery. Here below are few of the amazing bird species that have been spotted within the 400 hectare of land that belongs to the Arla Damau Site.
MEET DAISY
This is cow #2941
Meet Cow #2941, also known as Daisy-one of the oldest cows at the Arla-Dano Farm whose incredible journey across two continents has shaped her into one of the farm’s most beloved and productive dairy cows.
Tell us about Daisy in a few words.
Daisy one of the oldest and most beloved cows at the Arla-Dano Farm. Life has taken her across two continents; from birthplace in Denmark to a new home in Nigeria. After travelling thousands of kilometers by road and air, She settled into a peaceful life dedicated to produce high-quality milk for the farm, contributing to the growing legacy of healthy, well-cared-for cows at Arla-Dano.
How did Daisy travel from Europe to Nigeria?
After being cleared by a veterinary doctor, she travelled by truck from Denmark through Germany and the Netherlands to Belgium. She rested for a day on a farm in Belgium before flying on a special livestock transport plane from Liège to Kano, Nigeria.
When did she get pregnant for the first time?
She got pregnant for the first time at 18 months old, making her a bit of a late bloomer compared to other heifers.
When did she officially become a milking cow?
She became a full-fledged cow on October 12th, 2023, when she gave birth to her first calf—a healthy heifer tagged as calf #35.
How has she contributed to the herd since arriving at the farm?
She has embraced her role exceptionally well, producing milk consistently and earning a reputation as one of the farm staff’s favourite milking cows.
What is a fun fact about Daisy.
One of the most exciting thing about Daisy is that she has already become a grandmother at just four years old! Her firstborn, now cow #35, gave birth to a healthy heifer at only 22 months old, which is quite remarkable. This means we now have three generations from her lineage living on the Arla-Dano farm. It’s a beautiful example of how well our cows thrive here.
In Other News...
Nordic Nigeria Connect and a Meeting with the Danish State Secretary for Trade and Investment
It was a pleasure to be part of the Nordic Nigeria Connect 2025 themed "Forging Partnerships for Sustainable Impact" in Lagos this week. A dynamic platform that brought together stakeholders, investors, business leaders, Nordic diplomatic missions as well as government representatives committed to driving investment, innovation, and sustainable growth across Nigeria.
The conference was graced by notable dignitaries including the State Secretary for Trade and Investment of Denmark, Ms. Lina Gandløsen Hansen, who we later hosted at the Arla office, and shared insights into Arla Nigeria's business structure, local operations, and backward integration journey in Nigeria, reinforcing our commitment to creating sustainable value in the Nigerian dairy sector.
We also presented in the Business Breakout Session on Agribusiness as Nigeria’s Growth Engine, where we highlighted the crucial role of sustainable dairy farming and local value creation in unlocking Nigeria’s agricultural potential.
Meeting at the Ministry of Livestock Development
It was a pleasure to meet with the Director of Ruminant and Monogastric Development Dr. Victor Egbon and Head of Dairy Division Mrs. Christy Onyegbule at the Ministry of Livestock Development in Abuja at the end of November. We discussed different collaboration possibilities for 2026 where we plan to join forces to drive the Livestock sector forward.
2026 will be busy for us and we are excited about whats to come.
