Luqman Cloete
29 June 2009
THE state-of-the-art N$80 million Super Dairy farm outside Mariental hopes to increase its milk production from the current 18 000 litres per day to 60 000 litres per day over the next three years.
Farm Manager Jacques du Toit said the farm started with milk production on February 26.
He said the raw milk the farm produces is sent to Namibia Dairies, which owns a stake in the farm, for final production.
Du Toit said of the 2 000 cows at the farm only 850 cows are currently being milked three times a day, at eight-hour intervals.
"Within three years' time the farm will definitely reach its full capacity," said Du Toit.
According to Du Toit, one of the top producing cows delivers between 65 and 70 litres of milk per day, while the average cow at the farm produces about 28 litres per day.
Despite occasional cow fatalities because of milk fever and calving difficulties, the farm is progressing well to full production, Du Toit said.
He said the construction of additional milking stalls to accommodate more cows was sin progress, but could not say when construction would be completed.
The milk stock currently consumes 30 000 tonnes of fodder per month. The fodder is produced at the farm.
The farm employs 55 workers, but Du Toit said more jobs would be created when the farm reached full production capacity.
President Hifikepunye Pohamba is expected to officially inaugurate the farm on August 26.
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