NADEC dairy farming started since 1981 with 400 cows producing about 4.000 liters/day . Through intensive development across the past years, the company is now currently running a big dairy farming operation comprising of five farms of which three are major farms and two minor ones for rearing replacement heifers and fattening of bull calves, The total holding capacity of the farms is over 25,000 heads including over 12500 dairy cows producing about 340,000 liters/day. The livestock originated from top class registered American Holstein, however, the present stock is born and developed locally and well adapted to the prevailing climatic conditions.
Location of Dairy Farms
The dairy farms are located at Haradh project about 160 km from the nearest town . this remote location is deliberately selected to protect NADEC livestock from any disease transmission threats from neighbouring farms .
Administration
Depending on Saudi nationals , NADEC achieved progressive development in dairy farming .The farms are managed by qualified Saudis being well trained locally and abroad by attending periodical seminars and symposiums and having practical training at large international dairy farms in America .
The whole operation is managed by qualified technical staff implementing high standards for animal husbandry including housing, feeding, milking, animal health, breeding, calf rearing, and reproduction techniques .The dairy performance of the cows is recorded through the ALPRO system and the dairy comp. 305 programs.
HOUSING
The farm yards are well established and provided with cooling facilities adopted to the site requirement and supported by side curtains throughout the shades and the feeding bunks.
FEEDING
A central feeding complex was established to compute balanced rations and guarantee adequate supply of feed ingredients according to the herd requirements for maintenance and production.
The complex is prepared with the machinery required to prepare a total mixed ration (TMR) balanced to the chemical composition required.
The whole operation helps to minimize and control the quality, hygiene, feed cost, ensure adequately balanced rations and reduce or eliminate feed losses.
Feeds are readily distributed by well-equipped calibrated trucks with electronic digital panel to manipulate calculated amounts of rations for each group. All roughage feeds and corn grains of excellent quality are grown and produced at NADEC projects. Feeds are stored and handled carefully before feeding to the animals.
MILKING PARLOURS
The dairy farms are well equipped with high technology milking parlours provided with modern facilities to allow very efficient and smooth milking processes and easy cow flow. The overall milking operation is well controlled by ALPRO computer system instantly recording the milk production for each cow. The milk is cooled and delivered timely to the processing plant in compliance with ISO standards and also to shorten the time from the udder to packing and finally to consumer to keep the freshness and top quality product.
ANIMAL HEALTH
Infectious and contagious diseases are controlled by bio-security programs involving routine vaccination and stringent hygienic measures and the various veterinary aspects are performed by qualified personnel supported by the central lab which is equipped with the latest technology to track and diagnose microbial diseases and nutritional deficiencies .
REPRODUCTION
- Herd performance
The genetic traits of the herd are regularly upgraded by using proven semen from genetically recognized progeny tested and proven A.I. Bulls. The performance of NADEC herd is continuously maintained to the internationally recognized parameters for quantitative and qualitative milk production. Insemination techniques and reproduction are well organized and performed by efficient and qualified personnel .
- Embryo transfer
This technique includes embryo collection, identification and storage supported by high technical procedures to prepare quality embryos, which will be either stored frozen or readily transferred to recipient cows.
The program promotes vertical performance of the dairy herd by obtaining many high quality embryos/cow/year, having excellent performance with superior genetic traits (the top 5% of herd).
THE CENTRAL LABORATORY
The lab. At HARADH project is prepared with advanced equipment facilities and high technology diagnostic procedures. The following are the major sections of the central laboratory.
- VETERINARY DIAGNOSIS SECTION
Performs diagnostic procedures for different microbial diseases to support and control the animal health programs and to ensure herd security from diseases. For raw milk before loading, this section also performs tests for microbes , antibiotics ,and aflatoxins . Further tests will be continued for samples taken before delivery to the processing plants to test for microbes , chemical composition , and acidity to certify that the raw milk complies with the international quality assurance measures (according to ISO standards) and permanently achieving NADEC motto (TASTE & QUALITY ) .
- CHEMICAL ANALYSIS SECTION
Performs chemical analysis for plant tissues, soil , fertilizers, water and feedstuff analysis to control the nature of their chemical composition and also determines the level of mycotoxins in animal feeds and milk .Samples are collected from all NADEC projects for chemical analysis to support all the agricultural procedures and dairy farms activities .
