Milk Valley Farm receives final dairy cattle to boost production

BOTSWANA – Milk Valley Farm has received the third and final consignment of 206 Girolando dairy cattle from Brazil, completing a phased importation programme that has now brought 600 cattle into the country.

According to Botswana Development Corporation Limited (BDC), the move represents its mandate in action, with strategic capital being translated into productive capacity that will strengthen food security.

Concurrently, it will reduce reliance on dairy imports and unlock opportunities for jobs, skills, citizen enterprise, feed and fodder production, veterinary services, logistics and downstream dairy processing.

“At Milk Valley Farm, 600 cattle now represent something much bigger: investment moving from ambition to execution and creating the foundations for lasting economic impact,” BDC commented.

At full scale, Milk Valley Farm is targeting approximately 3,000 cattle and 15 million litres of milk annually, with the ambition of retaining more value within Botswana while building a stronger and more resilient domestic dairy industry.

The farm recently received 205 high-yield Girolando dairy cattle from Brazil, marking another milestone to boost milk production.

The farm is being equipped with world-class genetics, infrastructure, and biosecurity, with a long-term herd target of 3,000 cattle to significantly increase local milk production.

The Girolando breed, famed for high milk yields and adaptability to semi-arid climates, is well-suited to Botswana’s conditions. The first 186 pregnant cows will acclimatise under close monitoring of health and welfare.

Over the past few years, Milk Valley Farm has been laying the groundwork through significant investments in modern infrastructure, advanced farming systems, a carefully developed feed regime, and robust biosecurity measures

The farm, which rebranded from Milk Afric to Milk Valley Farm in 2025, was originally designed to accommodate 2,000 milking cows.

In 2013, the Farm partnered with the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) to help empower young dairy entrepreneurs and establish a national dairy pilot out-grower scheme. 

This partnership developed an anchor dairy farm in Lobatse, designed to model the best practices for dairy farming across the country.

In 2024, the Farm began production at its much-anticipated dairy facility, seven years after the project was initiated. 

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