Arla Foods Nigeria has successfully concluded its 2026 Arla-Dano Damau Open Day, bringing together more than 850 farmers, students, government representatives, development partners and dairy industry stakeholders to showcase modern dairy farming practices and opportunities for strengthening Nigeria’s domestic milk production.
Held on 28 and 29 October at the Arla-Dano Farm in Damau, Kaduna State, the two-day event provided participants with practical exposure to advanced dairy operations, livestock management, animal nutrition and milk production technologies. The initiative highlighted the importance of investment, technical expertise and collaboration in developing a more productive and sustainable Nigerian dairy sector.
The event also provided a platform for knowledge exchange between dairy farmers, industry professionals and service providers, demonstrating how modern farming practices can contribute to improving livestock productivity and strengthening local dairy value chains.
High-Yield Dairy Cattle Demonstrate Production Potential
One of the major highlights of the event was the live milking demonstration, which showcased the productivity potential of the farm’s dairy herd.
The Arla-Dano Farm is home to more than 450 Friesland Holstein cattle. During the demonstration, the highest recorded milk yield reached 57 litres from a single cow in one day. This was compared with the typical daily production of 1–2 litres reported for a Fulani cow, highlighting the differences in production potential between specialised dairy breeds and indigenous cattle under different management systems.
The demonstration emphasised the importance of selecting appropriate dairy breeds and maintaining suitable conditions for commercial milk production. Factors such as balanced animal nutrition, veterinary care, housing, breeding, hygiene and professional farm management play important roles in determining milk productivity.
Through guided farm tours and practical demonstrations, visitors gained insights into the operational requirements of modern dairy farming and the technologies used to improve production efficiency.
More than 20 suppliers of dairy farming products and services also participated in the event, providing opportunities for stakeholders to explore industry solutions, exchange knowledge and establish professional connections.
Arla Highlights Investment in Local Dairy Development
Speaking during the opening session, Elele Ogunsanya, Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications at Arla Foods Nigeria, highlighted the company’s commitment to strengthening local dairy production and supporting communities across the dairy value chain.
She noted that dairy plays an important role in community nutrition, farmer livelihoods and economic development. Arla’s activities in Nigeria extend beyond supplying dairy products, with a focus on developing local farming capabilities, sharing technical knowledge and building partnerships that support a resilient dairy industry.
The company’s approach reflects the growing importance of private-sector participation in developing Nigeria’s domestic milk production capacity and improving the capabilities of local dairy farmers.
Government Emphasises Collaboration and Dairy Sector Development
The Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, also attended the event and emphasised the importance of long-term collaboration among government institutions, dairy companies, farmers and development partners.
He highlighted the need to build a dairy sector that improves children’s access to nutritious food, provides sustainable incomes for farmers, strengthens local milk supply chains and creates employment opportunities across the livestock industry.
The Minister also called for continued investment and coordinated initiatives to improve local production, strengthen community livelihoods and develop opportunities for young people within the livestock value chain.
His remarks reinforced the importance of integrating agricultural development, nutritional security and employment generation into Nigeria’s broader livestock development strategy.
Arla Introduces School Feeding Programme in Kaduna
A significant development announced during the 2026 Open Day was the presentation of Arla’s new School Feeding Programme in Kaduna State.
The initiative aims to improve children’s nutritional access, support educational outcomes and create additional demand for locally produced milk. Under the proposed programme, Arla intends to provide freshly produced yoghurt from its Damau farm to participating schoolchildren several times a week.
The programme will initially begin with a pilot involving selected schools in Kaduna State and will be implemented in collaboration with the Milk Value Chain Foundation.
By connecting local dairy production with school nutrition programmes, the initiative seeks to create benefits across multiple stages of the dairy value chain. It could also provide a more structured demand channel for locally produced dairy products while supporting efforts to improve child nutrition.
The Honourable Commissioner of Kaduna State, Murtala Dabo, representing Governor Senator Uba Sani, welcomed the initiative and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for dairy investments.
He highlighted the potential of incorporating locally produced milk into school feeding programmes to strengthen demand for farmers’ products while improving children’s wellbeing and access to nutrition.
Strengthening Nigeria’s Domestic Dairy Value Chain
Nigeria’s dairy industry faces significant opportunities to improve domestic milk production, strengthen processing infrastructure and reduce dependence on imported dairy ingredients. Developing local production requires coordinated investment in livestock genetics, animal nutrition, veterinary services, farmer training, milk collection infrastructure and processing capabilities.
The Arla-Dano Damau Open Day demonstrated how modern dairy farms can serve as practical learning centres for farmers, students and industry stakeholders. By combining technology demonstrations, knowledge-sharing initiatives and partnerships, the event highlighted approaches that could contribute to improving productivity across the sector.
The introduction of the Kaduna School Feeding Programme further demonstrates how dairy development can connect agricultural production with nutrition, education and local economic opportunities.
As Nigeria continues its efforts to strengthen domestic dairy capacity, initiatives such as the Arla-Dano Open Day could play an important role in encouraging investment, developing technical expertise and inspiring the next generation of dairy professionals and farmers.
