DELAVAL
HIGHLIGHTS 2019/2020
European young farmers General Assembly
During the year, DeLaval partnered with LRF (The Federation of Swedish Farmers) to host the General Assembly of the European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA) at DeLaval’s Hamra farm just outside Stockholm. The event featured a presentation from DeLaval experts on the future of data collection and management for dairy farmers, and a workshop on IOT (Internet of Things) technologies for different farms. In total, 68 young farmers attended, along with Joakim Rosengren, DeLaval President & CEO. “The General Assembly was a great opportunity for us to gain an insight into the needs of young farmers,” concludes Lars Johansson, SVP Corporate Communications.
Boosting cow longevity and profit
Cluster EMEA launched a marketing campaign to raise awareness of how cow longevity can boost profit. The customer-targeted campaign focused on longevity, cow cooling, farm management, reproduction and barn stalling. “We involved all parts of the organisation and I am very pleased with the cross-portfolio activities and synergies,” says Willem Woudstra, CSM Farm Supplies EMEA. During the year, Cow Longevity events were held for solution managers in Sweden and farmers in the Baltics and France. Marketing materials on longevity and the farm visit station programme were communicated during the meetings.
New e-commerce platform
A new digital engagement platform was piloted in Finland in 2019 – with aspirations for global roll out during 2020-21. The channel will ensure we stay relevant to a new generation of customers and promote our market share, while also generating revenue for our aftermarket assortment. “The introduction of e-commerce is a first step in developing and growing our digital customer relationships,” says Petter Sahlström, Strategic Commercial Development Director, EMEA. “The e-commerce channel will challenge our current business model and lead to increased price transparency.”
Collaboration with Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
As part of a collaboration agreement, DeLaval donated four new DeLaval VMS™ V300 milking robots to the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) to milk their herd of 280 dairy cows. The state-of-the-art equipment has allowed SLU to step up its research by improving data collection and management. A DeLaval Herd Navigator™ also automatically analyses the milk to detect when the cows are in heat, if they are about to develop mastitis (udder inflammation) and when feed changes are required. “The cutting-edge equipment has enabled us to better monitor cow health and milk quality,” says Rauni Niskanen, the Dean of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science at SLU.
New emerging market business model
DeLaval has won a 70 per cent market share in Croatia by connecting with dairies through Tetra Pak. “We used the same model in Albania where we educated farmers on nutrition and why hygiene and milk quality are important,” explains Aleksander Zember, Sales Manager in the Balkan region. “Through the dairies, we offer credit to farmers, which they pay back with milk.” There are significant opportunities for DeLaval to leverage Tetra Pak’s global presence by replicating the model in other emerging markets. By focusing on emerging markets, we can improve efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions per kg of produced milk.
Hamra Farm attractive to customers
Hamra Farm is DeLaval’s own innovation, testing, and exhibition centre, and one of Sweden’s most efficient dairy farms. The farm is a DeLaval subsidiary that also rents out properties, has crop husbandry, forestry, a gravel pit and a modern conference facility. Last year it welcomed around 3,000 visitors, and the number increases every year. The visitors are mainly farmers from all around the world who are interested in learning more about DeLaval and its products. Hamra Farm plays an important part in DeLaval’s global marketing.
Comestar Holstein invests in robotic milking
The Quebec based dairy farm known across the globe for its outstanding genetics, signed an agreement to purchase a total of eight DeLaval VMS™ V300 with Herd Navigator™. A pillar of the Canadian Holstein industry, Comestar Holstein is preparing for a new phase in its history, one that will see them move to automatic milking. As well as an anticipated increase in yield, Comestar owners Marc and France Comtois, were very clear on the benefit of the new system for their much-envied Holsteins. “There will be more freedom and comfort for the animals,” says Marc.
Exposure-4-Development (E4D) in Brazil
DeLaval joined the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) on their E4D trip to the Parana region of Brazil. This year, a group of selected journalists from all over the world were invited to learn more about farms, processors and companies that make up Brazil’s agricultural infrastructure. “It’s essential to showcase the nutritional value of dairy as a key player in providing nutrients to a growing world population. The E4D programme is an excellent initiative to understand how developing countries contribute to feeding the world,” says Lars Johansson, SVP Corporate Communications.