December 12, Colombo (LNW): Lanka Milk Foods (CWE) PLC (LMF) has achieved a remarkable milestone at its Ambewela Farms, setting a new record by producing an impressive 62,000 litres of milk daily from a single source.
This achievement marks a dramatic rise from the 3,000 litres it initially produced, with the company now consistently delivering a massive 60,000 litres a day.
When LMF took over the Ambewela facility from the state sector in 2001, it began with a modest daily output of fewer than 3,000 litres. Fast forward to today, and the farm now contributes an extraordinary 20 million litres of milk annually to Sri Lanka’s national supply, underscoring the company’s role as a key player in the country’s dairy sector.
The company attributes this success to years of strategic planning, significant investments, and the implementation of cutting-edge farming techniques.
A pivotal development occurred in 2019 when LMF invested Rs. 5 billion to modernise the farm, introducing two automated dairy housing and milking systems.
These systems doubled production capacity within two years, bringing the farm up to world-class standards. Every aspect of the operation, from the comfort of the dairy cows to the sophisticated computerised management systems, reflects the company’s commitment to excellence.
A core component of the farm’s success is its innovative approach to breeding. By employing a state-of-the-art breeding programme using sexed semen from world-renowned bulls, LMF has developed a herd of genetically superior cows capable of producing yields on par with the best commercial herds globally.
These cows, which are capable of producing up to 12,000 litres per 305-day lactation cycle, form the backbone of the farm’s output. To maintain high productivity, LMF has also implemented rigorous health surveillance systems to keep the herd disease-free and healthy.
Nutrition is another key factor in the farm’s success. LMF collaborates with international nutritionists to create precision feeding systems that cater specifically to the needs of high-yielding cows.
Additionally, the farm has cultivated purpose-bred grass varieties on its pastures, optimising the cows’ nutritional intake.
Calf care is also a priority, with advanced feeding and care systems in place to ensure that the young stock grows quickly and reaches maturity at an early age, which contributes to the overall productivity of the herd.
As a result of these comprehensive efforts, the dairy cows at Ambewela Farms now produce an average of up to 40 litres of milk per cow each day.
General Manager of Farms, Sarath Bandara, reflected on the achievement, stating, “This milestone is the culmination of years of dedication, strategic planning, and innovation. By combining international expertise with the passion and commitment of our local teams, we’ve set a new standard for dairy production in Sri Lanka. We are committed to advancing the dairy industry and ensuring national self-sufficiency through improved productivity and quality.“
In addition to its own success, LMF is sharing the benefits of its advancements with local farmers. By providing them with high-quality offspring from its superior herd, the company is empowering local dairy producers to improve their productivity and adopt best practices.
