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Friday, 31 October 2014 01:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Australian livestock exporter Wellard Group has secured two contracts worth almost $ 100 million from Sri Lanka to supply 22,500 dairy cattle to the Sri Lankan Department of Economic Development (SLDED).
The contracts build on the recent and successful completion of a previous contract to supply 2,000 dairy heifers to SLDED, which also included the renovation existing facilities and provision of management and education, the company said in a media release.
Wellard will source and supply 20,000 Friesian Jersey-cross heifers in the next two years to service the larger contract, as well as providing management and veterinary support.
In a second contract, supported by Rabobank and Australia’s Export Finance Investment Corporation, Wellard will supply 2500 Friesian Jersey-cross heifers to a greenfields farm in Sri Lanka to be built by Wellard complete with sheds, milking parlour and machinery.
Wellard would be sourcing Friesian Jersey-cross heifers because the breed was best suited to the local environment and production systems. The company expects to deliver the heifers in up to five shipments over the next two years and will be sourcing them from around Australia.
Wellard Chief Executive Officer Mauro Balzarini commended Wellard’s partner in Sri Lanka, Foresight, which is part of the Access Group, and the company’s Project Manager Johann Wasserman, for the success of the initial supply and husbandry program and their ongoing role with the two new contracts.
“Wellard is excited that it can play a role in aiding Sri Lanka’s agricultural and nutritional development and this once again proves that live export plays an important role not only for Australia farmers but also for farmers around the world,” said Wellard Asia Business Development Director Scot Braithwaite. “This is not just the supply of cattle but includes management, training and animal welfare education.
Sri Lanka currently produces only 42% of its milk requirements and imports the remainder at a cost of $ 300 million a year. To improve this scenario the Sri Lankan Government has a long-term commitment to increase domestic milk production. Part of the supply agreement also includes technical management and capacity building in-country, through employment and training of veterinarians and farm management advisers and supervisors.
The supply contract was signed by Braithwhite with the Economic Development Ministry Secretary Dr. Nihal Jayatilleke in the presence of f Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Australian High Commissioner Robyn Mudie and Economic Development Ministry Additional Secretary Priyantha Mayadunne.
Webb said the previous 2000 cattle supplied by Wellard to the Sri Lankan Economic Development Industry had performed well in terms of both reproduction and milk production, and the dairy installed by the company was operating efficiently.
“All parties to the original supply agreement have been delighted with its implementation,” Webb said. “We are therefore pleased to have been able to build on that relationship and the knowledge gain with a significantly larger contract.”
