GLOBAL PLAYERS Indian ministry plants Gandhi tree at VikingGenetics On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth, representatives from the Indian government visited VikingGenetics in Denmark in early 2020. T he delegation planted an oak tree during a ceremony in front of the company’s headquarters in Assentoft, Denmark and spent the day learning about sustainable dairy production, genetic selection and animal welfare within Nordic cattle breeding. VikingGenetics was selected as the host of the ceremony due to its position as one of the leading cattle breeders in the world. In addition to the tree, a post was placed with an engraved plaque in honour of the Indian freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi. The memorial ceremony was part of the official program of the Indian visit organized in collaboration with the Danish Ministry of Environment and Food. The Indian Ambassador H. E. Mr Ajit Gupte participated alongside Mr. Atui Charturvedi, Secretary at the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), which is part of the Indian Ministry of Agriculture. A delegation of other government representatives, as well as a representative for Agriculture and Food in Denmark, also attended the ceremony together with the Mayor of Randers Torben Hansen. Excellent management and genetics in Estonia At the beginning of the year, the VikingGenetics board and management team made a study trip to Estonia with our new CEO Henrik Biilmann to show how VikingGenetics works in export markets. T he VikingGenetics’ distributor in Estonia is the Estonian Animal Breeders’ Association. CEO Tanel Bulitko and Breeding Manager Tõnu Põlluäär talked about the current situation and how breeding is progressing in Eastern Europe. Estonia is a highly productive country with an average milk production of 10,000 kg milk per cow. The total dairy population is about 83,000 cows with Holstein being the main breed. The VikingGenetics delegation also had the opportunity to visit two local herds. The Härjanurme herd in Jögevamaa has 1,050 cows, mostly Holsteins, with a production of almost 13,000 kg milk per cow per year. The Mangeni herd in Viljandi has 1,700 dairy cows, also mostly Holsteins, with an average yearly production of more than 10,000 kg milk per cow. “Both herds have excellent management and genetics, hence all the tools to achieve great results,” says Seppo Niskanen, Export Manager at VikingGenetics. • Estonia " Both herds have excellent management and genetics, hence all the tools to achieve great results Seppo Niskanen, Export Manager, VikingGenetics 31 INNOVATIVE BREEDING MAY 2020
Download PDF file