Kibbutz wins $500m. tender for Chinese dairies

AfiMilk, a dairy herd management firm run out of Kibbutz Afikim, to build 13 milking parlors serving about 50,000 cows.

By SHARON UDASIN
kibbutz worker with cows 311 (photo credit: Courtesy AfiMilk)
kibbutz worker with cows 311
(photo credit: Courtesy AfiMilk)
A dairy herd management firm run out of Kibbutz Afikim in the northern Jordan Valley has won a $500 million tender to build advanced milking parlors in China.
The company, AfiMilk, will be building 13 such milking parlors, which will in turn serve a total of about 50,000 cows. AfiMilk provides computerized platforms for managing milking routines, which will be used by Chinese dairy farmers to manage huge cow herds, according to a company statement.
The tender was issued by Mengniu Dairy, the largest dairy company in the Chinese market – what AfiMilk describes as “the Tnuva of China,” producing milk, yogurt and cheese.
AfiMilk is run by S.A.E.
Afikim, established 33 years ago, and completely owned by Kibbutz Afikim until recently.
The first electronic meter for measuring milk was first invented at AfiMilk, a concept that has since expanded all over the world.
Up until now, Megniu relied mostly upon purchasing fresh milk from smaller dairy operations, according to Bjanre Rune, vice president of marketing at AfiMilk. Now, the company has decided to expand its milk production as well as rely on the Israeli expertise in milking and herd management technology. This decision will allow Megniu to produce more milk independently, as well as gain further control over quality in the dairy market, Rune said.