Envision a home that maintains a cool, temperature-controlled environment at a perfect 26°C while the outside temperature soars to almost 50°C. This is the daily experience for over a thousand cows at Sharjah’s Mleiha dairy farm, even in the peak of summer. The sophisticated cooling technology not only ensures the welfare of the cows but also maintains optimal milk production. All the cows were imported from Denmark, and the farm has the capacity to house up to 2,500 cows across its vast 3,770,000 square metre area. Currently, there are four barns housing 1,200 cows, with an additional 1,300 expected to arrive in September.
In an exclusive interview with Khaleej Times, representatives from Sharjah Agricultural and Livestock Est. – now renamed Ektifa – highlighted their main priority as ensuring the comfort and care of the cows in the UAE's intense summer heat. The barns are fitted with automatic systems that spray water and mist, and an automatic air cooling system designed to create a moderate environment for the cows. Each cooling unit serves about 15 cows, helping to reduce the barn temperature to 26°C during the summer. Sensors operate according to the temperature, and dry fans help circulate air and expel flies, while wind curtains open and close automatically.
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated the first phase of the farm in April this year. Ektifa focused on settling the herd before summer to allow them to gradually adapt to the UAE environment. The farm plans to start distributing dairy products by July next year, aiming to complete its dairy processing plant by early 2025, initially producing 75,000 litres of raw milk daily and scaling up to 61 million litres annually by 2028. The cows are primarily females, maintaining a pure A2A2 gene pool, contributing to the farm's nucleus herd of 5,000.
The organic milk, containing the A2A2 protein (the same primary protein found in human milk), is of high quality, free from hormones and antibiotics, and rich in nutrients beneficial to human health. It has a fat content of over 3.5 per cent and a protein content of 3.5 per cent, making it one of the finest types of milk available to consumers. The milk will be delivered to consumers in its natural form, without any alterations or reductions in its components, known for its ease of digestion and ability to reduce intestinal disorders. The cows at Mleiha Dairy Farm are fed organic feed, a mix of on-site wheat bran and organic hay from Maliha's wheat farm, with space allocated on the farm for growing organic fodder to reduce expenses and support a circular economy.
