5 August, 2024 | News
DeLaval Japan is helping to transform dairy farming nationwide by partnering with universities to offer students valuable real-world insights and industry knowledge. One such partner is Rakuno Gakuen University, a key collaborator since 2022. Renowned in the Japanese dairy industry, the university specialises in dairy and livestock farming, veterinary medicine, and food and health – and has produced many knowledgeable dairy farmers who are now among our customers.
Last month, 28 students from Rakuno Gakuen University’s Dairy Cattle Study Club visited our training centre. They explored calf care practices such as breeding and suckling, and gained practical insights into our equipment, particularly the DeLaval VMS™ milking robot.
The hands-on experience with the technology proved insightful for the students, with one commenting: “I was surprised that the milking robots can measure progesterone to confirm oestrus and use cameras to assess body conditioning scores (BCS) and adjust the amount of food accordingly.”
Ayaka Saito, Marketing Communication, MA Japan, DeLaval, says these types of partnerships not only benefit students, universities, and DeLaval but also the Japanese dairy industry as a whole. “It aligns with our vision, ‘We make sustainable food production possible.’ These collaborations provide practical insights, enabling university students—the next generation of the dairy industry—to understand the challenges and opportunities facing the industry, become familiar with new technologies, and understand their benefits. This ultimately supports the future of sustainable food production in Japan.”
Looking ahead, DeLaval aims to boost motivation for research and development in Japan, particularly through applications to our international Gustav de Laval Fund. Managed by DeLaval’s scientific committee, this fund supports innovative projects and research that drive advancements in the dairy industry. Additionally, we have several exciting initiatives planned, including launching international exchange programs to familiarise students with Scandinavian and European dairy practices, hosting round-table discussions, and continuing to provide lectures from DeLaval staff.
It looks like there will be many exciting initiatives from DeLaval Japan in the coming years!
Read press release: Advancing the Japanese dairy industry: DeLaval and Rakuno Gakuen's partnership - DeLaval