Tumba, Sweden, 2025 9, 16 — Hamra Farm, DeLaval’s research and training center and commercial dairy farm in Tumba, Sweden, has completed a major expansion, and the new facilities are now in operation. The number of lactating cows at Hamra Farm has also increased from 260 to 550, bringing the total herd to more than 1000. The expanded operation will significantly increase the farm’s milk production and strengthen its support for the dairy industry.
The expansion is the largest construction project in Hamra Farm’s history, covering 12,000 square meters, approximately the area of two soccer fields. It includes three new barns: a maternity and calf barn, a heifer barn, and a VMS barn that also serves as a visitor center. The VMS barn is equipped with five DeLaval VMS™ V300 voluntary milking systems, four of which are also equipped with the RePro™ precision breeding monitoring system.
Animal welfare was a key objective throughout the planning and design of the project. Every detail, from the barn layout and milking systems to the bedding, cow brushes, and ventilation system, was designed to improve cow comfort. All barns incorporate advanced technologies to better support herd health and reproduction, including artificial intelligence tools that can detect the risk of disease in cows. Automatic somatic cell counters can improve milk quality and udder health, while the cow behavior analysis system monitors cow behavior, rumination, and feeding patterns.
Paul Löfgren, DeLaval President and CEO: “As a model of modern dairy farming, Hamra Farm demonstrates what is possible when we go beyond tradition, with an impact that extends far beyond the farm itself. While preserving its heritage, this expansion also looks to the future, including continued innovation, greater environmental responsibility, and the integration of new technologies. We are also committed to improving the visitor experience, making it easier for people to experience innovation and understand the role it plays in shaping the future of the dairy industry. The farm’s proximity to DeLaval’s headquarters is a unique advantage, and we are very proud of it.”
The size of the herd at Hamra Farm has been carefully planned to match the surrounding land available for growing feed and managing manure. The farm is self-sufficient in growing grass, maize, and grain, and returns manure to the land to maintain soil health and reduce the need for commercial fertilizers. In this way, the farm can maintain a closed nutrient cycle of its own.
Johan Bjurevall, General Manager of Hamra Farm: “As farmers, we prioritize practical solutions that benefit the cows, the land, and the farm as a whole. This expansion enables us to create the best conditions for the cows, use resources more intelligently, and increase efficiency and productivity. The new systems have already had a positive impact—the cows have adapted well, and the early results are encouraging. By sharing our experience at Hamra Farm, we hope to encourage and help more of our peers who come to visit.”
Hamra Farm was acquired by DeLaval founder Gustaf de Laval 130 ago and has long been regarded as “the heart of DeLaval.” It plays a vital role in DeLaval’s innovation work, serving both as an R&D center and as a place to showcase innovative technologies to customers. Here, the farm works closely with researchers to advance the entire dairy value chain. Hamra Farm is also one of Sweden’s highest-producing dairy farms.
Key upgrade projects:
- A newly built VMS barn that can accommodate up to 350 cows and serves as a visitor center.
- Purpose-built maternity and calf barns that can accommodate 200 calves aged 0-5 months.
- A dedicated heifer barn that can accommodate 350 heifers aged 5-24 months.
- Conversion of the existing VMS barn to accommodate 60 dry cows.
- Equipped with DeLaval’s latest digital technologies, including an AI-based disease risk prediction model, an automatic somatic cell counter, a cow behavior analysis system, and a rotary cow brush.
- An expanded R&D barn that can accommodate 165 cows and support collaboration between DeLaval, academic institutions, and researchers.
Hamra Ranch welcomes dairy industry colleagues from around the world to visit and exchange ideas. We look forward to welcoming everyone to the newly built VMS farm!