In a previous article, we explored the Top 10 dairy farms in the world. In that article, the top 2 farms are Almarai (largest in terms of milk volume, 1.47 million tons of milk /year, 105,000 cows), operating multiple farms in Saudi Arabia, and Morden Dairy (largest in terms of number of animals: 134,000 cows) spread across 26 locations in seven provinces. While their scale is quite impressive, both operate as a network of farms rather than a single-site operation.
When it comes to one location, one farm on one single, integrated operation, the title of the world's largest dairy farm belongs to Al Safi Dairy Farm in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia, about 100 km away from the capital Riyadh. This article will focus on Al Safi farm and its practices.
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Recognized by the Guinness World Records in 1998, and still unbeaten, as the largest integrated dairy farm globally, Al Safi houses approximately 50,000 Holstein-Friesian cows and produces over 170 million liters of milk annually. The farm occupies about 36 square kilometers and includes on-site feed production, milking parlors, processing facilities, and distribution systems, all within the same location.
Al Safi Dairy Farm’s operation is based on its integrated management practices, thorough feed production systems, and strategic land use across its vast 36 square-kilometer facility.
The farm is divided into several key areas to optimize logistics, animal welfare, and resource management. A significant portion of the land is dedicated to animal housing. Each group is provided with purpose-built barns that cater to their specific needs, including controlled environments that mitigate the region’s extreme heat (remember that it is located in an extreme climate region!). Al Safi has the stables equipped with water spray systems that cool the dairy cows from a temperature of 27 ° C. The outside temperatures can there reach up to 55 ° C.
The farm’s milking operations are centralized in a high-capacity complex equipped with parallel milking parlors (side-by-side) for 80 cows each, milking a staggering number of around 560 cows (!!).
Forage crops (mostly alfalfa, Rhodes grass, and silage corn) are grown on an irrigated area of around 10 square kilometers. These fields are irrigated using a combination of center-pivot and drip systems to ensure maximum water efficiency in the arid climate. Silage bunkers and storage silos are also strategically placed near feed mixing facilities to minimize transport time and labor.
In addition to animal and feed areas, portions of the farm are designated for water and waste management infrastructure. This includes effluent lagoons for liquid waste treatment, composting areas for solid manure, and run-off channels designed to reduce environmental contamination.
The farm also includes on-site milk storage and initial processing facilities, enabling rapid cooling and quality control before the milk is transferred to Al Safi Danone’s downstream processing units. Collectively, this integrated layout supports Al Safi’s position as one of the most advanced and efficient dairy farms in the world.
Al Safi stands as an example of the fusion of traditional farming practices with cutting-edge technology and has continually evolved with innovative management strategies and technological advancements combining scientific precision and technological integration. Al Safi follows a systems-based approach where every aspect of the farm—from genetics to waste management—is optimized for efficiency, sustainability, and productivity, and seen as an essential part of the whole system.
Herd management is essential. Each cow is monitored closely through digital systems that track individual health metrics, milk production, feeding behavior, and reproductive cycles. These systems often incorporate artificial intelligence, enabling predictive analytics that help staff intervene early in case of health issues or breeding needs.
Staffing and human resource practices are also critical. Al Safi employs a diverse and highly trained multidisciplinary workforce that receive regular training in both animal science and technological systems, ensuring that they are equipped to operate sophisticated milking machines and AI-based herd monitors.
On the nutrition front, feed and water intake are monitored electronically, providing valuable data for early detection of health or metabolic issues. A centralized feed mill processes raw crops and supplements to formulate balanced rations using TMR systems, and automated feeding wagons deliver precise rations to different cow groups based on lactation stage, age, and health.
The farm recycles wastewater for irrigation, composts organic waste for use as fertilizer, and is actively exploring the use of renewable energy sources like solar and biogas. These initiatives are not only environmentally responsible but also contribute to cost savings and resource independence.
Al Safi Dairy Farm was founded in 1981 by Prince Abdullah Al Faisal having as vision to produce high-quality fresh milk and dairy products locally in the arid heart of Saudi Arabia (historically dependent on imports for perishable food items). The initial herd, consisting of approximately 6,500 Holstein-Friesian cows, was imported from Canada and Europe.
During the 1990s, Al Safi expanded rapidly in both herd size and technological sophistication. In 1998, the farm was officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest integrated dairy farm in the world, a title earned through its single-location operation that combined animal housing, feed production, milking, and processing—all on one massive site. A big milestone in Al Safi’s history came in 2001, when it entered a strategic partnership with the Danone group. This collaboration led to the creation of Al Safi Danone, a joint venture that combined Al Safi’s production capacity with Danone’s expertise in dairy processing, product innovation, and marketing.
In recent years, Al Safi has embraced the digital transformation of agriculture, adopting data-driven herd management, AI-assisted monitoring, automated feeding systems, and energy-efficient power solutions.
Al Safi Dairy Farm exemplifies how agricultural practices can be harmoniously integrated with modern technology to create a sustainable, efficient, and productive dairy operation. Through its commitment to innovation, animal welfare, and environmental practices, Al Safi not only maintains its status as the world's largest integrated dairy farm but also sets a benchmark for the global dairy industry.
References
Al Safi Danone Official Website: https://www.alsafidanone.com
Alltech Podcast & Industry Reports, 2023. Exploring advancements in cow comfort and sustainable dairy practices in Saudi Arabia. Podcast: https://www.alltech.com/podcast/exploring-advancements-cow-comfort-and-sustainable-dairy-practices-saudi-arabia
Hitachi Energy – Customer Success Stories. Power quality solutions enable resilient operations at Al Safi Danone dairy farm in Saudi Arabia. URL: https://www.hitachienergy.com/news-and-events/customer-success-stories/power-quality-solutions-enable-resilient-operations-at-al-safi-danone-dairy-farm-in-saudi-arabia
Smith, C. 2002. Al Kharj Journal; Milk Flows From Desert At a Unique Saudi Farm. New York Times Journal. https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/31/world/al-kharj-journal-milk-flows-from-desert-at-a-unique-saudi-farm.html#
GLOBAL AGRICULTURAL SOLUTIONS – Youtube, 2023. Largest Dairy Farm in the World. https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=milking+parlors+at+Al+Safi&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:9c3d737d,vid:4r_9UiTA2Mg,st:0