In mid-May, Hunland successfully completed another international project, transporting a total of 330 pregnant heifers, aged 4–7 months, from Budapest to Ethiopia on two dedicated charter flights. But the story began much earlier.
Last year, Hunland delivered 660 pregnant heifers to the same dairy farm in Mehoni, Ethiopia. Today, those animals have successfully calved and are producing milk, proving the success of the project and the quality of the livestock supplied.
This successful cooperation built the trust that led our partner to choose Hunland once again. This year’s shipment will enable the 1,000-head dairy farm to reach its full production capacity, marking another important milestone in our long-term partnership.
For Ethiopia, sea transport is not a practical alternative due to the country’s geographical location. Air transport provides the fastest and most animal-friendly solution, significantly reducing travel time and transport-related stress.
The two charter flights departed from Budapest on 14 and 19 May, arriving first in Addis Ababa before continuing on a short domestic flight to Mek’ele. Each flight carried 165 pregnant heifers in specially designed livestock crates, ensuring a safe and comfortable journey.
Although the aircraft could have accommodated more animals based on cargo space alone, international live animal transport regulations—particularly those governing ventilation and air circulation—strictly limit the number of animals permitted on each flight. Hunland fully complied with these requirements, placing the welfare and comfort of these high-genetic-value animals at the centre of every transport decision.
Upon arrival, the local team and a fleet of trucks carrying 12–13 animals were already waiting at the airport. After several hours of driving through mountainous terrain and winding roads, the experienced drivers safely delivered the heifers to their final destination—a dairy farm near Mehoni.
To support the project on site, the veterinarian Patrik Raul Kondor and livestock specialist, Zsanett Kohut, travelled to Ethiopia together with the shipment.
Alongside the heifers, Hunland also delivered veterinary medicines and ultrasound diagnostic equipment—essential tools that are not always readily available in Ethiopia. More importantly, Hunland provided hands-on training to the local team, ensuring they could confidently use the equipment in their daily work.
Successful dairy farming cannot simply be copied. One of its most critical elements is nutrition. Rather than transferring our own feeding programme, Hunland developed a solution tailored specifically to the conditions of the partner’s farm.
The specialists collected samples of locally available feed ingredients in Ethiopia and analysed their nutritional composition in the laboratory. Based on these results, Hunland developed a feeding programme adapted to local conditions—because the available raw materials, the climate and the production environment are all different.
The objective, however, remains the same: to build a sustainable, healthy and highly productive dairy operation that delivers long-term results.
