New Sweden Dairy Inc. Given Private Grand Opening

The new dairy facility houses more than 4,000 cows in addition to 3,000 milking cows at Northern Plains Dairy, LLP, another dairy owned by Davis Family Dairies. The two dairies combined employ 75 people.

21 Sep 2009 --- The University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine and Davis Family Dairies, LLC celebrated the private grand opening of New Sweden Dairy, LLC in Nicollet County, MN. Over 100 guests from the dairy industry, government, and other interested parties gathered together to learn about the dairy’s mission, tour the new facilities and share a catered lunch.

The private event included politicians, local and state officials, and various industry representatives. Sponsors of the new facility were also recognized at the opening. The founding donors are Pfizer Animal Health, Cambria Natural Quartz Surfaces, Davisco Foods International, Inc., Zinpro,
Diamond V, and AgStar.

The new dairy facility houses more than 4,000 cows in addition to 3,000 milking cows at Northern Plains Dairy, LLP, another dairy owned by Davis Family Dairies. The two dairies combined employ 75 people. The New Sweden site serves as a birthing center for more than 6,000 calves per year and milks 3,000 cows daily. It also includes dormitory facilities, classrooms, and teaching laboratories.

The affiliation between Davis Family Dairies and the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine began in September of 2007 when they announced their intention to design, construct, and operate the new facility, New Sweden Dairy. The facility offers a unique opportunity to integrate various academic and educational functions into a large-scale commercial operation.

Mitch Davis, General Manager of Davis Family Dairies, states, “Davis Family Dairies is proud and humbled to have our New Sweden Dairy be the impetus of such a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine, and the six founding donors (Pfizer Animal Health, Cambria Natural Quartz Surfaces, Davisco Foods International, Inc., Zinpro, Diamond V, and AgStar) in establishing the Dairy Education Center at New Sweden Dairy. We believe these efforts will provide a venue that will enhance the knowledge of current and future veterinarians as well as industry stakeholders from the United States and around the world. These efforts will also contribute to the body of the research that currently exists within the industry.”

Davis Family Dairies owns and operates the facility while the College of Veterinary Medicine contributes toward the aspects of the facility specific to academic functions. The New Sweden Dairy Education Center is the first facility of its kind and scope in the world. The University of Minnesota’s goal is for the center to serve as a national center for dairy veterinary education and research. A public grand opening will take place in June 2010 in conjunction with National Dairy Month.

Davis Family Dairies is owned and operated by the Davis Family whose other businesses include Davisco Foods International, Inc., and Cambria Natural Quartz Surfaces, both headquartered in Le Sueur, Minnesota. Davis Family Dairies, founded in 2000, includes Northern Plains Dairy and New Sweden Dairy. Stanley Davis founded Davisco Foods in 1943 in St. Peter, Minnesota and the Davis family founded Cambria in 2002.