Sudanese 'Super Cows'!

Super Cows? Yes. That’s right. The BBC's James Copnall went on a rare tour of some state-of-the-art agricultural facilities in Sudan that could come to dominate agricultural production. Below is the BBC's account of his trip.

The DAL group is a prominent Sudanese business and is a major player within the agricultural sector. Right from growing alfalfa as feed for the dairy herd to producing and packaging the products, this farming business incorporates technology that is alien to agriculture in Sudan.

The irrigation equipment used for fodder crop growth is much more technical and precise, and with that in mind is also much more expensive. The cows that are fed these crops are imported from the west, all born abroad. But, because of their far superior milk-producing power, these imports are becoming Sudan’s new ‘super cows’. These so-called ‘super cows’ do have a downside though…because of the overwhelming heat, these western breeds have to be kept in air-conditioned barns! The barns are kept 20˚C cooler than the outside air by a system that sprays cold air.

Even in the milking and packaging process technology reigns supreme. The dairy factory alone costs $50 million, presenting itself as a massive investment, especially when you compare this to the majority of Sudanese agriculture which is practiced on a small scale. The latest genetic technology is also being used to ensure that the next generation of ‘super cows’ can produce even more milk.

Indeed, this is a prime example of how technology can help revolutionise agriculture and is very much a display of technology at the service of agriculture. But (and for me this is quite a big but!) for all its productivity benefits, can this really be sustainable? Socially as well as environmentally? With this extensive use of technology within a farming system, not as many jobs are created as in traditional farming, and many of the jobs that are available require more educated and trained people. Here the choice between outright productivity and social commitments has been made.

The real concern with regards to environmental change is what powers these technological advancements. The energy needed to maintain air-conditioned barns, electronically monitor each cow, or to package products all by machines is astronomical. This energy consumption is not sustainable, particularly if these types of technological revolutions become more commonplace across the developing world. The environmental costs and ensuing environmental change as a result of these revolutions is unquantifiable. Worrying times if these ‘super cows’ begin to take over the world!