A new name has appeared on the map of the dairy industry. In Bebrujai village, Radviliškis district, the Agrokoncernas Group has opened the largest and most modern dairy cattle complex in Europe. It is planned that the farm will house around 10,000 cattle, including a milking herd of approximately 4,500 cows.
The “Farm of the Future” currently accommodates more than 500 heifers. Around half of them were brought from farms belonging to the Group, while the others are being delivered from leading dairy complexes in Western Europe. The majority of the herd consists of highly productive Holstein heifers.
They are the first to arrive at the farm, and later — in several stages — the milking cows will also be introduced into the 53‑hectare complex.
According to Deividas Medžiulis, Deputy Director for Animal Husbandry at the Group-owned Agricultural Innovation Center, milk production is planned to begin in early February. The first calves from the arriving heifers are expected in mid‑March.
“We are introducing the cattle into the complex in stages, allowing them time to adapt. The heifers arriving from abroad undergo quarantine, vaccination, and health screening. The entire process is running smoothly — we have had no incidents. Both the locally raised and imported heifers are adapting well,” he says.
The “Farm of the Future” stands out not only for its scale, but also for its modern technological solutions. Exceptional attention is devoted to animal welfare.
“Compared with other European farms, the space allocated per animal here is among the largest. The cows have ample room to move and lie down, convenient access to feed and drinking water, and special grooming brushes. The bedding is made from peat and straw, ensuring dry and comfortable resting areas,” explains D. Medžiuolis.
An animal‑welfare policy has also been approved for the complex, and all employees are required to be familiar with and comply with it.
Under this policy, the company applies zero tolerance toward any improper treatment of animals. The use of hormones or antibiotics to stimulate productivity is strictly prohibited. Antibiotics may only be used for medical purposes under veterinary supervision, and preventive or prophylactic use is not allowed.
The Agrokoncernas Group has signed a cooperation agreement with the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU). University researchers will also be involved in various processes at the complex.
According to Ramūnas Karbauskis, Owner of the Agrokoncernas Group, the main goal of this partnership is to create a globally unique dairy farming model that covers the entire value chain — from feed production to milk production — leveraging the latest scientific knowledge and innovation.
The long‑term vision of the project includes four additional complexes that would supply the required milk volumes to a processing plant. This strategy would strengthen the national dairy sector, reduce the growing deficit of raw milk, and increase the share of Lithuanian dairy exports in international markets.
“Lithuania currently ranks among the lowest in the European Union in terms of cattle density per hectare. Due to agricultural policy — or rather, the lack thereof — the average size of dairy herds in the country has halved over the past two decades, while the number of milk producers has decreased more than tenfold. Another ticking time bomb is the age of farmers — more than 44,000 livestock farmers are already over 60. Young people are not returning to farms, while demand for milk continues to rise. Therefore, when claims are made that large complexes destroy small farms, the statistics show that small farms have largely already disappeared,” says R. Karbauskis.
He notes that a single complex will not solve the structural challenges facing the dairy sector, not only in Lithuania but across Europe.
“It is forecast that the number of cows in the European Union will continue to decline, although rising productivity may partially offset the trend. That is why we hope that our decision to build herds from the strongest Western European farms will help improve productivity results and, in the long term, provide genetically strong herds for Lithuanian farmers,” says R. Karbauskis.
The largest dairy complex in Europe is also distinguished by technological solutions that enable maximum process efficiency.
The “Farm of the Future” will create around 50 jobs, and the Agrokoncernas Group is investing in staff training and continuous professional development.
It is estimated that around 150 tons of raw milk will be produced at the complex each day.
A biomethane plant is scheduled to begin operating next to the complex in 2027. Using organic cattle slurry, it will produce biomethane gas that meets high quality standards. The gas supplied to the national grid will contribute to sustainable energy development and reduced dependence on imported gas.
The “Farm of the Future” complex was built and prepared to receive its first cattle in just under a year and a half. The project was implemented by the sustainable urban development and construction company YIT Lietuva. High‑quality equipment and robotic solutions for the complex are being supplied by DeLaval, one of the leaders in the global dairy sector.
At the “Farm of the Future”, DeLaval has installed the largest 100‑point rotary milking carousel on the market, and an advanced AI‑driven system for monitoring animal health and milk quality is currently being deployed.
More than EUR 80 million has been invested in the “Farm of the Future” dairy complex.
Watch the video for a closer look at the complex and its first residents — the heifers: video.
