From Denmark to Albania: building a dairy sector together
“With the right animals and people around you, you can achieve a lot”
A long journey, over mountains and through valleys, recently brought a group of Danish heifers from the far north to the sunny south: Albania. Not just any delivery, but a new step in the collaboration between VAEX and Albanian trader Edoardo Rrotani. A partnership that has thrived for fifteen years on trust, quality, and a shared vision for the future of dairy farming in Albania.
From fattening pig to dairy cow
Edoardo Rrotani is no stranger to livestock trading. In 2004, he started his company with a broad focus: pigs, calves, manure, and trading all mixed together.
“At one point, I even had my own pig farm with about 2,000 fattening pigs,” he says. “But eventually, I stopped with that. It became less interesting. The trade always kept calling.”
Today, Edoardo focuses entirely on trading young calves and pregnant heifers. And he doesn’t do it alone: since 2010, he has worked closely with VAEX The Livestock Traders. That partnership started through mutual contacts, but quickly grew into something much bigger.
“In the beginning, it was purely business. But over the years, we’ve become almost like family.”
Trust as a foundation
What makes this partnership so strong? For Edoardo, it’s clear: trust and mutual respect.
“Back then, I chose VAEX because it’s a well-known name in Europe, but mainly because I met very decent people in Dirk Govers and his team,” he says. “Reliability is the most important thing for me. If I work with someone, I want to be able to count on them.”
That reliability goes both ways. At VAEX, Edoardo has also become a well-known and valued partner. Together, they have been building a stable network between Western Europe and Albania for years, with one goal: to further develop the pig and dairy sectors there.
Why Danish heifers in particular?
The recent delivery of pregnant heifers from Denmark is a good example. According to Edoardo, the Danish animals fit perfectly with the demands of the Albanian market.
“Our customers want animals with good genetics and high productivity,” he explains. “The heifers from Denmark are ideal for smaller family farms. They are strong, produce good milk, and fit well with our farm conditions.”
The selection is always done carefully. No standard bulk, but a targeted search for the right type of animal for the right customer.
“Every delivery is custom work. The people at VAEX really think along with us. That means a lot.”
A market full of challenges… and opportunities
Albania is still developing when it comes to dairy farming. Only 20% of the national milk demand is produced locally. The rest comes from countries like Hungary, Bosnia, and Serbia.
“That’s obviously not sustainable in the long run,” says Edoardo. “If we want to move forward, we have to invest. In better barns, better feed, and above all: better genetics.”
This is where the import of pregnant heifers comes in. According to Edoardo, it’s the driving force for renewal:
And those improvements are visible. More and more farmers are switching to modern husbandry methods. New milking parlors are being built, there is more attention to feed and care, and young entrepreneurs are once again daring to invest.
Towards the future together
For Edoardo, the future is clear: keep building, keep collaborating, and keep improving. “We still have a long way to go, but I believe in it. As long as we keep investing in quality, things will turn out well.”
He sees the partnership with VAEX as an important part of that future.
“You can’t make it without good partners. But if you have the right people around you, you can achieve a lot. That’s what we do with VAEX. Moving forward together.”
A solid foundation
The collaboration with Edoardo Rrotani clearly shows how VAEX is committed to contributing to strong, sustainable livestock systems not only outside the Netherlands, but also beyond pig trading. Whether it’s piglets to Spain or heifers to Albania, it’s always about custom solutions, quality, and trust.
And whether you start in Denmark or end up in Albania: if the foundation is solid, you can build on it.
“Our sector needs milk. And milk starts with a good cow.”
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