Dairy R&D in SA

by Heinz Meissner

Click on any of the publications below to read more about the specific topic:


  • FERTILITY TRENDS IN A SELECTION OF SA DAIRY HERDS.

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    Discipline: reproduction; Key words:concentrate level, crossbreeding, days open, energy source, interval traits, genetic parameters, management-induced infertility. 

  • PROGRESS WITH LIVER FLUKE RESEARCH IN THE TSITSIKAMMA

    Discipline: animal health; Key words: liver fluke, L. truncatula, Fasciola parasite, open water, cercaria.



    Some interesting results have been reported by Dr Jan van Wyk, who is responsible for the Milk SA project: Fasciola hepatica: Impact on Dairy Production and Sustainable Management on Selected Farms in South Africa. The report is from the fourth quarter of 2018.

  • E.COLI AND OTHER ENTEROBACTERIACEAE IN BULK MILK.

    Discipline: quality; Key words: producer-distributor milk, Enterobacteriaceae, E. coli, shigatoxin, antibiotic resistance

  • BENEFITS OF CLA ADDITION TO YOGURT

    Discipline: yogurt; Keywords: CLA, microbial, physical, chemical, sensory, yoghurt.

  • PREVALENCE OF MASTITIS ORGANISMS IN PASTURE-BASED AND TMR SYSTEMS.

    Discipline: mastitis; Keywords: Streptococcus uberis, pasture-based systems, TMR systems, composite milk sample, coagulase negative Staphylococci.

  • CONSOLIDATED 2018 THIRD QUARTER RESEARCH PROGRESS REPORT.

     Discipline: dairy research; Keywords: mastitis, AMR, liver fluke, milk flocculation, genetic and performance analysis.



     Author: Heinz Meissner, Milk SA Program Manager R & D, November 2018.   



    1. Mastitis Program:



    1.1. PRJ-0210 Antimicrobial resistance on dairy farms - Screening mastitis causing coliforms for the production of extended spectrum Beta-lactamases and Colistin resistance. Dr Inge-Marie Petzer.

  • WATER NEEDS OF PASTURES USED IN DAIRY PRODUCTION.

    Discipline: forages/grazing; Keywords: pasture management, water requirements, irrigation guidelines, subtropical pastures, grass/legume mixtures.

  • MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL OF MASTITIS ON SA DAIRY FARMS.

    Discipline: mastitis; Key words: diversity, management practices, antibiotics, pre-dip, strip, bulk milk somatic cell count, AMR. 



    The South African dairy industry shows immense diversity when it comes to mastitis management practices. However, if consistently executed, which should improve udder health and milk flow, it could be satisfactory, but supporting the diversity by extension is a challenge. As is the case globally, the dairy industry is aware of and actively addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). To that effect, a survey was funded by Milk SA to record what practices are followed and a project: ‘Resistance to Available Antibiotics in Lactating Cows with Mastitis’, was initiated in 2015. The results of the survey were published by the authors cited below. 

  • SEASONAL TRENDS OF MASTITIS INCIDENCE IN DAIRY PRODUCTION REGIONS.

    Discipline: mastitis; Key words: SSC, summer rise in SCC, mastitis, transitional category, season, temperature humidity index, heat stress.



    Dairy farms often experience a summer through autumn rise in somatic cell count (SCC) with some farms affected more than others.  The extent to which climatic factors contribute to this summer rise in SCC in South Africa is unknown although weather is blamed anecdotally. Consequently, the value of heat abatement or other preventative intervention cannot be established. The relative effect of season and/or heat stress on milk production and SCC is likely to be unique to South African conditions and therefore this formed the basis of the study cited below.

  • ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE OF MASTITIS CAUSING ORGANISMS

    Discipline: mastitis; Key words: Staphylococcus aureus, subclinical mastitis, antibiotis resistance, producer attitude.



    The dairy industry is a major consumer of antibiotics globally and mastitis is the most treated disease of dairy cows. In South Africa, producers have unrestricted access to 12 of 22 registered within-udder antibiotic products without prescription, whereas the remaining 10 registered products are restricted for veterinary use. It is conceivable that the antibiotics available without prescription may be used incorrectly and may contribute to the emergence and/or persistence of antibiotic-resistant strains.