Dairy R&D in SA

Routine bulk tank milk testing is an adjunct to monitor milk quality and udder health as total bacterial counts, and enumerating psychrotropic and thermoduric bacteria counts, may provide useful information on the cleanliness of milking procedures and equipment, the effectiveness of milk cooling and system sanitation. Also, differential bacterial counts may provide information on the occurrence of and changes in mastitis pathogens.

The production and consumption of milk in the communal areas of the Eastern Cape Province is largely unknown. Although production is expected to be modest, there should be potential in the sector for purposes of household and commercial milk production. Consumption trends in these communities, with a population size of roughly 4 million people, may influence general milk consumption trends in the country. The aim of the study by the authors referenced below was to collect baseline information which could inform future research. 

A RP of 1186 and a validation population of 128 was established, enabling the inclusion of genomic information in estimation of breeding values, based on the INTERBULL verified Logix Genetic Evaluations and a Single-Step approach, using Mix99, to present the industry with GEBVs. These GEBVs reflect the expression of genes in the SA environment, based on the genetic variation and gene frequencies of the SA Jersey population. 

1. A newly developed system of obtaining Dairy Cattle farm-recorded data from automated systems to be used for biological and economic benchmarking as well as future genetic merit predictions

     by DA Kruger, RR vd Westhuizen & D Victor, SA Stud Book, Bloemfontein, South Africa.

1. Banga, Cuthbert and others - ARC-Irene.

   Projects:

In a previous contribution we argued the economic benefit of restoration and as a consequence soil health, whether in a dairy farming context or national. Conceptually this seems a good argument, but does it pay? If restoration does not make economic sense, the country is better off without it. However, if it does make economic sense, then the opportunity cost of not restoring is negative – that is, the country is worse off by not restoring.

Dairy farming generally has small profit margins. A large capital outlay is required at start-up while daily operations also require a high, mostly feed, cost input. A number of factors affect the economic success of dairy farming. The average milk yield of cows is often regarded as the most important factor affecting profit margins. Although, generally, higher producing dairy herds have higher profits, a high average milk yield does not always guarantee high profits, because production systems differ, for example TMR and pasture-based systems.

Because of high milk yield, some farmers of high producing TMR-based dairy herds  service cows later in the lactation period, i.e. after the live weight nadir point when live weight starts to increase because of a positive energy balance. Often maximum feed intake has been reached and milk yield is decreasing following peak milk yield. Some research has shown a positive response in conception when cows are inseminated at this stage of the lactation period.

The economic benefits of restoring natural capital have been well known. Also, the economic value of ecosystem goods and services, when taking a natural capital accounting approach, often far exceeds the usually accepted value of natural capital. Yet, despite the obvious value in restoring and maintaining natural capital, the world is facing a crisis with respect to environmental breakdown.

During the transition period (three weeks prior to three weeks after calving), dairy cows experience a period of considerable increase in energy demand coupled with a dramatic reduction in dry matter intake, leading to an unavoidable negative energy balance (NEB), which might cause metabolic and health problems, reduction in milk production as well as in reproductive performance. The site of starch digestion can modulate the negative effects associated with increased rumen starch fermentation such as feed intake, and the occurrence of problems encountered by transition cows.