Dairy R&D in SA

Competitiveness is a function of efficiency, market access (broadening of the market of dairy products is a primary goal) and sustainability. In addition to volatility, structural and consumer needs of markets which with up-to-date information can be addressed only partially, sustainability is progressively also influenced by issues which can be categorized within the three P concepts: Productivity (economic focus), People (sociological focus) and Planet (environmental stewardship focus).

Fasciolosis, or liver fluke infection, results in reduced production and economic losses in dairy cattle and other livestock species. The lifecycle of the fluke, Fasciola hepatica, involves lymnaied snails as the intermediate host and depends on the development and survival of larval stages both in the snail and in the environment. This implies that the infection risk will depend on pasture and other areas harbouring the snails, as well as climatic and other environmental influences.

Weight loss of cows during the dry period has several consequences, mostly associated with reproduction and subsequent lactation. What is not generally considered is the success of colostrum production and its quality. This formed the basis of the study by the authors cited below.

 In recent years, there has been an increase in the prevalence of environmental pathogens as a cause of intra-udder infections (IUI) in dairy cattle. Increases in prevalence could potentially be ascribed to improved control methods for contagious pathogens, difficulties in controlling pathogens from an environmental reservoir and the ability of Streptococcus uberis and Escherichia coli to persist in the udder.

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.

Banga, Cuthbert and others - ARC-Irene.

1. 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.