Dairy R&D in SA

The forage herbs chicory (Cichorium intybus) and plantain (Plantago lanceolata) have become regular components of south-eastern seaboard dairy pastures. They are mostly planted in a mixture with grasses and often clover species are added as a minor component. How they do and what benefits they bring to the pasture mix and the cow have not been well researched in these areas. This was then the purpose of the trials cited below. 

Members of the Enterobacteriaceae family have been associated with food safety and spoilage problems. Enterobacteriaceae can enter an inadequately cleaned dairy chain and cause enzymatic breakdown of proteins or lipids, instigating spoilage which contributes to substantial economic losses and wastage. Some Enterobacteriaceae have also emerged as potential opportunistic pathogens due to acquisition of virulence and antibiotic resistance and some, including E.

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.

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. 

Research in the past 50 years has shown that the general health of dairy cows can be improved by higher post-ruminal delivery and absorption of poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), especially omega-3 (n-3) acid. Since flaxseed contains a high concentration of n-3, the objective of the authors cited below was to evaluate the effects of feeding the flaxseed-based supplement LinPro on the production and health of mid-to-late lactation multi-lactation Holstein cows.

This is a summary of results reported by Dr Craig Galloway (see reference below) of farms where there have been improvements in the carbon balance and other parameters as indicated by data collected between 2013 and 2019. Some of the farms have data for all the years, whereas others only have data for two of the years. All improvements indicated are the most recent data relative to the baseline, which is the first time the assessments were done. The farms are pasture-based dairy farms in the Eastern Cape (Tsitsikamma, Oyster Bay, Humansdorp, Cookhouse, Cradock and Alexandria).

The report is structured according to the FAO-IDF Dairy Declaration of Rotterdam (DDoR) and the Dairy Sustainability Framework (DSF), which endorses the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and provides guidelines for sustainable development.

Food contamination is a problem that the food industry still struggles, especially contamination of the food product after production. There are two pathogens in particular are of concern as the chance of the occurrence of these two are relatively higher, namely Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. A possible solution which can be considered is to introduce probiotics to the product which may have an inhibitory effect on the pathogens.

The aim of the paper by the authors cited below was to review the state of fertility of female dairy cattle in South Africa and to compare it with international efforts at improving fertility. Fertility in dairy cows is defined as the ability to conceive from first insemination soon after calving and to carry the calf full term to calving.

There are several causes of hepatogenous or secondary photosensitisation in ruminants in South Africa, e.g. hepatotoxic plants, water-borne cyanobacteria, the mycotoxin, sporidesmin, found in spores produced by the saprophytic fungus Pithomyces chartarum etc. In cattle, hepatogenous photosensitivity associated with the feeding of crops comprising certain cultivars and/or hybrids of forage Brassica, namely turnip (Brassica rapa ssp. rapa), rape (B. napus ssp. biennis) and swedes (rutabaga, B. napus ssp. napobrassica) has been reported from Australia  and New Zealand.