Dairy R&D in SA

The following progress has been achieved with the project funded by Milk SA: Exploring the facial eczema problem in dairy cattle in the Eastern Cape of, South Africa, with a focus on the fungus Pseudopithomyces chartarum

1. Overview: Practices of water use.

The quest and responsibility to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions remains paramount for all sectors, also the dairy industry. As the bulk of GHG is produced before the farm gate, it is logical that investigations of progress in mitigation should start there.

The dairy industry in SA, as elsewhere, is grappling with significant challenges, including escalating costs and diminishing profit margins. However, these difficulties also create a pivotal opportunity for the sector to embrace sustainable practices that not only enhance environmental stewardship but also encourage economic resilience.

Automated milking systems (AMS) is a technological leap forward tailored to enhance dairy animal monitoring and management. AMS management software records crucial reproductive dates and events, such as insemination and calving dates, facilitating effective individual and contemporary fertility management strategies.

Methane (CH₄) is the primary GHG of cattle, of which 80 to 90% is from enteric fermentation. It is this enteric fermentation that drives the narrative that cattle are detrimental to the climate and the environment in general, and thus the suggestion that globally cattle should be reduced and society increasingly rely more on alternative foods, such as plant-based.

Sustainable food systems encompass nutrition, the environment and socioeconomics, each aspect requiring unique assessment and consideration.

Feed efficiency (FE) has major implications for dairy production profitability and indirectly for environmental sustainability. It thus has become a priority for monitoring the economic viability of milk production and the environmental footprint.

Amidst growing global concerns over sustainability, the imperative for sustainable agriculture has become increasingly important. This urgency is enhanced by an increasing awareness among consumers and policymakers, the demands of activists, and the questionable influence of dietary choices on environmental sustainability.

Feed efficiency traits such as dry matter intake (DMI) and gross feed efficiency (GFE) are imperative in the improvement of herd performance, profitability and sustainability. These traits are however normally not included in selection indices, because of the difficulty to measure DMI.