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Dairy R&D in SA

by Heinz Meissner

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


  • NITROUS OXIDE ON PASTURES GRAZED BY DAIRY COWS.

    Discipline: environment; Keywords: pasture system; dairy; nitrogen balance; greenhouse gas; emission factors.

  • PLANTAIN AND FESCUE IN PASTURES FOR DAIRY COWS IN THE SOUTHERN CAPE.

    Discipline: pastures; Keywords: kikuyu-ryegrass, Tall fescue, plantain, mixture, fodder flow, milk yield.

  • ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE OF A NOVEL STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS STRAIN IN SA.

    Discipline: mastitis; Keywords: antibiotic resistance, MIC, Staphylococcus aureus, mastitis, somatic cell count, seasons, regions.

  • PROGRESS ON R & D AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES.

    Discipline: sustainability; Keywords: environmental integrity, GHG, soil health, waste management, water, biodiversity, socio-economics, rural stability, farm worker conditions, quality and safety, animal care.

  • MAIZE HARDNESS AS A QUALITY CRITERIUM IN DAIRY COW DIETS.

    Discipline: nutritive value; Keywords: maize hardness, near-infrared spectroscopy, PSI, RVA, intra-lab analysis, feed industry.

  • HETEROGENIC VARIANCE BETWEEN HIGH AND LOW INPUT DAIRY SYSTEMS.

    Discipline: breeding; Keywords: high and low input systems, heterogeneity, selection, INTERGIS, milk yield, ranking of sires.

  • SUSTAINABILITY IN THE SA DAIRY INDUSTRY: A REPORT ON THE STATUS AND PROGRESS – AUGUST 2020.

    Discipline: environment; Keywords: GHG, soil health, waste management, water quality, biodiversity, socio-economics, dairy product quality, animal care.



    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. The report in particular pays attention to (1) environmental integrity as it pertains to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, soil health and nutrient supply, waste management, water quality and quantity, and biodiversity; (2) socio-economics in terms of market development, rural stability and farm worker conditions; (3) dairy product quality and safety, and (4) animal care.

  • STILLBIRTHS IN SA HOLSTEINS.

    Discipline: reproduction; Keywords: SA Holsteins, stillbirth, EBV’s, genetic evaluation, environmental effects.



    Stillbirth remains a problem in dairy herds in many countries and is increasingly included in national breeding objectives. In South Africa, however, we lack reliable information on the incidence of stillbirth that can be used to improve this trait genetically. Currently, there are no estimated breeding values (EBVs) for any measures of calving performance produced under the national genetic evaluation programmes. The aim of the study by the authors cited below was therefore to assess the incidence of stillbirth and determine environmental factors affecting the trait in South African Holstein cattle. 

  • IS NITROUS OXIDE NOW THE MAJOR GHG CONCERN IN AGRICULTURE?

    Discipline: environment; Keywords: methane, nitrous oxide, GHG, shale gas, denitrification, life cycle analysis, N fertilization.

  • CARBON EMISSIONS AND SEQUESTRATION ON DAIRY FARMS IN SA.

    Discipline: environment; Keywords: Greenhouse gas emissions, carbon sinc, pasture-based dairy farms, soil carbon levels, soil health, biodiversity.