MPO Milk Bulletin 27 October 2017

ARC awards top national dairy performers

The ARC annual National Dairy Performers Awards were presented at the Agri Expo Livestock, Sandringham, near Stellenbosch on Friday,13 October 2017, on behalf of the National Dairy Recording and Improvement Scheme of ARC-AP. The purpose of the Master Dairyman competition is to acknowledge South Africa’s most outstanding achievers in breeding genetically superior animals, using performance recording and performance testing as tools. Recognition will be given to superior commercial and small-scale herds and awards will be allocated to specific categories. The top herds in the regions participating in performance recording via Intergis were identified based on objective production and reproduction standards, as well as specific managerial criteria. Official milk recording for at least three years is essential for a herd to qualify for any award. The finalists in the milk recording regions received visits by a judging panel of four members, each focusing on a list of applicable criteria.
E Zeeman received the ARC National Herd with the Best Somatic Cell Count award with 182 000 cells/ml while the ARC National Best Performing Milking Team award went to Robertson Broers. HJ Rall received the ARC National Herd with the Best Intercalving Period award with 381 days. Barnet Business Trust ‒ co-owned and managed by Tshilidze Matshidzula ‒ received the ARC Special Award for a Commercial Dairy Producer of the Year 2017. Willie Jacobs, who is the chairperson of the MPO’s Ladybrand branch was crowned as the ARC National Small-scale Dairyman of the Year 2017 while the ARCNational Master Dairyman of the Year 2017 award was won by the J.K. Basson Familietrust.
The MPO congratulates these top dairy performers on their achievements! To read more, click HERE.

Willie Jacobs, National Small-scale Dairyman of the Year 2017; J. van den Berg, herd manager, J.K. Basson Familietrust,  National Master Dairyman of the Year 2017; and Tshilidze Matshidzula, Barnett Business Trust, Special Award for a Commercial Dairy Producer of the Year 2017.

Milk once again was the hero when this year’s School Milk Day celebrations with the theme “Dairy Gives You Go” were concluded at at Graslaagte Primary School in Humansdorp and Coega Primary School in Port Elizabeth on 18 and 19 October 2017.
The importance of having milk, amasi or yoghurt every day to help children stay healthy and strong was emphasised during the build-up to the events. The vital role of local dairy farmers was stressed with a message that local dairy farmers should be supported.
The schools also received learning material developed by Milk SA’s CEP in advance, to guide teachers and educate learners about the nutritional and health benefits of milk and other dairy products.
After working through the learning material, the children’s knowledge was tested by a Grade-appropriate dairy quizz and colouring-in competitions. The winners of the competitions in each Grade were announced at the School Milk Day events and received sponsored by Woodlands Dairy and Coega Dairy.
Smiling, excited faces were the order of the day at the festive events where milk was celebrated with song, dance and rhymes.
The MPO extends a special word of thanks to Woodlands Dairy and Coega Dairy whose generous product sponsorships contributed to the success of this year’s School Milk Day celebrations.

The MPO administers a statutory measure in terms of the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act (47 of 1996), which requires milk producers to register with the MPO and provide records and returns to the organisation. Questionnaires requesting information on milk product and cow numbers were sent out to all milk producers registered with the MPO last week and are being followed up by telephone. Producers are requested to complete the questionnaires and return them to the MPO by email as soon as possible.
The information is needed as it will enable the MPO to provide milk producers with updated and accurate statistics on the primary dairy industry. For further information contact Dr Koos Coetzee at 012 843 5600 or send an email to koos@mpo.co.za.

The MPO was saddened by the news that Broer du Preez, former regional MPO management member and well known in the dairy community in Mpumalanga, recently lost his life in a vehicle accident. The MPO extends its sincere condolences to Broer’s loved ones and friends.

OBP’s latest report on the availability of vaccines was released this week. Click HERE to read the report.

UK signs Rotterdam Dairy Declaration 

The UK became the 19^th country to sign the Dairy Declaration of Rotterdam, which was launched at the World Dairy Summit in 2016.  The aim of the declaration is to promote the sustainability of dairy systems worldwide through the dairy sector’s commitment to feeding the world with safe, nutritious and sustainable products. Dr Judith Bryans, president of the IDF and chief executive of Dairy UK, said: “When the UN set its sustainable development goals, it was clear that dairy was part of the solution in terms of ensuring delivery of a number of goals around nutrition, healthy populations, a healthy planet and helping to lift people out of poverty.”  To read more, click HERE.

Eli Lilly and Company announced on Tuesday, 24 October that it was undergoing a “strategic review” of its Elanco Animal Health business, which includes the sale of the unit. Other options include an initial public offering, merger or the retention of the business.  “Through acquisitions and organic growth, we’ve grown Elanco to a size and scale that now allows us to consider a variety of options to maximise value,” says David Ricks, Lilly chairman and CEO.
Elanco’s third quarter review, which was also released this week, shows that its sales were 5% higher than 2016 although year-to-date sales were 1% lower.
Elanco announced its intention to sell its rBST business last month. To read about this, click HERE.
Following Elanco’s recent acquisition of Novartis Animal Health and BI Vetmedica’s U.S. vaccines portfolio, president Jeff Simmons said: “We believe that the outcome of a strategic review may result in more value and further enable Elanco’s top-tier leadership in animal health.”  To read more, click HERE.

Cargill announced its acquisition of Diamond V, which resulted in Cargill now taking the leading position in the $20 billion global animal feed additives market. David MacLennan, Cargill’s chairperson and CEO, said: “Our combined businesses will accelerate growth, build industry-leading capabilities and natural solutions for animal health and food safety, and help fulfill Cargill’s purpose to nourish the world in a safe, responsibility and sustainable way.”
All business divisions, including human health, Embria Health Service and its branded product EpiCor, are included in the purchase of Diamond V. To read more, click HERE.