MPO Milk Bulletin 3 November 2017

Expert shares the finer points in cheesemaking

Norman and Rina Belcher of the multi-award-winning Belnori Boutique Cheesery recently hosted an informative and enjoyable cheese consulting day for North-of-the-Orange River Cheeseries. Kobus Mulder, a well-known cheese expert who advises cheesemakers and companies on cheesery design, manufacturing methods, cheesemaking training and marketing strategies shared some of the finer points in cheesemaking.  The event followed the need expressed for more in-depth knowledge of the finer details of cheesemaking during the Gauteng Dairy Day held in August. Thirty people representing, among others, 19 different processing establishments and an input supplier gathered under the Cheese Lapa at Belnori Boutique Cheesery to interact and learn.
According to Rina there is a big gap in formal knowledge between artisanal and farmstead cheesemakers.  Rina said: “There is much that one does not absorb or forgets from the initial cheesemaking courses and there is much that only starts making sense after some experience.”
Norman and Rina thank all who attended and contributed in getting the cheese fundi to Gauteng. Rina concluded: “What a wonderful day we had!  It will be interesting to see what will evolve from this area in the future and I can imagine a lot of tweaking and adjustments taking place in 19 different places!”
Planning for the next event with Kobus in January is under way and details will be made available soon.

Dr Pieter Vervoort, chairperson of the National Animal Health Forum (NAHF), said the Forum has done extensive work in the last five years aimed at improving the public‒private partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF).  According to Dr Vervoort the success stories of the NAHF include the establishment of the brucellosis steering committee, the compensation committee and the working group for animal identification, recording and traceability in 2016 and the establishment of the antibiotic discussion committee and the heartwater vaccine committee in 2017.
According to Dr Vervoort, the NAHF is proud of the success that has been achieved by the different provincial animal health forums. Source: RPO newsletter. To read more, clickHERE.

Milk and dairy plays key role in infant and child nutrition

Milk and dairy foods are a vital source of iodine, which is a nutrient of particular concern to pregnant women, experts were told at the International Dairy Federation’s (IDF) World Dairy Summit held in Belfast, Ireland this week. Most populations get iodine from a number of sources, but milk and dairy foods are the largest source in the United Kingdom diet. Prof. Margaret Rayman, Professor of Nutritional Medicine at the University of Surrey, said that mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency is present among many pregnant women in the UK. To read more, click HERE.

The challenges and opportunities facing the dairy industry as a result of Brexit were highlighted at the International Dairy Federation’s (IDF) World Dairy Summit held in Belfast, Ireland this week. Tomas Pietrangeli, UK managing director of Arla Foods, said the industry was facing “the biggest seismic change in the political and financial landscape in our lifetime”. He said: “The end of free trade is a major risk. In order to protect the health of the dairy industry in the UK we need to have tariff-free and barrier-free trading conditions. We are a business and an industry making a significant contribution to the dairy industry and the wider UK economy.”  To read more, click HERE.

As milk and dairy foods provide a vital source of recovery-promoting nutrients for athletes, the dairy industry must communicate this more effectively with sports professionals and consumers alike. Dr Sharon Madigan, Head of Performance Nutrition at the Sport Ireland Institute, told delegates that while every athlete requires different nutritional guidance, a good nutritional strategy before, during and after training can profoundly affect sports performance. She said: “Milk and dairy foods can actually kill three birds in one stone when it comes to athlete nutrition – it assists in refuelling energy stores, it promotes rehydration to get the fluid balance right, and also helps to repair lean muscle mass. Research has shown that water or commercially available sports drinks aren’t as effective as milk in promoting muscle recovery.” Dr Madigan was joined by Olympians Jonathan Bell, an Irish field hockey player and Natalya Coyle, an Irish athlete, in a panel discussion on the topic during a session held at the WDS 2017. To read more, click HERE.

The European and US dairy markets are leading the international recovery in milk markets, International Dairy Federation (IDF) World Dairy Summit 2017 was told on 30 October. Véronique Pilet, editor-in-chief of the IDF report and Head of Economics at the French Dairy Interbranch Organisation CNIEL, said: “The global dairy market remains uncertain and the only thing that we can say for sure is the volatility which is a result of supply-and-demand issues is here to stay. Dynamism in the European and US markets is leading recovery, and production prospects over the next few months remain good. Butter prices are at an all-time high, however skimmed milk powder prices are still eroding.” To read more, click HERE.

The global dairy industry must address the risk of protein becoming “the next frontier” in the debate on nutrition, experts were told on 30 October at the IDF World Dairy Summit in Belfast. Dr Jaap Evers, IDF Leader Global Standards, said: “There is a wealth of scientific research that should strengthen dairy’s role as an integral element of healthy consumers’ diets. The IDF will soon undertake a new research project on protein.”  Mary Anne Burkman, the internationally renowned nutrition expert, said: “The validity of science underpinning the nutritional value of dairy has never been more comprehensive and compelling. The challenge is to get consumers and health authorities to recognise this.” To read more, click HERE.