MPO Milk Bulletin 21 July 2017

Local market

As the most important party in the farming industry is the farmer, his interests should always come first. To read more, click HERE

The MPO was involved in the Onderstepoort Faculty of Veterinary Science Dairy School which was held last week.  Dr Chris van Dijk discussed “An overview of the South African dairy industry”, “Critical success factors in a rural practice” and “An epidemiological approach to, and the economics of herd-related problems” with the students.  The students visited farms of MPO members, Edgar Brotherton (Eastern Cape), Peter Griffin (KwaZulu-Natal), Nelius van Greunen (Western Cape) and J.K. Basson (Western Cape). To read more, click HERE

Once the process of cutting and storing silage is behind us we tend to pay no further attention to the silage bunker. However, external monitoring of the bunker is just as important as internal control regarding the quality of the silage.
Ensure that there are no tears or holes in the canvas cover and that the cover on top of the canvas is still in place.
Exposure to the outdoors and oxygen must be restricted to the absolute minimum, as aerobic fermentation heats the silage, which then lowers its nutritional value.
As much as 45% of the top metre of the silage’s nutritional value gets lost through poor or incomplete coverage.
When offloading silage from the bunker, limit access to oxygen by using the correct equipment. The use of a “front-end loader” allows oxygen penetration and thus lowered nutritional value.
The use of a good inoculant, thorough impacting, the right equipment for offloading silage and a good top cover can reduce the loss of silage to as little as 10%.  To read more, click HERE.

South Africa, as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has committed itself to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions in a bid to mitigate the effects of climate change. As a party to this convention we recognise that climate change is a global challenge that requires a global commitment, hence we have a joint responsibility with other nations to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. To read more click HERE

South Africa has been at the forefront of many innovations for irrigation and water management through research and development over recent decades. In particular, the Water Administration System (or WAS) has been hailed as one of the best examples of research-based innovation for water saving in the sector, both locally and internationally.  To read more, click HERE.

International market

The International Dairy Federation (IDF) collaborated with Codex Alimentarius in the development, identification, elaboration and dissemination of a science-based international standard to promote the identity, composition, safety, and quality of powdered dairy permeates as ingredients in food. To read more, click HERE.

“Let us have justice, and then we shall have enough liberty!” This quote by Joseph Joubert seems to have been tailor-made for the five farmers who presented their milk projects at the Fair Milk Conference.  To read more, click HERE.

Tetra Pak has launched a high shear inline mixer, which it says will lower operating costs and eliminate production steps in some applications.  To read more, click HERE.

Danone and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) have announced they are joining forces with Livelihoods Funds and the Danone Ecosystem Fund in an attempt to boost economic growth in the Latin American and Caribbean region.  To read more, click HERE.

The vast majority of new product development for functional foods featuring probiotics “remains in the dairy space”, but this may be more of a hindrance than a help for the sector’s growth prospects.  To read more, click HERE.

Training

Helene Pheiffer, training manager at the MPO, urges milk producers to schedule their dairy farm training as soon as possible. The Institute for Dairy Technology is continuously updating its schedule of training programmes for 2017. Their courses, some of which form part of Milk SA projects, are aimed at dairy farm workers and supervisors. Click HERE for details of the training programmes offered. Please contact Jas Wasserman at 012 843 5743 or 082 490 2465 for assistance and/or to book a five-day course.

The MPO’s Institute for Dairy Technology offers a five-day training course on the occupational health and safety code of best practice for dairy farmers. The course is practical and equips participants with the knowledge they need to comply with the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Training is conducted on-farm in the language of preference. Dairy farmers who need assistance in complying with the Department of Labour’s health and safety requirements on their farms are encouraged to contact the Institute to schedule a training programme. The Institute is currently scheduling its training programmes for 2017. Click HERE for details of all the training programmes offered. Please contact Jas Wasserman at 012 843 5743 or 082 490 2465 for assistance and/or to book a five-day course.

The MPO’s Institute for Dairy Technology will be presenting this course at Cedara College, KwaZulu-Natal from 14 to18 August 2017.  For further details please contact Chantel Joubert on 012 843 5747 or chantel@mpo.co.za or Helene Pheiffer: helene@mpo.co.za.

Technology transfer

Put your knowledge to the test and stand a chance to win. A winner will be announced every month and there are several prizes to be won. After 12 draws, a national winner will be announced at the MPO’s 2018 gala dinner. Click HERE for more information and instructions on how to enter. TDM competition winner July 2017.  Click HERE

Was the 2016 drought in South Africa the wake-up call we needed to get us ready for a new normal? When the hoped-for rains finally arrive, will they wash away our good intentions to put measures in place to improve water security? To learn more, turn to page 52 of the July issue of The Dairy Mail. To read the digital copy of TDM, go to www.agriconnect.co.za.

Events

Johan Strydom (chairperson of the Lichtenburg branch and North West) invites all the MPO members of North West to attend the Farmers’ Day on his farm Wolvenfontein near Lichtenburg on 27 July. The theme of the Farmers’ Day will be “Calf rearing” and guest speakers Kenneth Botha (Barnlab), Douw Steyn (GWK) and Mike Mouton (DeLaval) will do presentations. Jan Joubert of Lionel’s Vet will also do a practical demonstration and vVarious other companies will also be present. Please direct enquiries and RSVPs by 21 July to Benita at benita@mpo.co.za of 073 116 8544.

Johan Strydom, chairperson of MPO North and Gideon Lamprecht, chairperson of MPO Free State invite all MPO members in their respective provinces to diarise 24 August for attending the annual AGMs and the joint congress. The venue will be the Stonehenge conference centre near Parys. The congress will be held after the conclusion of the two AGMs, when Dr Chris van Dijk (MPO), Kenneth Botha (Barnlab), Fanus Linde (GWK) and Mike Mouton (DeLaval) will tell those present about alternative ways of saving costs. The event will be concluded by a delicious lunch. There is also a special evening function to which all members and their spouses are invited. They are then free to overnight at the conference centre. However, terms and conditions apply for this evening function and the overnight offer – for more information, enquiries and RSVPs please contact Benita at benita@mpo.co.za / 0731168544.  The official invitation to the function will be sent by email next week.

The MPO will once again be running a two-day cheesemaking course during the Alfa Livestock fair, which will be presented by Retha Carelsen of DC Ingredients at the AfriDome in Parys.  For further details please contact Julie McLachlan on 012 843 5638 or julie@mpo.co.za or consult our website: https://www.mpo.co.za/events-2/cheese-making-course/ where you will be able to see the programme and download the booking form.
Anneke Kubannek of Agri Travel and Tours will once again be dealing with all travel and accommodation: anneke@agrivia.co.za or 012 843 5724.

This conference will be held in the interests of promoting the commercialisation of black farmers.   Click here to access the programme.