The Dairy Mail - Volume 16, Issue 12, December 2009

The perception regarding selenium as an extremely toxic element is still quite prevalent today. In a prominent book on mineral nutrition in livestock by Underwood & Suttle (1999), it is stated: ''Selenium is the most toxic of the essential trace elements.'' This statement refers specifically to the essential trace elements, but is still debatable.

Stray voltage arises when one area of the farm dairy is at a different potential than another. This includes areas such as yards, floors, rails and milking machines. Cows that come into contact with two areas at different voltage - farm dairy, milking machine or milker - get an electric shock and become frightened. The result is skittish cows and slow, difficult milkings.

Neosporosis is a parasitic disease caused by a protozoa, Neospora caninum, so named because it was first found in the tissue of dogs. Neospora was first identified as a cause of reproductive failure in connection with an abortion ''storm'' in a New Mexico dairy in 1987.

Colostrum contains the accumulated secretions of the mammary gland over the last few weeks of pregnancy, together with proteins that have been actively transferred from the bloodstream. It is rich in immunoglobulins (Ig) that are responsible for the initial immunity of the newborn. IgG is the dominant immunoglobulin in both the colostrum and milk of ruminants. While the other immunoglobulins (IgA and IgM) occur in minor quantities, they are still significant.

In this article I will discuss a few scenarios that dairy farmers may be facing when it comes to not only tick resistance, but problems with numbers in general - even where resistance isn't an issue at all. I may repeat one or two principles because time and time again I come across dairy producers who persist with the easiest and cheapest methods!

The Dutch Milk Genomics Initiative, a project led by Prof Johan van Arendonk, researcher at Wageningen University, has examined the opportunities and significance of exploiting genetic variation between cows in order to improve the quality characteristics of milk.

Jersey SA het die hoogtepunt op sy kalender, die Nasionale Jersey Kampioenskap, in styl gevier tydens die Agri Megaweek wat in September by Bredasdorp gehou is.

Jersey SA het die jaar afgeskop met 'n hele klomp uitdagings. Dit was met hartseer wat ons van Poena van Niekerk, ons vorige rasdirekteur, afskeid moes neem. Ons het hom egter vir die jaar op 'n konsultasiebasis behou om die oorgang makliker te laat geskied en om sy kennis en ondervinding vir nog so 'n klein rukkie te kon benut.

Jersey se goue treffers

Jersey SA Raad : fokus op Jersey SA

The cold room or refrigerator plays a crucial role in the business of any dairy processor. It is therefore of utmost importance to properly maintain and clean these appliances in order for them to work efficiently and save on energy bills.

The CEP communicates with consumers : advertorial

Ayrshire milk dairy processor, Nkunzi Milkyway, doesn't have a bull on its logo for no reason! Besides being situated in the heart of Blue Bulls country in Pretoria and as part of the Nkunzi "herd'', the bull symbolises its part of the whole.

What does the future hold for our steadily dwindling ranks of milk producers? Everything seems to be conspiring against them. Not only do they face extinction from rising production costs, but the consumer is also being deprived of disposable income and finds it increasingly difficult even to afford essential foodstuffs. There is also no let-up on demands from local authorities and the providers of essential services.

Koeitjies en Kalfies

Their welfare at heart : trade

Jacques Muller is onlangs aangestel as tegniese adviseur vir Afgri Veevoere in Noordwes en omliggende gebied. Hy is hoofsaaklik verantwoordelik vir die bemarking van die herkouer-produkreeks van Afgri Veevoere.

At the annual SA Studbook President's Dinner held on 20 October, the SA Studbook Ceva Excellence Award for dairy cattle was awarded to the Fyngoud Dairy Swiss herd of Dr Anton Smit and Marina Otto, of Sannieshof in Northwest.

Chrisjan van der Vyver and three Taurus consultants (Robyn, Debbie and Riaan) spent a week with Boris Kasatkin of Genes Diffusion, inspecting daughters of the best bulls in the French countryside. They found the French Holstein population stronger than the American, Dutch or Canadian populations.

A free service of The Dairy Mail to milk producers and milk buyers in South Africa.