The Dairy Mail - Volume 16, Issue 6, June 2009

Nuwe ministers van landbou

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Blydskap oor nuwe LUR'e

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Regering kyk na invoertariewe

It is astonishing how quickly economic cycles follow upon each other in the South African dairy industry these days. Previously cycles lasted up to seven years. Now cycles change almost every 18 months or less.

Wat 'n ongelooflike voorreg is dit nie om die redakteursbrief te skryf vir 'n tydskrif wat nie net 15 jaar se storms en drange oorleef het nie, maar boonop floreer het. Ek glo dat hierdie tydskrif 'n versinnebeelding is van die deursettingsvermoë en strewe om altyd te verbeter, van die melkprodusente vir wie hy skryf. Mag die tydskrif en sy lesers saam die uitdagings en geleenthede van die volgende 15 jaar met net soveel entoesiasme aanpak.

On behalf of dairy farmers in Zimbabwe, surviving - just!

Milk production during March 2009 is 4,5% less than during March 2008. Production during the first three months is 3,1% less than during the same period of 2008. Less dairy products were imported during January to February 2009 than during January to February 2008 (-29%). Exports increased by 30% compared to the same period in 2008. Producer prices are still at a lower level than during the same month in 2008. The MPO production cost index is at 288,1 which is 43% up on October 2007. (Compiled by the MPO with financial support from Milk SA.)

The first step towards establishing a hygienic milking parlour, is designing and building the parlour according to regulations. Make sure that all surfaces, including the ceiling, are washable and waterproof for easy cleaning. These and all other regulations relating to the milking parlour and safe milk production, are summarised in Regulation R 1256 (refer to the Dairy Standard Agency's code of practice document).

Te midde van die ekonomiese storm wat steeds wêreldwyd woed, glo die Melkprodusenteorganisasie (MPO) dat hy steeds die beste moontlike besigheidsplatform vir melkprodusente kan skep. Hierdie nuus, tesame met inligting oor die herstrukturering en verskerpte fokus van die MPO, is in April tydens 'n reeks roetevergaderings in die Wes-Kaap aan lede in George, Oudtshoorn, Riversdal, Heidelberg, Swellendam, Malmesbury, Caledon en Bredasdorp oorgedra.

MPO Kalender

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MPO kontakbesonderhede

While the Komga area of the Eastern Cape, some 50 km from East London, is certainly a perfect dairy area, there are aspects of the climate that pose serious challenges to dairy farmers. Two of these are tickborne diseases and humidity. The solution to both, according to Pierre Hart, boils down to accurate management.

The international financial crisis started a few years ago. The housing boom in the USA enabled banks to increase loans to homeowners, irrespective of their ability to repay these. These so-called sub-prime home loans (loans to people who did not qualify for prime rates), grew exponentially. The stream of income from these loans were then used as basis for cleverly designed financial instruments and traded internationally.

Die Melkprodusente-organisasie se Instituut vir Suiweltegnologie (IST) tesame met sy vennote, voorsien landwyd die nuutste inligting en tegnologie aangaande melkbeesboerdery aan kommersiële en opkomende melkprodusente. By die suiwelinligtingsdae word relevante en nuwe inligting aangaande melkgehalte, dieregesondheid, melkaantekening, voeding, weiding en melkwinning voorsien. Werkers van kommersiële melkprodusente word opgelei in melkhigiëne, melkwinning, hittewaarneming en dieregesondheid.

The popularity of milking only once a day, has increased over the past few years in various parts of the world. The main reason, it seems, is because it opens up more time for the dairy farmer. It seems as if New Zealand is at the forefront of exploring this phenomenon, but they are by no means the only country to practise once-a-day (OAD) milking.

Stock management (including stockmanship) is a vital part of all dairies. Good stock management will minimise the stress levels of the cows (and staff) and will result in the best possible production.

Daar kom 'n stadium in enige suksesvolle melkboer se lewe wanneer hy eenvoudig moet uitbrei om sy doelwitte te bereik. Die huidige tendens is boonop dat kleiner boere dit al hoe moeiliker vind om ekonomies sin te maak uit die melk van net 'n handjie vol diere. Uitbreiding of uitverkoop is in sommige gevalle die enigste logiese opsies vir die kleiner melkboer.

In die Maart uitgawe van The Dairy Mail, het ons gekyk na plase en hulle plek in die wêreld-ekonomie. Ons kyk nou na die belangrikheid van 'n besigheidsprofiel vir jou plaas. Hierdie profiel is 'n noodsaaklike element wat uiteindelik sal help dat jy jou boerderybesigheid se sterk en swak punte behoorlik kan analiseer.

The name "coagulase negative" refers to a laboratory test, which differentiates between this group of staphylococci, and the better known Staphylococcus aureus, which tests coagulase positive. Coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) are also referred to as "environmental staphylococci".

Milking is the single largest labour act on the dairy farm, accounting for approximately 55% of labour. To care for each dairy cow, requires 30-200 total hours per cow per year, depending on herd size, housing and management.

One factor that helps improve reproductive efficiency, is knowledge of exactly when ovulation will occur. Keep record of previous oestrus detection on each animal, in order to tell when the animal should cycle if conception hasn't occurred.

Healthy teat skin is a critical component of the dairy cow's defence against mastitis. Winter conditions pose a challenge as the cold and the wind may dry out and chap the skin of the udder, causing lesions that can harbour bacteria and viruses. Skin that is healthy and free of cracks and sores, provides much less growth opportunity for certain mastitis-causing bacteria.

As jy verantwoordelik sou wees vir die gesondheidsorg van 'n gemeenskap en daar is 'n hoë en gevaarlike afgrond in die omgewing, hoe sou jy hierdie risiko bestuur? Sou jy 'n veiligheidsheining aan die bokant van die afgrond aanbring, of sou jy liewer 'n hospitaal aan die onderkant oprig?