The Dairy Mail - Volume 21, Issue 4, April 2014

This month's Dairy Mail deals with demand. The South African market is one of a few growing dairy markets in the world. Most first-world countries are experiencing a decline in consumption and growth is mainly coming from third-world countries where changes in the socio-economic structure result in dietary changes, usually in favour of proteins. This favours the South African dairy industry.

Vandeesmaand se Dairy Mail handel oor vraag. Die Suid-Afrikaanse bedryf is een van min in die wêreld wat groei. Die meeste eerstewêreldlande ondervind 'n afname in verbruik en groei is hoofsaaklik tot derdewêreldlande beperk, danksy veranderinge in die sosio-ekonomiese struktuur, wat tot dieetaanpassings lei, gewoonlik in die guns van proteïene. Hierdie aanpassings is gunstig vir die Suid-Afrikaanse melkbedryf.

Various factors influence the demand for dairy products, ranging from consumer education to politics and everything in between. Consumption of milk and dairy products is increasing worldwide because of a growing population and increases in per capita consumption. According to Michael Griffin, senior policy officer for the FAO, a predicted increase in incomes over the next 10 years, especially in developing countries, means that the overall international outlook for dairy remains positive.

Over the years, the Angus breed has developed a reputation for calving ease, meaning that cows or heifers pregnant to Angus bulls have a small calf at birth. Easy calving means that the cow can recuperate body reserves quickly and easily and return within 60 to 70 days into the subsequent production cycle of either dairy or beef.

Pryse wat melkboere in 2013 ontvang het, het nie met skerp stygings in insetkoste of met die toename in internasionale pryse tred gehou nie. Dr Koos Coetzee evalueer in hierdie artikel Suid-Afrikaanse produsentepryse in terme van aanbod- en aanvraagfaktore.

Dairy Digits is a Milk SA feature. It is also available on the Milk SA website: www.milksa.co.za.

Nasionaal / National

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Bedryfsnuus / Industry news

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Internasionaal / International

Dairy calendar 2014

For many farmers, dealing with succession planning and farm transfer arrangements is like climbing a mountain. It's a daunting task, takes months of preparation, and is surely a challenge one would like to avoid entirely.

With the ever-growing demand for dairy products and the increasing focus on food security, the pressure on dairy producers to meet these demands is increasing. Given the intensive nature of dairy production, and the fine line between success and failure, knowledge is essential to the survival and growth of the dairy farm and the broader industry.

Die rigting waarin genootskappe beweeg, het oor die afgelope aantal jare geweldig verander, veral omdat lede verskillende behoeftes het.

Low milk prices are forcing dairy farmers to increase the value of their primary product for financial survival. This may well be done by using the right dairy breed.

The milk price has a major effect on the profitability of dairy farming. Dairy farmers, however, do not control the milk price and are therefore price takers. Milk buyers determine the milk price and different milk buyers have different systems to calculate their milk price. This means farmers should be aware what factors they take into account. In most cases, milk volume, somatic cell count and bacterial count affect the milk price. In addition, milk buyers who process milk often pay per kilogram of milk fat and/or protein.

Dit is nie altyd duidelik wat belangriker is nie, genetika of voeding. Een van die vrae wat mense gereeld vra, is watter een van dié twee die winsgewendste is.

Immature and adult liver fluke cause significant damage to an animal's liver, affecting health and production. Understanding a liver fluke infection's effect on a herd's performance is crucial. As managers, can we quantify the economic effect that this parasite has on our herds? Do we know how to treat it?

Resistance to antibiotics by microbial pathogens is worldwide cause for concern. That also applies to the major mastitis-causing organisms. The question is: what is the current status, should we be concerned and should we consider alternatives? On consulting the literature, the following seems to summarise current thought and evidence.

With ever-increasing input costs, keeping record of key information is vital to make more informed decisions based on actual herd or individual cow performance at any given time.

Namate die tegnologiese grense van landbou uitbrei, wonder 'n mens dikwels of dit die moeite werd is om tyd, energie en geld in hierdie tegnologiese bevordering te belê, wanneer dit reeds moeilik is om die waarde van hierdie tegnologie te kwantifiseer.

At each stage of production, the quality of food products may deteriorate owing to the production tools with which these products are in contact. Effective hygiene management is therefore paramount to control the bacteriological state of production installations and guarantee optimum quality of produce. The use of enzymes for cleaning in dairy brings many benefits, which include product and cost savings.

The IDF and ISO have joined forces to expand the scope of an international standard used worldwide in the dairy industry to measure protein content of cow's milk.

Johan Strydom, MPO-Noord-voorsitter en Benita Oelofsen, MPO-Noord-streekskoördineerder, het weer eens 'n suksesvolle en praktiese Boereruvoerdag op 20 Februarie op Wolvenfontein, naby Lichtenburg, aangebied. Die dag is een van talle suksesvolle geleenthede wat Johan en Benita gereël het. Meer as 500 besoekers het die dag bygewoon.