TheDairySite Newsletter - 20 May 2011

Welcome to this week's newsletter

Editorial: Strong Dairy Production For NZ

Fonterra New Zealand has said that it is on track to report record production for 2010/2011.

With two weeks of the season still to go, Fonterra said that production is four per cent ahead of production this time last year.

“Exceptionally favourable pasture growth conditions since January mean our farmer shareholders have enjoyed strong production around the country," said General Manager, Steve Murphy.

Mr Murphy said the additional milk would be welcomed in the market where supply remained tight. Fonterra recently reported the highest ever month for exports, with 229,000 tonnes of its dairy products leaving New Zealand shores in March.

A drought in the Horn of Africa, triggered by the same La Niña episode that caused massive flooding in Australia last year, has killed thousands of livestock. The drought is causing a shortage of meat and milk supplies, threatening food security.

Corn prices in the US are continuing to increase amongst speculation that slow planting in the Eastern Corn Belt and floods along the Mississippi River will affect supply.

It is estimated that anything between 500,000 to 1.5 million acres could be lost to flooding. Predictions are that delayed planting (after 15 May) will result in a significant drop in yields.

Charlotte Johnston

TheCattleSite Book Focus

Robotic Milking
The success of robotic milking is based on the cows in the barn. This concerns housing, feed, care and working with the animals.
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This Week's Feature Articles

We have 4 new features this week:

Bovine Trichomoniasis In The US
Trichomoniasis is a venereal disease of cattle, characterised primarily by early pregnancy loss and, occasionally, by abortion and pyometra. Charlotte Johnston, TheCattleSite editor speaks with Dr Keith Roehr, Colorado State Vet, about the disease.

Dairy Trade Flows Between The US And Canada
US - One of the most common questions asked of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) office based in the United States Embassy in Ottawa, Canada is why Canada is able to restrict the entry of US dairy products into Canada, and yet Canada is able to export dairy products to the United States. This report, by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, attempts to provide a clear explanation using yogurt trade as a case study.

A New Concept In Milking Machine & Parlour Hygiene
Hygiene is a necessary investment for any dairy production that is striving for quality, says DVM Josephine Verhaeghe, CID Lines.

Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook - May 2011
High feed prices have put pressure on both dairy and beef farmers over the last year, according to the latest Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook from the USDA's Economic Research Service.

Alltech provides Natural Cattle Feed Supplements

Company News

Alltech Symposium Begins On Sunday
US - Alltech’s 27th Annual International Animal Health and Nutrition Symposium kicks off this Sunday, May 22, in Lexington, Kentucky, with a record number of more than 2100 attendees from 72 countries and 46 US states.

Global Dairy Cattle Industry News