TheDairySite Newsletter - 13 January 2012

Welcome to this week's newsletter

Editorial: Focusing on Breeding To Increase Production

Despite already being the largest milk producing nation, accounting for 17 per cent of world milk production, supply of milk in India does not match demand.

Economic growth, increased incomes and an expanding population are contributing to a growing demand for milk.

It is estimated that in 2011, the country produced 121 million tonnes of milk. The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) believes that the only way to increase production at a rate that matches demand is to improve the genetic potential of animals and focus on feeding a balanced diet.

The NDDB has planned a multi-state initiative and put together a National Dairy Plan - which has a 15 year horizon.

The National Dairy Plan aims at contributing to increasing milk production by increasing productivity in existing dairy animals through a focused and scientific process for breeding and feeding.

The plan has been sent to the World Bank for approval for funding.

UK farmers are looking at importing Australian cattle genetics to increase options for dairy farmers.

The genetics from Holstein, Jersey and Aussie Red bulls will help dairy farmers produce more milk from home grown forage feed and will produce cattle with a better stature that not only give a longer milk production but also have the benefit of producing dairy bull calves with a better meat conformation.

New virus alert

A new virus, schmallenberg, has been found in cattle, sheep and goats in the Netherlands and Germany. Farmers in North Europe are urged to be vigilant and take caution when importing animals from affected areas.

Clinical symptoms include fever, reduced milk yield, loss of appetite, loss of condition and diarrhoea.

Charlotte Johnston

This Week's Feature Articles

We have 5 new features this week:

Demonstration Studies in Dairy Cattle: Genomic Selection
The final scientific report from the EU group, Sustainable Animal Breeding (SABRE), subtitled 'Cutting Edge Genomics for Sustainable Animal Breeding', explains how genomic selection could be used in practice in two dairy cattle populations.

Dairy Market Update - Jan 2012
As wholesale markets move into the new year, latest information suggests that the coming months will be volatile. World markets show butter returns continuing to fall as available global supply increases, reports the UK levy board, Dairy Co.

Changing Farming Practices Accompany Major Shifts in Farm Structure
Changing production practices, including adoption of labour-saving innovations, have contributed to and been affected by increases in both agricultural productivity and the concentration of production, write Erik O'Donoghue, James MacDonald, Utpal Vasavada and Patrick Sullivan of USDA Economic Research service in the latest issue of Amber Waves.

NAB Rural Commodities Wrap – December 2011
Agricultural commodities are weakening as the result of the Euro sovereign debt crisis and rising production prospects, according to Michael Creed, Agribusiness Economist at the National Australia Bank in the Economic Report for December 2011.

Dairy Margin Outlook: Production Increases
Expected domestic and global milk production increases, large heifer inventories, and economic instability provide bearish signals for 2012 milk prices, writes Kristen Schulte, University of Iowa.