Dairy R&D in SA

Dairy farms often experience a summer through autumn rise in somatic cell count (SCC) with some farms affected more than others.  The extent to which climatic factors contribute to this summer rise in SCC in South Africa is unknown although weather is blamed anecdotally. Consequently, the value of heat abatement or other preventative intervention cannot be established. The relative effect of season and/or heat stress on milk production and SCC is likely to be unique to South African conditions and therefore this formed the basis of the study cited below.

The dairy industry is a major consumer of antibiotics globally and mastitis is the most treated disease of dairy cows. In South Africa, producers have unrestricted access to 12 of 22 registered within-udder antibiotic products without prescription, whereas the remaining 10 registered products are restricted for veterinary use. It is conceivable that the antibiotics available without prescription may be used incorrectly and may contribute to the emergence and/or persistence of antibiotic-resistant strains. 

The sustainability of current nitrogen (N) fertilization regimes for minimum tillage kikuyu-ryegrass (Pennisetum clandestinum, Lolium multiflorum) pastures in the southern Cape is questioned. The guidelines, originally, were developed for conventional tillage and non-grazing systems. It may well be that these guidelines may not apply any more. In fact, there is the possibility that the N levels applied are too high with implications to both economics and leaching of unutilised N.

The forage herbs chicory (Cichorium intybus) and plantain (Plantago lanceolata) have become regular components of south-eastern seaboard dairy pastures. They are mostly planted in a mixture with grasses and often clover species are added as a minor component. How they do and what benefits they bring to the pasture mix and the cow have not been well researched in these areas. This was then the purpose of the trials cited below. 

The Dairy Sustainability framework (DSF) of the IDF proposed that the Baseline for the global dairy sector should be set at the FAO (2013) figure of 2.9 CO2 eq per kg of fat and protein corrected milk (FPCM). It is accepted that different countries will vary substantially as GHG emissions are influenced by milk yield, feeding practices and efficiency of production. Thus, the figure for some developed country industries is as low as 1.6 CO2 eq per kg FPCM, whereas the figure of Sub-Saharan Africa is 9.0 CO2 eq per kg FPCM.

Discipline: grazing/pastures; Key words: cultivated pastures, fertilisation, nutrient cycling, phosphorus, soil fertility

Discipline: mastitis; Key words: bovine mastitis, ethnoveterinary medicine, antibacterial activity,  cytotoxicity. 

Discipline: development; Key words: entrepreneurship, dairy cattle, food security, indigenous knowledge systems.

The authors referenced below did a case study in the local municipality areas of Matatiele and Groblersdal to explore and identify the drivers of dairy smallholder farmer decisions. They found the following as determining factors:

• dairy farming is dominated by male farmers who were over 60 years old;

Discipline: development; Key words: entrepreneurship, dairy cattle, food security, indigenous knowledge systems.

The authors referenced below did a case study in the local municipality areas of Matatiele and Groblersdal to explore and identify the drivers of dairy smallholder farmer decisions. They found the following as determining factors:

• dairy farming is dominated by male farmers who were over 60 years old;

1. PROJECTS, CAPACITIES AND PUBLICATIONS BY PROGRAMME LEADER AT INSTITUTION.

    

1. Banga, Cuthbert and others - ARC-Irene.

   Projects: