Dairy Diary: December business update
What’s NEW in the dairy farming world? We report on the launch of a smart feeding system and a digital assistant service, a product from New Zealand for teat health, and new funding for new dairy heat stress analysis tools, as well as the intention for FrieslandCampina and Milcobel to merge. Read an update on these developments and more on the latest dairy sector news…
Topcon launches new TMR smart feeding system
Topcon Agriculture has launched a smart feeding system which makes it easier for dairy and beef producers to manage and monitor the total mixed ration of their cattle and to have a detailed, real-time understanding of the key aspects of the daily feeding regime, including ingredient tracking, feedout and dry matter weights, and feed wastage rates. Available in the UK via LH Agro, the new Topcon TMR Flex Pro system provides feed metrics and is compatible with all mixer wagons fitted with load cells. The system is comprised of a Digi-Star FD1 tablet, a Topcon CL-55 Cloud Connectivity Device, and a subscription to Topcon’s TAP FEED Pro/Feedlot cloud-based platform.
Udderwash launches Sanitise for cow teat health
New Zealand’s Udderwash has launched Sanitise for the dairy industry and is said to leave no chemical footprint or residues, save costs, and remove the need for teat sprays. In May, 3 products will be launched in New Zealand for the in-race herringbone system, rotary shed system, plus a handheld device. The herringbone and rotary system is fully automated. The products will launch in the US and Australia in October 2025 where a teat pre-cleaner will also be launched. The teat pre-cleaner cleans all 4 teats at one time, dries them and also has quarter temperature technology to alert the operator when a quarter or complete udder has increased temperatures. This device also has the sanitise technology employed. This all happens without touching the udder, taking about 5-6 seconds per cow.
smaXtec launches new digital assistant to simplify workloads on dairy farms
Dairy health system management provider smaXtec has launched a new digital assistant service to help farmers prioritise workloads while improving herd and reproductive health. The company says the new service draws on data directly from the herd via its ruminal bolus technology, alongside artificial intelligence, to create automated management lists and reports. The assistant also creates a to-do list based on a farm’s individual needs so that staff know what tasks to carry out first. The digital assistant is designed to work alongside smaXtec’s TruAdvice technology, which has been expanded to include alerts for a wider range of health problems. dsm-firmenich updates Sustell for improved environmental footprinting
dsm-firmenich’s lifecycle assessment platform, Sustell, has been updated to facilitate improved environmental footprinting for dairy farming. The upgrade allows users to gain more detailed insights into their current environmental impact while offering comprehensive visibility for modelling multiple interventions for footprint reduction. The new module aligns with the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and International Dairy Federation guidelines, while continuing to maintain ISO accreditation and synchronisation with EU Product Environmental Footprint calculation methodologies. The updates also provides access to GFLI and Agri-Footprint 6.3 feed ingredient databases.
SPACE launches a new design for its 39th edition
SPACE, which will take place from 16-18 September at the Parc-Expo in Rennes, France, is launching its all-new design for the 2025 edition. The 2024 edition hosted over 1,200 exhibitors across 11 exhibition halls and welcomed over 100,000 visitors from 120 countries.
Utrix Innovative Animal Solutions receives halal certification
Utrix’s range of feed additives and mycotoxin binders have received halal certification from Dar El Fatwa. These products are designed to improve poultry and ruminant performance, feed quality and safety, as well as the safety and quality of drinking water in poultry farms. The company is confident that this certification will open the door to new markets in the Middle East region.
UKRI funding awarded for new dairy heat stress analysis tools
Galebreaker Ltd and Smartbell have been awarded a second grant by the Digital Dairy Chain to deliver further research into the impact of heat stress on housed dairy herds in Cumbria and the south and west of Scotland. The insight gained from this research will inform the development of innovative, digital tools that will allow farmers to analyse the risk and impact of heat stress on-farm, with the aim of improving animal welfare and productivity. The latest R&D grants, managed and awarded independently by the UK’s national innovation agency, Innovate UK, were part of a competitive funding round that has allocated £1 million to projects countrywide.
FrieslandCampina and Milcobel announce intention to merge
FrieslandCampina and Milcobel have announced their intention to merge. Both partners, owned by dairy farmers for many generations, complement each other in market positions and product portfolios. The merger offers further business development opportunities in market segments such as consumer cheese, mozzarella, white dairy products (such as milk, buttermilk, and yoghurt), and ingredients, as well as benefits in efficiency and expertise, for example in the area of sustainability. Based on the combined 2023 annual figures of FrieslandCampina and Milcobel – excluding Milcobel’s Ysco business, which is in the process of being divested – the new, combined organisation has a pro forma revenue of more than €14 billion, operates in 30 countries, employs nearly 22,000 staff worldwide, and processes a total volume of approximately 10 billion kgs of member milk. This milk is supplied by nearly 11,000 member dairy farms owned by approximately 16,000 member dairy farmers in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Northern France.
Miavit opens factory in Turkey
Miavit, which entered the Turkish market in 2016, has announced the opening of its new premix production facility in Kemalpaşa, İzmir. The new factory, which is equipped with advanced German technology, will allow the company to better serve its customers in the country by ensuring faster delivery times and stronger customer proximity. The new factory will serve as a strategic hub for exports to neighboring countries, Turkic States and the Middle East.
Medgene’s vaccine production technology is licensed by USDA
Animal health vaccine manufacturer Medgene announces that it is ready to address critical disease challenges facing the animal health industry. Utilising its production platform process, Medgene has unlocked the genetic information needed to create vaccines to address H5N1 in dairy cattle, PCV-4 in swine and aMPV in turkey production.
Novus launches resource for poultry, dairy and pig industries
Novus International has announced the launch of its new website, designed as a comprehensive resource for the dairy, swine and poultry sectors. Available in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish, the website addresses pressing challenges faced by today’s animal agriculture industry, providing solutions and insights for farmers, nutritionists, feed mills, and veterinarians worldwide. The website’s aims to make it simple for users to access information on Novus methionine, trace mineral, enzyme, and eubiotic solutions.
