Dairy Diary: May business update

Arla Foods support local dairy in Nigeria with inauguration of farm

Officials from state and federal government, members of the local farming community, business partners and Arla representatives were present at the official inauguration event of the state-of-the-art farm. Besides housing 216 dairy cows, with the capacity to expand to 750 cows, the farm’s main purpose is to facilitate training sessions for local farmers, students and associates at agricultural universities, veterinary students and other relevant groups. The main focus will be on farm management and animal welfare and the training sessions will revolve around Arla’s Big5, which covers feed efficiency, protein efficiency, animal robustness, fertilizer management and land use management.

Lallemand and INRAE reaffirm ruminant research partnership

Lallemand Animal Nutrition and the French research institution INRAE (National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment) — through the MEDiS Research Unit located in the Clermont-Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Research Center — have renewed their 30-year research partnership with the signing of an Associated Partnership Laboratory (APL) agreement, which includes research into microbial solutions used in ruminant nutrition and health. Some of the objectives of the APL is the study of the digestive microbiota of the ruminant and its interactions with microbial solutions developed by Lallemand and/or the APL, and the isolation and screening of new microbial solutions for ruminant nutrition and health in the context of a changing environment and consumer concerns surrounding the sustainability of ruminant production, and on food safety.

Bel works with partner dsm-firmenich to lower methane with Bovaer

Having successfully completed a series of pilot tests for Bovaer, a feed additive by dsm-firmenich that reduces livestock methane emissions, Bel Group is now starting to roll out this solution to the majority of its dairy producers in Slovakia. They supply around 70 million litres of milk annually to make the Group’s Babybel cheeses distributed in Central Europe and the United Kingdom. Implementing Bovaer will cut methane emissions for each farm by approximately 1/4 and would represent an overall yearly 400-tonne methane reduction.

Phodé showcases Oleobiotec Saliva Promoter

The FIGAN (International Livestock Production Exhibition) fair occurs yearly in Zaragoza, Spain. At the 2023 edition, Phodé showcased its Oleobiotec Saliva Promoter, a mix of plant extracts that enhance the production of saliva and its composition in natural buffering components, supporting rumen pH and helping to counteract pH drops.

Zoetis holds first A.L.P.H.A. Plus Initiative meeting in Kenya

Key local stakeholders representing the veterinary and farming sector have met in Nairobi, Kenya, for Zoetis’ new African Livestock Productivity and Health Advancement Plus (A.L.P.H.A. Plus) initiative with a US$15.3 million Innovative Animal Health Models for Small-Scale Producers grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This is the first event in Kenya.

The event included a roundtable discussion and speakers focusing on how collaboration can ensure the sustainability of veterinary services to livestock farmers in the regions. It explored the potential for public-private partnerships to improve local economies, ways to improve the distribution of veterinary products to the last mile and improved access to training and services for female veterinarians and farmers.

Amcor and IMA Ilapak unveil premium packaging solutions for dairy products

Packaging solutions company Amcor, and manufacturer of automatic machines for packaging, IMA Ilapak, showcased versatile and more sustainable dairy packaging solutions at the European packaging trade fair, Interpack, in Dusseldorf, Germany. At the event, the Delta OF-360 X was on display. One of the first innovations to run on this machine is Amcor’s AmPrima film, a recycle-ready, lightweight, flexible packaging solution for dairy products, with elevated barrier properties that ensure freshness and quality. With AmPrima, dairy brands can lower the environmental impact of their packaging and achieve reductions in non-renewable energy use, lower packaging’s carbon footprint and reducing water consumption.

Largest UK organic on-farm event unites food and farming sectors

The UK’s largest organic on-farm event, Organic Farmers & Growers’ (OF&G) annual National Organic Conference (NOC) will bring food and farming communities together to explore mixed, whole organic farming systems and organic food supply chains. The conference, which will be held at Green Acres Farm in Shropshire on 4 July 2023, will focus on organic arable and integrated livestock systems as part of a mixed, whole-farm approach while exploring natural capital and organic food supply chains, with evidenced data to highlight organic in action and the benefits it continues to deliver. Delegates will be shown around a pioneering and successful mixed 180-ha farm business, certified organic for more than 20 years, and will hear from experts in agriculture and food globally. Registration for NOC 2023 is now open.

Prof Zebeli receives dsm-firmenich BRAIN award for contribution to animal nutrition

Professor Qendrim Zebeli received the Bright Research and Innovation (BRAIN) Award from dsm-firmenich. The award was presented in May at the 2023 World Nutrition Forum in Cancun, Mexico. The award seeks to recognise ground-breaking innovation relating to animal health and nutrition that contribute to more sustainable food production. His career and experience to date include an impressive scientific track record with authoring more than 230 peer-reviewed publications, supervising 40 PhD students and post docs, international experience with research stays in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, and Canada, and mentoring countless students and colleagues.

DLG Thai renamed DLG Asia Pacific

The DLG’s (the German Agricultural Society) subsidiary, DLG Thai, located in Bangkok, Thailand, now operates under the name DLG Asia Pacific. The new name reflects the regional focus of the subsidiary and forms part of DLG’s growing international focus on prospective agricultural and food markets.

Alltech invites participation in sustainability survey

According to Alltech, sustainability has been described as the greatest challenge and opportunity of our time. To explore and share perspectives across the value chain, the company invites the global agriculture and agri-food industry to participate in its inaugural Sustainability Insights Survey to gather insights on the issues that matter most to the agri-food value chain’s stakeholders. The survey can be completed until 12 June, and the results will be shared and available for the benefit of the agri-food industry and its partners later this year.

Alltech and Agolin partner in eco-friendly nutrition solutions for cattle

Alltech has acquired a majority interest in Agolin, which was founded in Switzerland in 2006 to research, develop and produce plant-based feed additives to improve herd performance, profitability and sustainability. Agolin produces essential oil blends which it says optimises feed intake and performance, including improved milk and meat production. Agolin Ruminant, it says, was the first feed additive certified by The Carbon Trust for methane reduction in ruminants (2018).

Adisseo launches new website ‘Protect your Margins’

To help the animal production sector face short-term price volatility and long-term resource management obstacles, Adisseo’s new website, ‘Protect your margins’, aims to help those in the ruminant, poultry, swine and aquaculture sectors. Various resources can be explored all related to critical business issues such as feed costs, animal performance, and disease outbreaks.

Innovad acquiring Herbonis

To strengthen its portfolio of natural speciality feed ingredients and align with its strategy of expanding into primary ingredients, Innovad Global is acquiring all the shares of Herbonis, a Swiss-based company and its affiliates. Panbonis, a flagship Herbonis product, contains the plant-based source of the metabolic active form of Vitamin D which the company says has proven health benefits in poultry, swine and dairy.

Eddy Ketels steps down as CEO of Orffa with Haiko Zuidhoff as successor

Eddy Ketels will step down as CEO of Orffa at the end of 2023, succeeded by Haiko Zuidhoff, who will start in his new role as of 1 October 2023. Ketels has worked at Orffa for 35 years, as CEO since 2001. Zuidhoff, has worked in Asia for 25 years and moved back to the Netherlands in 2022. He most recently served IMCD as president for the Asia region. Prior to IMCD he served in various senior leadership roles at Trouw Nutrition Nutreco and Corbion.

Dobbs joins World Dairy Expo as Sponsorship Manager

The World Dairy Expo has welcomed Jenifer Dobbs as the organisation’s new sponsorship manager. In this role, Dobbs looks forward to cultivating relationships with the hundreds of corporate, farm and individual sponsors involved in the dairy event and work closely with the commercial exhibitor committee. Dobbs spent 12 years as the director of festivals & events for the Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau.

World Dairy Expo Seeking Media Interns For 2023 Event

As the 56th World Dairy Expo approaches, Expo is searching for college students who are passionate about the dairy industry to be part of the 2023 media team – 5 students will be able to experience the expo as media interns to assist with media initiatives at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, and the management of the Media Room, Expo’s on-site resource for reporters, writers and photographers. Those interested can find out more here.