Dairy Diary: November business update

AFBI and IceRobotics partner: Major calf study

A research project on dairy calf behaviour and performance has been instigated by the Agri-food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) in partnership with IceRobotics. The high-profile Automated Calf Monitoring study is the first in the UK to use CowAlert – the latest wearable technology – to monitor performance patterns and detect health issues in the first 3 months of the calf’s life. The project is believed to be one of the most comprehensive studies of its kind, with the potential to show how calf performance impacts on the long-term health of the milk herd. The project will be led by Dr Vivi Thorup, Lead Animal Scientist at IceRobotics and Dr Gillian Scoley, Dairy Youngstock Research Scientist at AFBI. It is co-funded by CIEL, the UK’s livestock Innovation Centre.

Dr Gillian Scoley, left, Dairy Youngstock Research Scientist, AFBI and Rachel Brown, IceRobotics. Photo: IceRobotics

Deosan foot care product wins award

The 2020 AgriScot Product Innovation Award has been awarded to Diversey, with its new Deosan HH+ hoof care product that aims to target the costly issue of lameness in the UK dairy herd, while also removing the negative impacts on the environment or the animal. This is the second time in 3 years that the company has been crowned the winner of innovation at the AgriScot event. Deosan HH+ is a strong mineral acid that crucially supports the reversal of the hoof degradation process, supporting the strength of the hoof in a similar way that toothpaste acts to support tooth enamel.

Diversey’s new Deosan HH+ hoof care product wins award. Photo: Diversey

New feed grabber for the Lely Vector feeding system

Lely introduces a new feed grabber for the Lely Vector automatic feeding system. The feed grabber hangs in the feed kitchen and is used to load the mixing and feeding robot with an accuracy of up to 98%. The new design improves both the functionality and lifetime of the feed grabber bucket, and the maintenance costs. The new shape of the feed bucket ensures that it closes better. Feed losses of small feed types such as grains, concentrates and other loose products are now a thing of the past. The new feed grabber replaces the current one and is also available for existing Vector users to upgrade.

New IDF President

Piercristiano Brazzale has been elected president of the International Dairy Federation (IDF) for 2020-2024, taking over from Dr Judith Bryans, chief executive of Dairy UK. In his new role, Mr Brazzale will steer the work of IDF with the support of the IDF Board, the Science Programme Coordination Committee (SPCC), of which he is the former chair, along with the IDF Head Office and IDF National Committees. The Italian national was nominated as the new president of the IDF at the virtual IDF Annual General Meeting on 2 November 2020. In his new role he will be focusing on several key areas:

• Promoting and highlighting the value of the work undertaken by IDF, ensuring dairy continues to be recognised as making a significant role in sustainable food systems
• Ensuring IDF and the dairy sector is prepared for the future and that dairy continues to be recognised as an essential part of a nutritious, healthy, and sustainable diet.

The Dairy Show – WDX’s new podcast

World Dairy Expo has announced the launch of its new podcast, The Dairy Show. Available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and online at worlddairyexpo.com, new episodes of The Dairy Show are added on the second and 4^th Tuesday of each month. Expo’s podcast features a new guest during every episode discussing topics related to the dairy industry. To date, The Dairy Show has published episodes discussing the founding of World Dairy Expo, understanding milk markets, the connection between commercial dairying and the Showring, and how one young dairy producer has diversified her operation using cheese. Future episodes will continue to explore more facets of the dairy industry year-round.

WDE communications manager, Katie Schmitt, hosts World Dairy Expo’s new podcast, The Dairy Show. Photo: WDE

Phosphea announces integration

Nuwen animal nutrition activities are now integrated into Phosphea. This new organisation strengthens the range of nutritional solutions based on macro-minerals from Phosphea for all the players in animal nutrition. 3 ranges of products based on macro-minerals are now available: The Essential range made up of ground elements for the growth and well-being of animals (Calcium phosphates, Calcium carbonate, Sodium bicarbonate, Urea and Salt); The Performance range made up of specific ingredients adapted to species and industrials needs (CalseaPowder, MAP, Neophos, Mag26); The Evolution range, containing natural ingredients, meeting the major challenges of the sector: farm’s performance, health and animal well-being (CalseaGrow).

Semex announces board

Semex announced that Phil MacLean (EastGen) has been appointed as president and chairman of the Board for 2020-2021, succeeding Gary Bowers (CIAQ). Assisting Semex’s new president is Jean-François Morin (CIAQ) as vice President and Gerrit Wensink (EastGen) as executive member of the Board. Also serving on the Semex Board of Directors are: Jean Bissonnette (CIAQ); Mariette Gagnon (CIAQ); Eric Iversen (WestGen); Richard Lagacé (CIAQ); Curtis McNeil (EastGen); Tom Pasco (EastGen); James Ross (WestGen). Semex is comprised of 3 Partner Owners: WestGen, CIAQ (Centre d’insémination artificielle du Québec) and EastGen.

Top L to R: Phil MacLean, Jean-François Morin, Gerrit Wensink. Middle L to R: Jean Bissonnette, Mariette Gagnon, Eric Iversen. Bottom L to R: Richard Lagacé, Curtis McNeil, Tom Pasco, Jim Ross. Photo: Semex

Wisium premixes available in Eastern Canada

ADM, an animal nutrition company, announced the launch of its Wisium premix and nutrition services brand into eastern Canada. The Wisium portfolio offers producers access to nutrition programs for all livestock species. With ADM’s 2019 acquisition of Neovia, a global provider of value-added animal nutrition solutions, Wisium joined the ADM animal nutrition portfolio. Customers in Quebec, Ontario and Maritimes will benefit from Wisium’s innovative offerings and advisory services for production management, product development, quality control and performance.

Innovation Awards for DeLaval Evanza

The milking cluster DeLaval Evanza was awarded with a gold medal at Elmia Agricultures price ceremony Elmia Innovation Awards in Jönköping, Sweden. DeLaval Evanza utilises a new technology where the liners are built as a cartridge that quickly can be replaced when needed. Even the short milk hose can easily be changed with a bayonet lock. DeLaval Evanza was launched on the Swedish market in January 2020 and is the biggest innovation in its field that DeLaval has launched for 20 years. The cartridge includes the efficient liner DeLaval Clover and durability is twice as long compared to traditional liners. The shelf life of the short milk hose is 4 times longer than previous versions.

In other news, DeLaval has introduced its new E300 external rotary milking platform in the Benelux. This year marks 90 years since DeLaval developed its first rotary. This completely new rotary has been created with dairy farmers’ current needs in mind and emphasises on animal welfare, milk quality, revenue and labour efficiency. The first rotary has been set up in western Belgium. It was developed around the FastFlow principle, which aids the dairy farmer in milking calmly, quickly, efficiently and safely.

DeLaval has introduced its new E300 external rotary milking platform. Photo: Delaval

BMP Innovation AB receives funding

BMP Innovation AB announced an investment from Lely International to dynamically increase growth, marketing and execution of product roadmap. BMP, a Swedish technology company founded in 2016 develops, build and market leading solutions for smart farming, using camera-based infrared technology to provide a range of non-invasive diagnostic tools.