Wrapping up 2019 with a look back at 10 exciting farm reports

2019 has been a very exciting year for Dairy Global. We have brought you reports from all over the globe – and as it’s time to nearly say goodbye to 2019, we would like to take a look back at this year and revisit some of the these amazing farms we encountered.

Let’s start at the beginning of 2019…

1. Indian dairy: Big, but still traditional

India is the largest dairy producer in the world. At the same time, dairy farming is complicated in this country, as the Hindu religion makes it difficult to sell off old cows and bull calves. Dairy Global visited a farm, dedicated to water buffalo, to learn more.

Photo: Martijn Knuivers

2. South African farmer invests despite challenges

Modernising any dairy farm comes with an expected element of risk but when that farm is in South Africa with its current political uncertainties, then the risk is much higher.

Photo: Chris McCullough

3. Russian dairy sector to grow steadily

With large sums of subsidies, the Russian government is increasing milk production in a quest to become self-sufficient for dairy within a few years. However, it is unlikely that Russia can take a big role on the global dairy market on the short term.

Photo: Henk Riswick

4. Cows enter world’s first floating farm

History has been made as 32 cows have just entered the word’s first floating dairy farm based in the port at Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

Photo: Chris McCullough

5. Ecuador: Dairy farming at the highest point

Fabian Eguiguren is a dairy farmer in Cayambe, Ecuador, located around 80km from the capital of the country, Quito. His farm is located at 3200 m above sea level.

Photo: Fabian Eguiguren

6. Farm report: Leading Brazilian dairy expands to 1,000 cows

At first glance, it could be a rural German town. But Witmarsum Colony is actually located in Brazil, founded over 60 years ago by German immigrants in the state of Santa Catharina.

Photo: Lilian Schaer

7. Dairy farming the Amish way

Making money from dairy cattle works the same way, no matter where you are in the world. Keep your cows healthy and treat them before they get sick, achieve an above-average milk price and control your costs and financing. If you are better than average in all these aspects, you will most certainly remain a farmer. Middlebury-based Pete Lehman and his son Jay prove that this is the right course of action.

Photo: Robert Bodde

8. German farmer increases milk yield by 1,000 litres per cow

Making a number of significant management changes within his herd has resulted in a German dairy farmer successfully increasing the average yield per cow by 1,000 litres in just under one year.

Photo: Chris McCullough.

9. Finland: Soya-free dairy production, locally grown protein

It is relatively easy for dairy farmers Jukka and Sinikka Tuominen to get a lot of milk from their cows: they feed them locally grown protein. As a result, they do not see much of the vet.

Photo: Henk Riswick

10. Herbs for healthier cows and lower costs

Sustainability, a concept that has found a place in many sectors and is a buzzword that knows no bounds, can be defined as having three main pillars – economic, environmental and social. Keeping these pillars in mind is a dairy farmer in Drenthe, the Netherlands who has, in recent years, changed his outlook and looked at crop diversification on his farm. Dairy Global visited the farm to uncover what changes were implemented and the impact.