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April 30, 2024
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UK - Stateside boost to help UK dairy exports be cream of the crop
Help to grow UK dairy exports in the US has been given a boost with the appointment of a new in-market specialist.
Victor Willis, who has more than 25 years retail and manufacturing experience in the dairy sector, has been appointed as Vice President of Market Development (USA) by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and will be its new dairy products representative in the US.
The role, jointly funded by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), will see Victor working closely with dairy exporters to help grow further opportunities for the sector in the US market.
It comes after the Government launched its new Dairy Export Programme last November, committing to providing specialist resource in priority markets for the sector and maximise the opportunities presented. The programme was the result of the Government's decision at last year's Farm to Fork summit to invest £1 million in the dairy sector - as part of a wider package to support agriculture, food and drink - to boost UK dairy exports, especially among small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs).
The programme was developed in consultation with industry, facilitated by the industry-led Dairy Export Taskforce, ensuring activity developed fully addressed the sector's needs. The programme includes helping develop the export capability of UK businesses and championing their products on the global stage. The taskforce represents industry and is supported by industry bodies such as the AHDB, the NFU and Dairy UK. DBT and DEFRA are also represented on the taskforce.
The US is the UK's second biggest dairy export market and AHDB analysis has highlighted further opportunities over the next decade with increasing levels of cheese consumption.
Lucy Randolph, AHDB Head of International Trade Development (Dairy), said: "The US is an important market for UK dairy exporters and we have identified further long-term opportunities to build on the successes our industry has already achieved.
"A key part of driving that growth is the support of having a strong in-market presence and we are delighted that Victor has joined the team to work with UK dairy exporters to help fulfil their full potential in the important US market. His wealth of experience in developing market strategy, brand development and product innovation will be invaluable."
Dr Phil Hadley, AHDB International Trade Development Director, said: "Our dairy levy payers have told us how much they value AHDB's work to support exports and want to see more of it. The additional Government money announced last year was welcome in complementing AHDB's annual investment in providing tools and support to help drive dairy exports forward.
"The collaborative approach between AHDB and Government to drive UK export growth is well established and Victor's appointment is a further demonstration of our shared commitment to helping ensure our dairy exports thrive on the global stage."
Further details about export opportunities for UK dairy in specific regions around the world can be found in the:
AHDB analysis Prospects for UK agri-food exports.
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UK - GB dairy farmers set to save nearly 4,000t of carbon with bio-tech, say Sylgen.
As part of its wider sustainability initiative, Leprino Foods, the world's largest mozzarella cheese maker, is investing in biological technology that is on course to save a nearly 4,000t of CO2 annually on producers' farms.
In the last two years, Leprino's support has helped Welsh dairy farmers reduce their carbon footprints significantly. In total, they're now saving nearly 20,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, with the average carbon footprint coming down from 1.21kg of CO2 / litre of FPCM in 2020 to 1.15kg of CO2 / litre of FPCM in 2023.
Leprino has committed to supplying all its dairy farmers across England and Wales with the slurry inoculant, SlurryForSoil, for two years. Specifically designed for soil and plant health, it has proven in independent trials and on-farm to improve grass quality and yields while reducing the need for fertiliser. "We're delighted that Leprino realises the full value of SlurryForSoil," says Geoff Hooper, Director of Sylgen Animal Health, manufacturers of SlurryForSoil.
Leprino Sustainability Manager, Ben Williams says "We started looking at SlurryForSoil with the aims of a typical 'slurry additive'. It was its capacity to retain nutrients within the slurry, use less bagged fertiliser and bust a few crusts. But in the last 18 months that we've been working with the manufacturers, we've realised that the product has much more potential, it's also key in demonstrating to government and other stakeholders that the industry proactively taking step to address the issues associated with the slurry management".
SlurryForSoil contains 18 different plant growth promoting rhizobacteria and fungi, each is multi-functional but has valuable specialisms - from stimulating plant defence mechanisms (induced systemic resistance) to bioremediation. Ben adds: "Across the farms we work with SlurryForSoil typically delivering an 18% grass yield increase with 20% less fertiliser. The return on investments we've seen are huge - between 5:1 and in some cases 12:1 - it's nearly unbelievable, especially when you consider how easy it is to use."
Ben works extensively with farmers on Leprino's sustainability initiative which also encourages farmers to, for example, adopt LEAN management practices and remove soy from diets.
"Due to the nature of the job, farmers have to be risk and ambiguity adverse, but ultimately, we've only got five more years to make a significant impact of pre-farm gate emissions. Without support, the agricultural sector hasn't the resilience to enable it to move fast enough.
Find out more
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UK - September Conference alert
Kite Consulting will be holding the 2024 Progressive Dairy Operators Conference on Thursday 5th September at Chesford Grange ahead of the British Dairying Cream Awards later that evening.
With a range of farmer and expert speakers lined up, we'll challenge your thinking on the key drivers in your business from profit to production and answering the question 'what metrics should I be measuring to move my dairy business forward faster?' The agenda will include an outlook on the milk markets and opportunities ahead.
Keep an eye out for speaker announcements & for details of how to book please contact enquiries@kiteconsulting.com
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UK - Soil leaching threatens animal health post turnout
Heavy rainfall has caused soils to leach essential minerals
such as iodine, which will have an adverse effect on grazing livestock.
Following the recent relentless heavy rainfall, concern has been raised about forage quality because of mineral leaching from the soil. Iodine, in particular - an essential micronutrient required by cattle - has been lost as a result, and nutrition specialist Nettex suggests this could compromise animal health.
"Whether grazing cattle later in the spring or making silage, we're encouraging farmers to test grassland soils to ascertain if vital minerals have been lost. Should this be the case then our EnduraBol High Iodine bolus will compensate for deficiencies in this key mineral, as well as vitamins A, D and E, and any identified shortfalls in copper, cobalt, selenium, manganese, and zinc," says Nettex's Emily Hall.
According to NADIS (The National Animal Disease Information Service), iodine is essential as a constituent of the thyroid hormones, in particular T3 and T4, and 80% of the iodine in the body is found in the thyroid gland.
"An iodine deficiency is linked to thyroid enlargement, calves being stillborn, and iodine deficiencies have also been implicated in poor growth rates, poor milk production and retained placenta," says Hall.
Soil health is the main contributor to iodine losses and heavy rainfall that causes surface run off, and soil degradation, has left many parts of the UK at risk. Soil testing specialists Eurofins Agro UK provide thousands of soils tests and suggest that with such heavy rain this year, farmers should be analysing soil more regularly to establish mineral losses.
"This year's heavy rain can have a harmful effect on soil health. Our tests are designed to provide data relating to the physical, biological, chemical and carbon characteristics of soil. In relation to leaching, the tests also offer data for the essential main and micronutrients along with the plant available nutrients, soil stock nutrients, and supply capacity," explains Eurofins Agro UK Specialist Shane Brewer.
Understanding the effect of adverse weather conditions using soil testing offers farmers the opportunity to subsequently adapt nutrient management programs to put back into the soil minerals that are lost through leaching. However, this is a long-term strategy and livestock farmers are advised to act sooner with appropriate supplementation.
"A bolus is a cost-effective and easy way to mitigate nutrient deficiencies to protect animal health when soil and the forage quality has been compromised. We suggest farmers act now to provide livestock with the nutrients needed to improve health and yield," concludes Emily Hall.
Nettex
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UK - 'Growing Healthy Calves' webinar to provide practical tips to improve calf performance
MSD Animal Health is hosting a 'Growing Healthy Calves' webinar to provide dairy herd managers and their staff with valuable insights and practical tips to ensure the well-being and optimal growth of dairy calves.
The hour-long webinar, which is free to attend and open to all, is scheduled to take place at 7pm on Wednesday 15th May and will be hosted by Juan Pedro Campillo, MSD Animal Health's Global Dairy Technology Marketing Manager, and UK Veterinary Advisor, Kat Baxter-Smith. Together they will discuss the key challenges facing dairy calves during their first 12 months, and explain how preventative care protocols which include the use of the SenseHub® Youngstock monitoring system can help herd managers and their staff to identify and mitigate these challenges as cost-efficiently and effectively as possible.
The SenseHub Youngstock system uses electronic ear tags to assess the behavioural patterns of calves from birth to 12 months of age, to identify any signs of potential ill health or opportunities for welfare improvements.
"Using SenseHub to monitor calves reduces the farm's exposure to labour market shortages and ensures that each and every calf gets off to the best possible start so that it can make a positive contribution to the herd's income sooner," explains Samantha Carmichael, Senior Technology Solutions Marketing Manager for MSD Animal Health's Ruminant Business Unit.
"The webinar will explain how the insights provided by SenseHub can be used by herd managers, their staff and the farm's vet to fine-tune youngstock management protocols in order to optimise the lifetime productivity of each animal entering the herd. We'll also be discussing other key aspects of youngstock management such as preventative disease practices and vaccination protocols, with the webinar concluding with a question and answer session in which participants will able to quiz the expert panel."
Register for the event
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UK - Gold Cup Open Day Wednesday 22nd May 2024 - Gates open 10:30am
This year in a break from tradition, the Gold Cup Open Day will see Bisterne Farms showcasing how their, low-input, grass-based, cross-bred herd took the win, highlighting how their focus and performance has resulted in them being victorious. We caught up with George Brown, Contract Farming Partner, ahead of the day to find out a little more about the business.
George explained how the dairy at Bisterne Farms has evolved over the decades. "It was several years ago when we first invested in a dairy at Bisterne Farms whilst in the process of amalgamating our three smaller herds. Before transitioning to spring calving we spent a period milking Holstein cross cows and we have now more recently moved to a split block patten with autumn bias.
"Today we farm 500ha of grassland, with additional land area for maize and fodder beet. Some 200ha of grazing is in SSSI low input river meadows, managed predominantly for wildlife, and the entire 1600 ha estate is within various conservation agreements. We cherish how our dairy sits side by side with nature, while being a commercial core in our farming operation.
"Whilst there are challenges, it's an exciting time to be in dairy, and we remain focused on running a profitable business that is committed to meeting consumer and regulatory demands."
Industry experts from The Andersons Centre, LIC and Synergy Farm Health, who have contributed to the farm's success will speak at the event in a series of talk stations situated around the farm. They will explain how George and his ambitious team have focused their attention to detail to enable the herd to produce 3,730 litres of milk from forage, as well as highlighting the finer details when it comes to daily practice, looking at how these decisions have ultimately resulted in the business becoming a 'premier' herd.
If you would like to discuss calf feeding protocols or find out more about how Bisterne Farms rear their calves then there will be plenty of team members from both Bisterne Farms and Bonanza Calf to answer your questions. Both event organiser RABDF and Bisterne Farms are indebted to sponsors Virgin Money, The Andersons Centre, Livestock Improvement Corporation, Bonanza Calf and Kite Consulting for their contribution to the day. Thanks must also go to all the companies bringing along trade stands to support the event. We look forward to seeing everyone there.
RABDF/NMR Gold Cup Open Day Tickets, Wed 22 May 2024 at 10:00 | Eventbrite
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Global - Arla Foods Ingredients acquires Volac's whey business to boost performance nutrition presence
Arla Foods Ingredients is acquiring the whey nutrition division of UK-based dairy nutrition company Volac. The transaction will be completed later this year following the necessary regulatory approvals. The primary purpose of the acquisition is to allow Arla Foods Ingredients to use the Felinfach site as a global production hub and the cornerstone of an enhanced product offering in the performance, health and food sectors, set to play a vital role in the company's future focus.
"This brings together two complementary offerings in a growing and increasingly international space for whey products. Volac is a pioneer in the use of whey protein for performance nutrition and has a wealth of expertise as well as an incredibly talented team. It shares our commitment to helping companies worldwide harness the full potential of whey," says Luis Cubel, Group VP and Managing Director of Arla Foods Ingredients.
For Volac, this represents a logical step in its evolution as a family business and provides the springboard for the optimal development of the Whey Nutrition Business as well as Volac's remaining Animal Nutrition Business.
Volac has seven production facilities - four in the UK, one in the US, one in Indonesia and one in Malaysia - where it manufactures and supplies dairy nutrition products to the global market. Volac is a wholly owned subsidiary of Woodford Holdings, a non-trading company.
NutritionInsight.com
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UK - Earth Day proves positive for environmental farming programmes in the UK
In celebration of Earth Day, The Royal Countryside Fund (RCF) announced it had received £900,000 in funding over three years from People's Postcode Lottery, administered through the Postcode Earth Trust. This generous funding, amounting to £300,000 annually, is earmarked for the significant expansion and development of the RCF's environmental farming programmes across the UK.
This funding is set to strengthen the support available to family farms, with a focus on sustainability, resilience, and the advancement of environmental land management practices. The Royal Countryside Fund's commitment to fostering a thriving, sustainable countryside directly aligns with Postcode Lottery's vision, creating a powerful partnership and a force of positive change for rural Britain.
A key component of the funding will enable the extensive rollout of environmental workshops across the UK. These workshops are designed to share practical knowledge and actionable strategies with farms, aligning closely with the diverging agricultural policies of each nation and ensuring a more holistic integration of the RCF's programmes.
These workshops will foster a collaborative environment where farmers can share experiences and learn from each other's successes and challenges - by providing access to experts and resources on environmental sustainability, The Royal Countryside Fund aims to support farmers in making informed decisions that contribute positively to their local ecosystems and the wider agricultural community.
The Royal Countryside Fund, established by HM King Charles III in 2010, has been at the forefront of addressing the complex challenges facing rural communities and the agricultural sector. Since its inception, the Fund has invested over £12 million in more than 500 community-led projects and provided invaluable support to over 4,000 farming families through practical training and guidance.
For more information
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