Play Footy and Drink Chocolate Milk

Chuck ZimmermanDairy Group, Education, International

Dairy AustraliaIt looks like chocolate milk is getting a boost down under according to Dairy Australia:

Chocolate milk could be this season’s new sporting hero as the junior footy season kicks off across the country. A humble glass of chocolate milk looks to have the winning edge in fuelling active bodies, according to research published in the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism.

Scientists from the University of Indiana had a group of highly trained sports men exercise to exhaustion. They were then given either chocolate milk or a commercial carbohydrate replacement drink and then exercised again four hours later. With chocolate milk, the men kept going for around 50 per cent longer than with the carbohydrate replacement sports drink.

A healthy mix of exercise and milk may also help the sports stars of tomorrow build bone and avoid fractures. Instead of sky-high marks, pinpoint punts or grueling tackles, a broken bone could be a disappointing reality for some Aussie kids, according to an Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report .

The new report says fractures are the most common sports injuries needing hospitalisation and playing football is the most likely way to get one. Worse still, once a child has one fracture they are more likely to suffer further fractures during growth .

Dairy Caucus Time

Chuck ZimmermanGovernment

Collin PetersonIt’s time to caucus about dairy according to a release we received today from Congressman Collin Peterson (MN 7th Dist.).

A bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers representing dairy producing regions across the country today announced the formation of the first Congressional Dairy Farmer Caucus. The new caucus will focus on developing and promoting policy issues that are in the best interest of a healthy national dairy industry.

“Dairy farmers in the United States produce the milk and dairy products that ensure the health and nutritional well-being of Americans, but they face unique challenges in delivering these vital products,” Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Collin C. Peterson said. “The Caucus will help ensure that Congress keeps an appropriate focus on developing and encouraging policies that promote a successful dairy industry.”

The caucus will help Members of Congress to work together to address emerging issues of importance to dairy producers and consumers, a goal that will be particularly important as Congress begins to write the next Farm Bill.

The caucus will be co-chaired by Representatives Devin Nunes (R-CA), Collin C. Peterson (D-MN), Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Randy Kuhl (R-NY) and Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).

WI Sec of Ag Visits Accelerated Genetics

Chuck ZimmermanAccelerated Genetics, Agribusiness, Government

Nilsestuen Visits Accelerated GeneticsAccelerated Genetics hosted Rod Nilsestuen, Secretary of Agriculture, and Mr. Gary Radloff, Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection, on March 9th, as one of the Columbia and Sauk County agribusiness to provide input on new innovative projects to assist Wisconsin’s dairy industry. Discussions focused on recent grant money towards the development of ASAP®, a reproductive synchronization assistance program, and a new “El Toro” energy project in Cashton, WI. Ideas and programs gathered from local agribusinesses will be shared with Governor Doyle.

(photo left to right: Humberto Rivera, Ole Meland, Secretary of Agriculture Rod Nilsestuen, Director of Policy and Strategic Communications Gary Radloff, Bob Holterman, and Janet Keller.)

Monsanto Dairy Names Agency of Record

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness, Promotion

Osborn & BarrMonsanto Dairy just named a new advertising agency of record. It’s Osborn & Barr Communications, an agency that has had a long standing relationship with Monsanto in other business areas.

Osborn & Barr is charged with developing and executing a strategy of integrated communications, including creative direction, media services, digital marketing, and public relations. Osborn & Barr will be involved with Monsanto’s POSILAC® and DecisiveTM brands, as well as all forage nutrition brands which the agency already supports through Monsanto’s crop division.

With the recent addition of Monsanto Canada East’s business to the agency’s portfolio of clients, Osborn & Barr now supports nearly all of Monsanto North America’s marketing communications needs.

National Dairy Shrine Wants You!

Andy VanceDairy Group, Education, Membership

While at Spring Dairy Expo over the weekend, I met a gentleman named Maurice Core. Maurice is the Executive Director of the National Dairy Shrine. I had heard of the Shrine, but I wasn’t certain what exactly the Shrine was all about. I was thrilled to learn of the good deeds the Shrine accomplishes each year, and I think you will be too: Maurice Explains the Shrine (5:05 mp3)

Sexed Semen Can Up Your Heifer Crop

Andy VanceDairy Business, Genetics, Production

I spent the weekend at the Spring Dairy Expo in Columbus, Ohio, and was treated to one of the best dairy cattle shows in the Midwest. Along with serving as a “celebrity” (no, really, they actually called me a celebrity – WOW!) omlette chef and as ring announcer for the Junior All Breeds Showmanship and Ayrshire breed shows, I interviewed some of the top experts in the Dairy business.

One of the more interesting discussions was about the ability to gender select our calf crop with sexed-semen from Select Sires. I spoke with Bruce Smith about the concept, and you can listen and learn: Bruce Smith Discusses GenderSelect (5:40 mp3)

Server Move Issues

Chuck ZimmermanGeneral

We had to move web servers last week and our hosting company kind of did it without giving us warning of the timing. Sorry about that.

It means we lost a couple of days worth of posts here on World Dairy Diary. That’s all been worked out now and we’re back in action. Expect to see a lot from us this week as we get caught up.

The move was necessary since ZimmComm New Media, the publisher of World Dairy Diary has gone through a growth spurt and needed to added capacity and services for it’s clients. This is a good thing!

Meatrix II Animated Film Blasts Corporate Dairies

Chuck ZimmermanGeneral

Meatrix IIHopefully you’ve got a sense of humor. I just had a notice about this emailed to me. It’s a Matrix film spoof to blast corporate farming called The Meatrix. I never heard of it before but this is Meatrix II. The group doing this claims the first one’s been downloaded over 10 million times and they’ve won awards for it. They are short animated movies.

I only watched the second one and thought it was hilariously funny. I’m afraid it’s done by some very ignorant people who could sure put their creative talents to use on a much more worthwile issue. However, feel free to watch and laugh although if you haven’t seen The Matrix you may not appreciate the humor.

They even have a blog about it which you can find here. The whole thing is a project of the Global Resource Action Center for the Environment (GRACE).

Of course you can find out the truth about corporate dairy farming by visiting this website.

Wrapup From The Dairy Calf & Heifer Conference

Chuck ZimmermanDairy Group, Education

Randall GrimmiusHere’s the last day’s summary from the National Dairy Calf & Heifer Conference that ended last Friday. Thanks again to Elizabeth LeBrun for sending these in with pictures. The one on top here is of Randall Grimmius receiving a thank you certificate for hosting a tour.

The 10th National Dairy Calf & Heifer Conference wrapped up in Visalia, Calif. with a looping tour of San Joaquin Valley farms. The first stop was Three Sisters Farmstead Cheese and Hilarides Dairy, where the family-owned operation creates homemade cheese.Read More