Johnson Addresses Cow Overeating

News EditorFeed, Industry News, Nutrition

tristatedairylogoDuring the 2007 Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference, Tim Johnson, Purdue University Extension dairy nutrition specialist will address protein overfeeding and how it can affect a dairy operation. The conference will be held on April 24-25 at the Grand Wayne Center in Fort Wayne, Ind. Register soon – pre-registeration closes on April 5th.

Overeating doesn’t do a dairy cow any more good than it does a human. In fact, the negative consequences could be greater when a bovine makes a pig of itself, said Johnson. Dairy producers need to carefully monitor how much supplemental protein they feed their animals in order to avoid possible environmental and herd health problems, as well as higher operating costs, Johnson said.

Johnson’s presentation, “Use of Milk Urea Nitrogen in Herd Management,” is slated for 5:15 p.m. on the conference’s opening day. Johnson will be joined in his presentation by Herb Bucholtz, Michigan State University Extension dairy nutrition specialist.

Dairyline Markets in Review

Chuck ZimmermanDairyline, Markets

DairylineDairy Markets Week in Review
The cash cheese market strengthened in the President’s Day shortened week. Block cheese closed that Friday at $1.37 per pound, up 7 1/2-cents on the week, and 24 1/4-cents above that week a year ago. Barrel closed at $1.35, up 7 3/4-cents on the week, and 24 1/2-cents above a year ago. Seven cars of block traded hands on the week and 12 of barrel. The NASS-surveyed U.S. average on blocks hit $1.3240, up 2.1 cents. Barrel averaged $1.3591, up a penny.

Cash butter closed at $1.21, unchanged on the week, but 5 1/4-cents above a year ago. Five cars were sold. NASS butter averaged $1.2088, down 1.3 cents.

The cash Grade “A” nonfat dry milk price gained 7 1/2-cents, hitting $1.5250. One car was even sold. Extra Grade remained at $1.45. The NASS nonfat dry milk price gained 0.3 cents, hitting $1.0974. Dry whey averaged a record 61.41 cents, up another 3 cents on the week. It has gained 20 cents since the first of the year and every penny equates to about 6 cents on the Class III milk price.

Provided courtesy of Dairyline.

Institute to File Lawsuit Against USDA

News EditorGovernment, Industry News, Organic

The Cornucopia Institute announced its intend to file a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), accusing the agency of failing to enforce federal laws about the labeling of organic foods. The impending lawsuit is the latest salvo in a seven-year-long dispute between organic family farmers and the USDA.

At the center of the controversy are two major agribusiness corporations, Dean Foods and Aurora Dairy. Dean’s Horizon brand and private-label milk produced by Aurora (marketed by Safeway, Wild Oats, Trader Joe’s and Wal- Mart) have gained a dominant market share, estimated as high as 70 percent, by ramping up production on feedlot dairies milking as many as 2000 to 10,000 cows, according to the institute.

The farms have been accused of confining their animals instead of pasturing them as the organic regulations require, and are therefore in violation of federal law, said David Cox, a Columbus, Ohio-based attorney representing Cornucopia on other matters involving the USDA and organic certifiers.

“There are five sections in the federal organic standards that relate to pasture and grazing. Taken together, they leave little doubt as to what is expected of organic livestock producers,” said Jim Riddle of the University of Minnesota and former chair of the National Organic Standards Board. “It’s no coincidence that except for the handful of mega-farms, all of the nation’s organic dairy farmers, and most of the certifiers that inspect them, understand that grazing is required and operate their farms in accordance with the law. It appears that the USDA is looking the other way by allowing these confinement dairies to not provide pasture for their lactating cows.”

New Dairy Blog

News EditorInternational, Media

Our good friend, Leon the Milkman, reported on his blog today that the South African Society for Dairy Technologists is starting their own blog! This media outlet is really catching on!

Hi, Milk Fans

The South African Society for Dairy Technologists is getting its own blog. It will be happening at www.savst.za.org Posts will be in Afrikaans or English.

Drink your milk!

Cheers,

Leon the Milkman

FAGE Names U.S. Agency

News EditorInternational, Yogurt

FAGElogoCongratulations are in order for advertising agency, Ogilvy North America for being awarded the FAGE Dairy Industry account. FAGE is a premium dairy brand from Greece whose Total yogurt brand will soon be distributed in the U.S. I reported on the company’s U.S. site choice in a previous post.

Ogilvy was awarded FAGE’s fully integrated marketing account based on the agency’s proven success in building brands across multiple channels. Launched in the US in 1998, FAGE is planning a new marketing push behind its Total yogurt brand as it expands its distribution and commences US production over the next two years.

“Our goal is to make FAGE one of the world’s favorite brands and we are counting on Ogilvy’s expertise to help us build on our great heritage here in the US,” said Antonios Maridakis, from FAGE.

Ogilvy will utilize a broad array of marketing solutions on behalf of FAGE including, traditional advertising, customer relationship marketing, direct, interactive and activation.

Saputo Acquires LOL Cheese & Protein International

News EditorDairy Business, International

Saputo Inc has entered into an agreement to acquire Land O’Lakes Inc’s Cheese & Protein International business for $216 million in cash. Land O’Lakes Inc’s Cheese & Protein International business employs approximately 530 people and manufactures, sells, shreds and blends mostly mozzarella and provolone products. In 2006, the business generated $415 million in sales and approximately $20 million of EBITDA. The transaction is expected to close on or about April 2, 2007.

BST Stolen from Calif. Dairy

News EditorIndustry News

More news about California dairy producers and BST – this time $30,000 worth of the product were stolen.

Surveillance video captured three thieves slipping onto E.J. deJong’s dairy farm under the cover of night, making their way past the cows in his milking parlor. They made quick work carting out their haul. In just one night, deJong lost about $30,000 worth of the genetically engineered hormone rBST, or recombinant bovine somatotropin, in what police say was one of the most brazen, high-value heists to date. The three suspects still haven’t been caught.

Rural crime officials say vials of rBST are a favorite among thieves who resell the growth hormone for top dollar on the black market. Fewer dairy farmers use it these days due to concerns over its health effects, and thefts have declined in recent years, but the sophistication and overall worth of the December break-in have alarmed authorities over the possibility of a larger hormone-peddling syndicate. Though DeJong was the first to catch it on video, similar heists have targeted farmers throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Some have been clandestine break-ins; others were inside jobs.

Proposed Change to Heifer Show Rule

News EditorHolstein Association

The Holstein Association USA recently announced a proposal to change its show rules concerning heifer classes. The proposal would break heifer classes by height rather than age. The Association is seeking comments and feedback on the proposal – be sure take part in the discussion.

During the Association’s Show Committee meetings last spring and fall, considerable discussions took place regarding the prospect of researching the concept of showing heifers by height instead of age. For the past several years at Regional Member meetings, and through responses given in a recent survey of Association members, concerns have been raised over the credibility of the ages provided on some heifers that are shown. For the most part, the common complaint is that some heifers appear to be just too big for the classes in which they are being shown.

Based on research, the following proposal has been developed. Heifers would be measured at the shoulder at show check-in. The seven calf/heifer classes would be set up as follows:

44″ and under

Over 44″ but not over 47″

Over 47″ but not over 50″

Over 50″ but not over 53″

Over 53″ but not over 56″

Over 56″ but not over 58″

Over 58″, under two years old, and not in milk.

Dairy Producers Speak Out

News EditorIndustry News, Milk

More than 100 dairy producers and employees in California came together to express their concerns about consumer confidence in the industry. The group took a tentative step toward organization while voicing their opinions on the marketing of rbST-free milk.

The recent announcement by dairy cooperative California Dairies Inc., that they would ask all members to sign an affidavit saying they no longer use the Monsanto product Posilac, the artificial recombinant bovine somatotrophin used to boost milk production, spurred many of the dairymen to speak out. One of their prime concerns was that if milk marketers could convince consumers the technology was unsafe, which dairy technology would be the next target.

“It is time for farmers to be more proactive in addressing these issues,” said Doug Maddox, a Riverdale, Calif. producer.

Dr. Terry Atherton, dairy researcher and professor of animal science at Penn State University, spoke at the meeting and hit the producers with some cold, hard facts about the future of food biotechnology. Animal rights activists have a business agenda, he said, and they collect donations and spend millions to scare the public. He said the reality is that America has the world’s safest food supply. Etherton also pointed out that what activists say is not what the majority of consumers are saying about their food.

Midwest Cooperatives to Merge

News EditorIndustry News

Two leading dairy cooperatives in the Midwest announced plans to merge. The boards of directors of Cass-Clay Creamery Inc. and Associated Milk Producers Inc. approved the merger into one cooperative.

The merger will create a farmer-owned dairy marketing company with more than $1 billion in annual sales. Together, the cooperatives will provide a complete line of dairy products to a regional and national marketplace. To finalize the merger, the dairy farmer-owners of Cass-Clay must approve the transfer of assets to AMPI. That approval is expected in March, with the merger completed April 1.