SECOND MEETING OF THE PRODUCERS' R&D WORK GROUP TO BE HELD
ON 18 NOVEMBER 2014 STARTING AT 11:00 IN THE BOARD ROOM OF MILK
SOUTH AFRICA, BROOKLYN, PRETORIA
AGENDA
1.
WELCOME
2.
PREVIOUS MINUTES (2 December 2013)
3.
MATTERS EMANATING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES
All matters are addressed in this agenda.
4.
FINALIZING THE AGENDA
5.
OVERVIEW OF PROGRESS WITH THE R&D PROGRAMME AND
SPECIFIC PROJECTS - PRESENTED BY THE PROGRAMME MANAGER
5.1
Liver fluke programme
5.1.1 Fasciola hepatica: Impact on Dairy Production and Sustainable Management on
Selected Farms in South Africa
5.1.2 Future proposal by Dr Bernadine van den Bergh
5.2
Mastitis programme
5.2.1 Investigating alternative methods such as bacteriophages and bacteriocins to control
mastitis organisms
5.2.2 Resistance to available antibiotics in lactating cows with mastitis
6.
5.3
The prevalence of and reasons for milk flocculation after heat treatment in certain
geographical areas
5.4
National Disease Monitoring and Extension System
5.5
The microbial quality of milk for human consumption in South Africa with special reference
to coliform types and Escherichia coli strains
SEMEN IMPORTS
With regard to the Swedish Red breed, Mr Conrad Dreyer from the Eastern Cape had mentioned that
if one applied to import semen of a registered breed, the application went via the breed association,
but because of the absence of a Swedish Red Breed Association, the process was problematic. The
need and procedures for the importation of semen of certain breeds, such as Swedish Red, was
referred to the R&D Producer Work Group.
7.
PASTURE CULTIVAR SELECTION AND BREEDING
There is concern about the fact that the pasture cultivar selection programme and responsibilities of
the ARC at Cedara were collapsing. Plant breeders were becoming scarce and Cedara currently had a
temporary arrangement with a former employee who offered some support and Dr Trytsman from
Roodeplaat provided regular input, but there were no prospects of a permanent appointment at
Cedara. Cultivar evaluations were done at Outeniqua, but they did not have a plant breeder in their
service. Because Outeniqua had the facilities, it would be possible for them theoretically, but they
would then also have to appoint a plant breeder.
Recently, the Research Project Evaluation Committee (RPEC) decided as follows:
8.
i.
To accept the principle where seed companies make use of the Outeniqua Research Station
(Western Cape) as an independent facility where pasture cultivars are evaluated for certain
characteristics;
ii.
That the use of the Cedara Research Station (KZN) and farms of milk producers affiliated
with SESCORD as potential facilities should also be investigated at a later stage; and that
such an initiative be managed under the SESCORD flag;
iii.
That silage be included in a pasture testing programme, and that the topic of silage be
specifically discussed at the next RPEC meeting.
GENETIC EVALUATION
Concern was expressed by members of the Advisory Committee: R&D when it was learnt that
genetic trends for milk yields had decreased, as also published in an article on the Milk SA website
under the title “Dairy R&D in SA”. (See included). Some producers also expressed the view that this
should be a topic for discussion by this Work Group and possibly a project proposal to Milk SA.
It was agreed at the R&D Advisory Committee meeting that dairy animal performance is important
and that attention should be given not only to milk recording, but also to other data sources
representative of actual herd performances.
A workshop was envisaged to be convened with all role-players concerned in respect of milk
recording and genetic performance, but only after this meeting of the National Milk Producer R&D
Work Group, so as to inform the agenda for the workshop.
Laboratory services can also be discussed as part of the topic.
9.
EXTENSION SERVICES
This topic is R&D related in the sense that extension services are required to transfer R&D and other
knowledge to especially black milk producers. DAFF and the provinces embarked on the Extension
Recovery Plan (ERP) since 2008 - see attached. Following discussions between the CEO and DAFF,
the latter invited Milk SA to partner in the ERP. An ad hoc work group of Milk SA discussed Milk
SA's supposed role in extension services and the minutes are also attached. This Work Group's view
on the role of extension services among commercial and emerging milk producers is required.
10.
ADDITIONAL MATTERS
11.
CLOSING
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