Dairy Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) scientists have discovered new methods to isolate and maintain large numbers of bovine embryonic stem cells. This has many implications for the application of advanced breeding technologies in dairy cattle and other livestock. Dr Paul Verma from the Monash Institute of Medical Research announced these breakthroughs at Dairy Science 2006 in Mt Gambier today.

This is essential, core research which adds significantly to knowledge about cell development and breeding. In the future, it may assist with new technologies such as improving the efficiency of cloning or producing pharmaceuticals from milk. It is valuable intellectual property owned by the dairy industry. An international patent application has recently been filed.

Source: Dairy CRC/ News Release, Feb. 13, 2006
Source URL: http://www.dairycrc.com/www/163/1001127/displayarticle/1026961%2ehtml

Not every court decision that is sealed stays sealed, and neither did the settlement between the city of Waco and six dairies.

The mediator of the agreement, U.S. Magistrate Jeffrey C. Manske, put it under seal in January. It was unsealed in response to the city of Waco’s motion on Feb. 24, which was not opposed by the dairies. Revealing the contents of the confidential agreement was sought by the Waco Tribune-Herald under the Texas Public Information Act.

Source: Waco Tribune-Herald/ J.B. Smith, Feb. 25, 2006
Source URL: http://www.wacotrib.com/hp/content/news/stories/2006/02/25/20060225wacdairyunsealed.html

A summer perennial native to the Great Plains captured a lot of attention after it was mentioned in President Bush’s State of the Union address. One biotech company is exploring how to use the grass to make ethanol and thus lessen America’s dependence on oil.

Agrivida, a Massachusetts-based biotech company, hopes to explore using switchgrass, and other plants, for ethanol. For now the company is focused on using the entire corn plant for ethanol, not just the kernel as currently done.

Source: Technology Review/ Neil Savage, Feb. 22, 2006
Source URL: http://www.technologyreview.com/BizTech-R&D/wtr_16408,295,p1.html

Australia's milk supplies look likely to be marginally above (less than 1%) last year's level. In New Zealand the milk production season peaked early and it is probable that milk supplies will be 2% below last year (although end of season production has recovered a little). Most of Oceania's production has been sold forward with nothing available for spot trade until the end of the season.

Source: MDC Datum, Feb. 24, 2006
Source URL: http://www.mdcdatum.org.uk/proc-wholedata/worldwholesaleprices.htm

The January 2006 milk production report indicated that production was 15.35 billion pounds, 5.0 percent ahead of a year ago. Cow numbers and milk per cow were up from a year ago. Cow numbers actually dropped last year from 9.066 million head in September to 9.056 million head by November. This was likely due to the CWT program. But by January cow numbers had grown to 9.073 million head. And milk yield per cow in January was 1,692 pounds, up 68 pounds from a year ago. The cows are milking well and producers are adding more cows each month.

Source: Penn State University/ Ken Bailey, Feb. 24, 2006
Source URL: http://dairyoutlook.aers.psu.edu/Weekly/2006/WeeklyDairyMarketOutlook022406.htm

FLUID MILK:  Milk production is strong throughout the nation. Concern is mounting as to how excess milk production will be handled as the current flush of milk continues into the spring months. Class I demand is steady at best, encouraging handlers to clear excess milk into manufacturing facilities. Stagnant sales of sour cream, cottage cheese and dips, is deterring milk movement into Class II facilities. As a result, Class III and IV plants are operating near capacity to balance heavy milk volumes. Cream markets are weak and supplies are ample. Excess cream supplies are directed at churns that are reluctant to take in additional loads. Multiples are lower with some volumes trading below parity. With lower CME AA butter prices and increasing milk volumes, the fluid cream market is not anticipated to rebound any time soon.

Source: USDA, Feb. 24, 2006

Alternative approaches to predict energy reserves or energy balance in dairy cattle include metabolic profiling and measurement of live weight, heart girth, or skinfold thickness. A less common method to assess fat reserves in body tissues is measuring backfat thickness (BFT) by using ultrasound.

Measuring BFT by ultrasound is of added value compared with other body condition scoring systems because it is objective and precise. Changes in body condition can be detected and evaluated properly.

Source: Methods to determine body fat reserves in the dairy cow with special regard to ultrasonographic measurement of backfat thickness. Journal of Dairy Science 89 (1): 14-Jan, 2006. Schroder, U.J.; Staufenbiel, R.

This study investigated the development of bovine oocytes following intracytoplasmic injection of sperm heads from spermatozoa dried by heating.

These results demonstrate that bovine oocytes can be fertilized with heat-dried spermatozoa and that the fertilized oocytes can develop at least to the blastocyst stage.

Source: Fertilization and development in vitro of bovine oocytes following intracytoplasmic injection of heat-dried sperm heads. Biology of Reproduction 74 (1): 146-152, 2006. Lee, K.B.; Niwa, K.

Following is a list of national and international events of importance to the dairy industry. To see events more than a month out, follow the “Click to read more” link. If you have an upcoming event that you would like publicized, please send it to Patt Ligman, pattligman@metafarms.com or MetaFarms, 2980 Commers Drive, Suite 400, Eagan, MN 55121. The next EventTrak is scheduled for March 13, 2006.

March

--Ice Cream Technology Conference, March 1-3, 2006, Renaissance Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Arizona. Contact: www.idfa.org or 202-220-3557

--Western United Dairymen’s Annual Convention, March 1-3, 2006, DoubleTree Hotel, Sacramento, California. Contact: http://www.westernuniteddairymen.com

--2006 Westpac Dairy Conference, March 8, 2006, Whareroa Research Centre, Hawera, New Zealand. Contact: Dawn Dalley at 06 278 0090 or 0274 952239 or dawn.dalley@dexcel.co.nz or http://www.dexcel.co.nz/main.cfm?id=214&nid=112

--Banff Conference on Agriculture Food and Environment: Connect, Grow and Learn, March 8-9, 2006, Banff Conference Centre, Banff, Alberta. Contact: http://www.aia.ab.ca

--Food Safety World Conference & Expo, March 8-10, 2006, Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, D.C. Contact: www.foodsafetyworldexpo.com

--"Managing Nutrients and Biomass for a Sustainable Rural Economy," March 8-10, 2006, London Convention Center, London, Ontario, Canada. Contact: http://www.istmm.com/Home.htm

--FamilyFarmed.org EXPO March 10-11, 2006, Historic Chicago Cultural Center, Michigan Avenue and Randolf Street, Chicago, Illinois. Contact: http://www.sustainusa.org/familyfarmed/2006-expo.html

--2006 American Forage and Grassland Conference, March 10-14, 2006, Westin Riverwalk, San Antonio, Texas. Contact: http://www.afgc.org/

--''Animal Welfare, Antibiotics and Activism: Leadership, Action and Solutions to Challenging Issues,” Fifth Annual Animal Welfare Summit by Animal Agriculture Alliance, March 20 - 22, 2006, Arlington, Virginia. Contact: http://www.animalagalliance.org 

--American Society of Animal Science Midwestern Section Meeting, March 20-22, 2006, Des Moines, Iowa. Contact: http://www.asas.org/midwestern/

-- Virginia Women in Agriculture Conference, March 21, 2006, Stonewall Jackson Hotel and Conference Center, Staunton, Virginia. Contact: http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/story.php?relyear=2006&itemno=20

--World Championship Cheese Contest, March 21-23, 2006, Monona Terrace and Convention Center, Madison, Wisconsin. Contact: Judy Keller, 608-828-4550 or email office@wischeesemakersassn.org

--III PanAmerican Congress on Mastitis Control and Milk Quality, March 27-30, 2006, Fiesta Americana Hotel, Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico. Contact: http://www.panamcongress.com/

--Dairy 101: IDFA's Milk Procurement Workshop, March 28-29, 2006, Westin O’Hare, Rosemont, Illinois. Contact: www.idfa.org or 202-220-3557

American dairy farmers aren’t the only ones feeling pressure from federal and local governments. Their counterparts in New Zealand also are facing increased scrutiny of the environmental issues surrounding farming.

Morgan Williams, New Zealand Parliament’s Commissioner for the Environment, has urged farmers to redesign their waste systems. He said water quality is being damaged by the expanding use of nitrogen fertilizer, larger herd numbers, and greater use of irrigation.

Source: New Zealand Herald/ New Zealand Press Association, Feb. 22, 2006
Source URL: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10369553