Dairy Farmers of America Inc. said yesterday that the Kansas City-based milk marketing cooperative reported about $8.9 billion in revenue last year, a rise of $400,000 from the previous year.

While revenue may have gone up, net earnings plunged to $10.2 million from $65.1 million in 2004—a whopping 84 percent drop.

Source: Kansas City Star/ Randolph Heaster, March 22, 2006
Source URL: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/business/14154720.htm

Researchers at Texas A&M University have successfully "knocked down" the expression of possible disease-causing genes in a cloned goat fetus, perhaps paving the way for breeding disease resistance in other animals, even those genes that might cause bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as Mad Cow Disease.

The researchers successfully utilized genetic engineering to produce a goat cell line in which the gene encoding for prion protein (PrP) was targeted for silencing by a process known as RNA interference.

Source: Eurek!Alert/ Texas A&M University/ News Release, March 22, 2006
Source URL: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-03/tau-sce032206.php

A Minnesota lawmaker is trying to help state milk producers keep up with their counterparts from Wisconsin.

Rep. Andy Welti, a Democrat from Plainview, is proposing a study and report be done on a public-private partnership to start a revolving loan fund for the purchase of dairy cows. Producers would be allowed to access the fund for up to $500 per cow for up to 100 cows.

Source: Agri News/ Janet Kubat Willette, March 21, 2006
Source URL: http://webstar.agrinews.com/agrinews/275596855048922.bsp

A smoldering five-year debate in the organic community had gasoline thrown on it when one of the country's preeminent organic watchdogs released a report this week alleging a handful of leading marketers are shortchanging organic consumers.

The report and scorecard, rating 68 different organic dairy name-brands and private-labels, was produced by The Cornucopia Institute, a Wisconsin-based farm policy research group. It profiles the growth and commercialization of organic dairying and looks at the handful of firms that now seem intent upon taking over the organic dairy industry by producing all or some of their milk on 2000- to 6000-cow industrial-style confinement dairies.

Source: PRWeb/ Cornucopia Institute/ News Release, March 22, 2006
Source URL: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/3/prweb361925.htm

Organic foods are going to colleges and universities in a trend that could reshape all convenience stores.

The University of Colorado at Boulder in January opened Piazanos, a grab-and-go café featuring organic and natural foods such as pizza, pasta and sandwiches.

Vanderbilt University will open Nectar, a convenience store dedicated to organic, natural and healthy products contained within its approximate 900 square feet in late August.

Source: CSP Daily News/ Bill Donahue, March 22, 2006
Source URL: http://www.cspnet.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?
sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%
3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791
&tier=4&id=26A2B02EC7A94E4483E5FB820E541B0A

Frozen food stocks in refrigerated warehouses on February 28, 2006 were greater than year earlier levels for butter, chicken, cheese, and eggs.

Butter stocks were up 38 percent from last month and up 37 percent from a year ago.

Source: USDA/ NASS, March 22, 2006
Source URL: http://www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/cost0306.txt

Pregnancy rates were compared in lactating dairy cows (n = 1083) assigned to protocols for resynchronization of ovulation based on stages of the estrous cycle, or presence of ovarian cysts or anestrus.

Assignment to resynchronization protocols based on the stages of the estrous cycle, or presence of ovarian cysts improved pregnancy rates.

Source: Resynchronization of ovulation and timed insemination in lactating dairy cows, II: assigning protocols according to stages of the estrous cycle, or presence of ovarian cysts or anestrus. Theriogenology 63 (6): 1628-1642, 2005. Bartolome, J.A.; Sozzi, A.; McHale, J.; Melendez, P.; et al.

As herd sizes increase, preparing milk replacer and feeding a bunch of hungry calves can take up substantial time. The chore becomes even more onerous if your herd size grows to the point where you always have a group of heifers on a liquid diet.

Conventional wisdom suggests raising young calves separately from each other-ideally housed outside in a hutch and fed from individual pails. Some dairy farmers take a different direction. They house calves in a group pen and feed them through an automatic system.

Source: Government of Ontario/ Mario Mongeon, Feb. 8, 2006
Source URL: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/dairy/facts/labour.htm

New rules to help reduce the risk of spreading bovine TB through movements of cattle will be introduced in England on 27 March.

From Monday, cattle aged over 15 months of age moving out of a 1 –2 yearly tested herd, must have tested negative to a TB test within 60 days prior to movement unless the herd or movement meets any of the exemptions.

Source: DEFRA, March 22, 2006
Source URL: http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2006/060322b.htm

A United Kingdom dairy processor has been fined after authorities discovered signs of a heavy mouse infestation at a distribution depot and store.

Dairy Crest received a ₤17,000 fine ($29,679 US) when mouse droppings and gnawed-on cheese and milk were discovered by inspectors at the facilities in Fenstanton. In addition, carrier bags with customers’ groceries in them had been placed in cages at higher levels to help keep mice from getting at them. A consumer complained to authorities after finding mouse droppings on the side of a milk bottle that had been delivered.

Source: Food and Drink Europe/ Chris Mercer, March 22, 2006
Source URL: http://www.foodanddrinkeurope.com/news/ng.asp?
n=66575&m=1FDE322&c=kiliywpuldsefex