Programme: Co-ordination, Support and Promotion of Needs-driven R & D in the SA Dairy Industry Manager: Heinz Meissner

Goals 1.To accumulate and publish existing domestic and international scientific knowledge of applicable and practical value to enhance the industry. 2.To limit research fragmentation and encourage co-operation between R & D capacities towards achieving the strategic goals of the industry. 3.To guide the R & D programme by means of effective structural arrangements, administration and fund sourcing. 4.To participate as evaluator in the UKZN-WRC study on water and waste water management in the SA dairy industry and to support a MBA student doing an analysis in the Gauteng area on this subject. 5.To report to and from the IDF on Sustainability and the Environment, including the activities of the SCENV and the SA dairy industry’s commitments to the GDAA.

Goal 1: Accumulate and Publish Scientific Material 1.Task (i): Put scientific articles on website – target 50 per month. Output: 153 from Jan to March 2014; since 2008 more than 4000 references. Will soon add Abstracts. 2.Task (ii): Reporting on SA R & D work. New development. Put on website under the Heading: “Dairy R & D in SA”. Output: Five to date. 3.Task (iii): Interpretation of international R & D work with relevance to the SA dairy industry under “The Research Column” – target one per month. Output: 3 from Jan to March 2014; a total of 39 since Put on website and published in “The Dairy Mail”.

Goal 2: Limit Research Fragmentation and Encourage Co-operation 1.Communication with institutions and promote co- operation. Provinces are enthusiastic about goals of Milk SA. MoA was signed with the WCDA and is negotiated with the ECDRA & AR and the KZNDASD. A further advantage is that farmer participation in the R & D Agenda will be implemented. 2. Co-operative Research Networks (CRN’s) are encouraged. The SESCORD initiative is an example with participants the three provinces, Fort Hare, Amadlelo Agri and indirectly the US and UKZN. It is foreseen that prominent dairy farmers will soon come on board.

Goal 3: Effective Structural Arrangements, Administration and Fund Sourcing 1.Chair RPEC Meetings: Had two Meetings between January and March 2014, each preceded by Work Group Meetings where R & D structural and project relevant issues were dealt with. 2.Guidance to Administration and R & D Institutions on R & D: Continuous. New Project Proposal and Progress Report documents were compiled to facilitate evaluation. 3.Submission and Evaluation of Project Proposals: Two Projects have been approved and four are being considered. 4. Fund sourcing: Project Leaders are assisted if required.

Project Status 1.In progress (new contract as from May 2014): National Disease Monitoring and Extension System (V-Net). 2.Approved and R recommended: The Microbiological Quality of Milk with Special Reference to Coliform types and E. coli strains (UP). 3.To be submitted to the RPEC: - The Prevalence and Treatment of Liver Fluke - Resistance to Antibiotics in Cows with Mastitis - The Prevalence of and Reasons for Milk Flocculation - Nitrogen-supplying Crops and Silages for the WC

Goal 4: Water and Waste Water Management 1. Evaluator of UKZN – WRC Project: First Report expected July-August Support MBA student who conducts a similar study in the Gauteng Area: Structured Questionnaires will be sent out to dairy factories in the second half of 2014.

Goal 5: Involvement with the IDF on Sustainability and the Environment 1.Provide SA Water and Carbon Footprint Data: SA data have been published in the SA Journal of Animal Science. A Summary will be provided to the IDF and the FAO. 2.Promote mitigation activities: Dealt with in the SA Journal and regularly in THE RESEARCH COLUMN and other publications. 3. Reports to the IDF, GDAA and the IDF-FAO Alliance: Input was provided to DSF document, “Sustainable Dairy Nutrients are essential to Human Health”, “Water and Food Security” and documents of the Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance Partnership.