Indian veterinarians tour region

DAIRY TOUR: Four veterinarians from India have toured dairy farms across the South East this week to learn innovative techniques to boost milk production.

FOUR veterinarians from India have toured dairy farms across the South East this week to learn innovative techniques to boost milk production and improve animal welfare.

The training partnership between Parag Milk Foods – which owns India’s largest private dairy farm – and TAFE SA has culminated in a two-week tour of the region and will equip the four veterinarians with the skills necessary to train dairy farmers in India.

TAFE SA staff visited Parag Milk Foods and the Bhagyalakshmi Dairy Farm in 2016 ahead of the latest initiative.

Representatives attended the Global Rajasthan Agricultural Meet – at the invitation of the Rajasthan Government – to better understand the challenges facing the agricultural and dairy sectors of Manchar and Rajasthan.

“These four vets will receive a mix of classroom and hands-on training to learn competency-based delivery techniques for nutrition, housing and calf rearing,” TAFE SA dairy and agriculture lecturer Mark Thompson explained.

“They will receive certification and will use what they learn here to train dairy farmers at Bhagayalakshmi back in India.

“They want to build on the knowledge they have as vets to help farmers improve the health and welfare of their cows and improve milk production.”

The group studied production at a dairy farm in Kongorong on Monday, where manager Don Stolp explained methods to treat and prevent milk fever.

“Milk fever is a big problem in the South East because of the limestone in the soil – there is too much calcium,” Mr Stolp said.

“We transition feed before calving and use magnesium supplements – we have only had two cows with milk fever this week, which we are pretty happy with.”

Mr Thompson highlighted the features of the farm, including its abundant pasture and Mr Stolp’s investment in the farm’s equity.

“The entire farm was regrassed about four years ago and this is an example of a great pasture,” Mr Thompson said.

“Don and his wife Jen do not own the land, but they have invested in the herd – they are part owners of the cows and eventually they will increase their ownership.

“It is an incentive for them to look after the cows and ensure they are healthy.”

Parag Milk Foods chair Devendra Shah said the training partnership would help the company improve productivity by better educating farmers on best practice for breeding, feeding, animal husbandry and management.

HANDS-ON: TAFE SA lecturer Mark Thompson trains four visiting veterinarians from India on-site at a dairy farm in Kongorong.