M²-magazine

Rekad Publishing and M-team (University of Ghent) announce M²-magazine, a magazine on mastitis and milk quality for the dairy professional. We have brought together our experience, energy, passion and network to start this international magazine targeted at people involved in milk production as farmers, consultants, veterinarians, ...

M2-magazine is a cooperation between Ghent University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Belgium) and Rekad Publishing (Belgium) and supported by Quality Milk Production Services (Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine, US)

M² Magazine - March 2013

SmartSAMM – a fresh approach to extension in New Zealand
SmartSAMM is the New Zealand dairy industry’s new mastitis extension (advisory) programme, which helps farmers capture the benefits of improved udder health on the farm. SmartSAMM builds on the success of the SAMM Plan (the Seasonal Approach to Managing Mastitis Plan), first released in the early 1990s. The SAMM plan relied on a “one-size-fits-all”, technical approach to mastitis extension. SmartSAMM aims to help farmers develop customised solutions for their herd. The first innovation, “Healthy Udder” was released to farmers in October 2011, followed by the SmartSAMM website in June 2012. Coupled with the launch of proactive management initiatives by Fonterra, the major milk processor, in December 2011, and favourable weather, the average milk SCC for Fonterra dropped by 12%, from 212,000 cells per ml in the 2010/11 season to 187,000 cells per ml for the 2011/12 season.
Towards better milk quality
Jorgen Katholm, DVM, certified cattle practitioner and diplomate of the European College of Bovine Health Management (ECBHM), is a senior advisor at the Danish Cattle Federation, part of Knowledge Center for Agriculture based in Aarhus, Denmark. He has his feet firmly on the ground, working closely with farmers, veterinarians, advisers, scientists at the University in Aarhus and Copenhagen, Denmark, and with mastitis researchers all over the world to bring the latest results directly to the farm. The aim is to achieve on-going improvements in the quality of milk. He describes his work for M2-magazine.