Babcock in the news November 2009
The Babcock Institute supports research by CALS Animal Science professor John Parrish. Recently covered in grow Wisconsin's Magazine for the Life Sciences, Parrish established a collaboration with National Bull Stud (Bangladesh's federal artificial insemination institution) to investigate a specific question in the fertility of bulls. Read more about it here.
World Dairy Expo International Dairy Short Course, September 2009
The 12th annual World Dairy Expo International Dairy Short Course was held in conjunction with the World Dairy Expo in Madison. This year's event included lectures, farm visits, and workshops attended by participants from over ten countries.
Wisconsin Trade Mission, September 2009
Babcock Institute Director Karen Nielsen accompanied Wisconsin Governor James Doyle and UW System President on a trade mission to China. Mission participants also included representatives of the Wisconsin DATCP and Department of Commerce.
Honduran Dairy Artisan Internship, July 2009
Through the efforts of Partners for Global Dairy Development, two Honduran dairy artisans spent a month in southern Wisconsin interning with local dairy artisans. The interns, Daniel Alexander Matute Berrios and Otho Francisco Tercero Maldonado presented a summary of their internship and received certificates from Molly Jahn, Dean of the UW College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
Sino-US Dairy Research Center Seminar, May 2009
Babcock Institute Associate Director Karen Nielsen accompanied Simon Peek, and Thomas Leitzke to the 6th Sino-US Dairy Research Center Seminar held this year in Hang Zhou, China
Dairy Training Program for German Dairy Farmers, May 2009
Organized by Dave Wieckert and led by Gus Wilke and Jutta Berger, this group participated in five days of programming. Speakers included UW Madison and UW Extension faculty in addition to area dairy farmers and industry representatives. The group spent time in Madison and Appleton during the week.
International Dairy Notes, February 2009
The February 2009 issue of the Babcock Institute's International Dairy Notes newsletter is now available. This issue by Edward Jesse touches on the effect of the global economic crisis and other events on the health of U.S. dairy exports.
Babcock Sponsored Visit to Honduran Dairy Industry Sites, January 2009
In January 2009, Norm Monsen from WI DATCP and Dr. Bob Wills, Master Cheese Maker from Cedar Grove Cheese, visited Honduras for one week to evaluate the dairy industry there. They met with government leaders, local dairy industry leaders, and Honduran participants from the Babcock Institute / World Dairy Expo International Dairy Short Course 2008. The evaluation of the Honduran dairy industry was published in the paper written by Dr. Wills, and a 2-month internship program was developed for young Honduran cheese makers in Wisconsin based on the findings in this paper.
Babcock Funded Research, in Hoard's Dairyman January 2009
A 2007 Babcock Institute sub-grant to Mark Powell and Cameron Gourley for the study "Rapid Assessment of Nutrient Use - Efficiencies and Environmental Performance of Dairy Farms in Wisconsin USA and Victoria Australia" has resulted in the publication of a piece in the January 25, 2009 issues of Hoard's Dairyman.
Discussion Paper 2008-3: The Dairy Sector of Brazil: A Country Study
William Dobson, Edward Jesse, Ronaldo Braga Reis, 2008
Brazil is a major dairy country that has moved from being a significant importer to a net exporter of dairy products. International dairy analysts have identified Brazil as a country that could become an even larger dairy exporter in the relatively near future. This study takes a closer look at Brazil's dairy industry in light of recent developments, with an eye to assessing its growth prospects and the implications of developments for the U.S. and global dairy industries.
2008 World Dairy Expo Short Course: September 29 to October 1
The Babcock Institute hosted 53 visitors from 14 different countries during the 11th annual World Dairy Expo Short Course. Activities during the Expo included a three-day short course, involving talks on the dairy industry, hands on workshops regarding embyo transfer and milk quality testing, and visits to local dairy farms. During visits to Larson Acres and Spring Grove Dairy participants saw first-hand how the Wisconsin dairy industry operates. Talks by University of Wisconsin faculty at the World Dairy Expo course were presented in both English and Spanish.
2008 Sino-US Dairy Seminar deemed a tremendous success
The most recent Sino-US Dairy Center seminar that took place on June 6-7, 2008 in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China was again a tremendous success. Attendance was expected to be around 100-150 participants, but organizers were surprised and pleased with a turnout of nearly 300.
This is the fifth official seminar held through the partnership of the Babcock Institute and China Agricultural University. Topics included the role of dairy cooperatives and Cooperative Extension in the US dairy industry, and current developments in the US dairy industry. Dairy nutritionist, and partner in the Sino-US Dairy Center, Professor Li Shengli also introduced plans for modernizing China’s dairy industry included in the government’s next five-year plan.
Mexican Sheep Farmers Enjoy Educational Five-Day Stay in Wisconsin (April 13-19)
This past April, nine sheep farmers from Mexico visited the Babcock Institute to learn new information about the sheep farming business. They were in Wisconsin for a five-day trip beginning in Madison where they learned about UW-Madison and the Babcock Institute, toured the campus and State Street, and heard from educated speakers about the dairy sheep industry, genetics and breeding and processing sheep’s milk. The second day they traveled to Cedar Grove Cheese in Plain, Wisconsin for a tour of the processing and waste water facilities, and then to Hidden Springs Farm and Creamery in Westby, Wisconsin for a tour of the plant. The third and fourth days were spent in Spooner, Wisconsin where the farmers listened to educational lectures and toured the facility at UW-Spooner Ag Research Station. At the end of the fourth day, the farmers returned to Madison, stopping at the Larry and Emily Meisegeier Farm near Bruce, Wisconsin. Once in Madison on the fifth day, the farmers once again listened to educational lectures involving dairy sheep mastitis, quality issues, housing and parlor design, and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture. The rest of the day was spent enjoying Madison before their morning departure the next day.
Overall, the visit was a success. The farmers enjoyed the tour of Wisconsin and took back valuable information about sheep farming. We hope that this will not be their last visit to Wisconsin.
