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NOVUS experts will provide insights into the biological and economic impacts of milk fat depression. (Image source: NOVUS)

Event News

To support the dairy industry with the widespread challenge of milk fat depression, NOVUS is hosting a webinar series on milk fat depression awareness

The two-part educational initiative focuses on identifying this challenge and the causes behind it, along with providing actionable solutions to improve milk fat production and farm profitability. NOVUS experts will provide insights into the biological and economic impacts of milk fat depression, helping webinar participants to gain practical knowledge on identifying the issue in individual cows and herds, along with strategies to mitigate its effects.

“Milk fat depression is a multi-faceted challenge that significantly impacts dairy operations, particularly where farming conditions play a role,” said NOVUS expert, Edwin Westreicher. “Our goal with this webinar series is to empower producers and nutritionists with science-backed strategies to recognise and address this challenge effectively, helping them maximise both productivity and profitability.”

Another expert, Hannah Tucker highlighted that milk fat depression not only impacts profits, but can also disrupt the sustainability goals of modern dairy farms. “By offering actionable insights and reliable solutions, we aim to support producers in overcoming these challenges and achieving long-term success,” said Tucker.

The first two webinars titled: ‘Milk Fat Depression: What It Is and Why It Matters’ and ‘Is Milk Fat Depression Impacting Your Profits?’ are scheduled to take place on 13 March and 24 April 2025 respectively. 

To register for these free-to-attend webinars, visit: https://novusint.co/MilkFat

Users can also conveniently track out-of-feed events over time and compare across farms. (Image source: BinSentry)

Livestock

Leading ag-tech company, BinSentry recently announced Critical Event Management (CEM) – a new software add-on to their leading feed inventory management platform

Bin slide management is critical in maintaining the health and performance of swine and poultry. This is because 80% of out-of-feed outage hours are caused by errors in bin slide management that often go undetected and untracted. These can have a direct impact on livestock health and performance. Although out-of-feed events can happen anytime, timely action is what matters. 

BinSentry provides visibility into what is happening inside these bins, with its new add-on CEM feature allowing producers and mill operators to see and manage slide management issues at any time, from anywhere. Using AI, BinSentry enhances process control, prevents waste, lowers transportation costs, protects workers, and improves animal health and performance. In addition to real-time alerts via SMS text, CEM tracks event time, duration and whether employees have responded to the event.

Users can also conveniently track out-of-feed events over time and compare across farms. This allows producers to make data-based decisions about feed management throughout their operations that help improve feed conversion ratios (FCR) by up to 10 basis points, avoids emergency food deliveries and ensures that their animals reach the market on time and in prime condition. 

“Animal feed represents about two-thirds of the total cost of food production, so obviously anything we can do to improve FCR is going to help producers,” stated BinSentry CEO, Ben Allen. “Improving feed management also helps feed mills and distributors become more efficient and profitable, lowering their costs by delivering the right feed mixes at the right time while putting fewer trucks and fuller trucks on the road.”

The President's visit to Nigeria aligns with his efforts to mobilise expertise, innovation, and resources to build a sustainable food system in Sierra Leone. (Image source: State House Sierra Leone)

Agriculture

Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio delivered a keynote address at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria

President Bio addressed hundreds of representatives from across Africa gathered to discuss food security and agricultural development, highlighting it as a systematic challenge that is not just about agricultural production but is intrinsically linked to economic growth, health, climate resilience, and national stability. He described it as a complexity that requires coordinated action across multiple sectors along with strong political will at the highest levels to achieve lasting solutions.

President Bio shared insights into his flagship initiative, the Feed Salone Initiative, which aims to revolutionise agriculture in Sierra Leone. Governor of Oyo State, Oluwaseyi Makinde, also commended President Bio for his strong leadership and political will in championing agricultural transformation through this initiative. 

“I firmly believe that research, innovation, and technology are the forces we must harness to drive Africa forward,” President Bio stated, underscoring the need for transformative approaches to agricultural development. He called for stronger partnerships, strategic investments, and the rapid adoption of innovative solutions, noting that these are crucial not only for securing the success of individual nations but also for advancing the entire continent.

The President's visit to Nigeria aligns with his efforts to mobilise expertise, innovation, and resources to build a sustainable food system in Sierra Leone. He reiterated his administration’s commitment to fostering an environment where research drives solutions, technology fosters progress, and investment creates genuine opportunities for farmers and agribusinesses. Moreover, he also urged stakeholders to embrace research-driven strategies and robust partnerships to create sustainable food security solutions for the continent.

Director-General of the IITA, Dr Simeon Ehui, also expressed his appreciation for President Bio's visit, emphasising that the strategy provides valuable lessons for the wider African continent. "The theme of this programme, ‘The Power of Improved Technology and Public-Private Partnerships to Accelerate the Feed Salone Strategy’, aligns perfectly with our mission,” he noted. 

President Bio and his delegation were also taken on a guided field tour, where they gained firsthand knowledge of ongoing agricultural research and technological advancements in Nigeria and the pioneering work being carried out by the IITA in Ibadan over the past five decades.

 

 

Through AGRIMAX SPARGO SB, BKT aims to offer farmers an advanced solution that addresses the specific challenges of row crops and spraying operations. (Image source: BKT)

Machinery & Equipment

To meet the needs of farmers and professionals managing vineyards and orchards characterised by steep terrain and narrow spacing, BKT has come up with the AGRIMAX SPARGO SB, an extended version of the AGRIMAX SPARGO 

This tire combines the advantages of radial agricultural tires, namely lower fuel consumption, comfort, and handling with a wider footprint and excellent traction. The AGRIMAX SPARGO features VF technology and was designed to ensure a constant load by reducing inflation pressure compared to a standard tire. The new version complements this product range for open field spraying, row crops, orchards and vineyards. 

The new steel-belted pattern distinguishes itself by an increased tread depth and more slender lugs, resulting in an overall more open and taller tread pattern. This configuration provides excellent handling on the road and a D-class speed rating enabling speeds of up to 65 kmph. A strategic advantage for modern farmers who need to move quickly between fields and supply points, optimising time and increasing operational efficiency

One of its distinctive features is the dual-layer mud ejection system, designed to effectively remove debris from the tread and ensure a quick transition from field to road without accumulating dirt. With safety and comfort remaining top priorities, the tire provides a smooth and stable ride, reducing operator fatigue and ensuring a predictable response in all conditions. This new tire also features a specially designed sidewall design to reduce vibration, which improves the comfort during precision spraying operations, where operator comfort and precision are indeed paramount.

"In the case of the AGRIMAX SPARGO SB, we have paid special attention to the casing design by using a strong polyester structure that offers greater strength, flexibility and durability than traditional materials," said senior president & director Technology at BKT, Dilip Vaidya. "This choice enables the tire to handle heavy loads while keeping deformation under control, improving the footprint and thus traction, stability, and handling."

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