Proactive care helps to improve longevity of cows

Glenneis Kriel reports on the recent South African Cow Longevity Conference, where it was said that food security was the major concern at the moment.

- Glenneis Kriel

Chemuniqué recently hosted the 2024 South African Cow Longevity Conference near Klipheuwel in the Western Cape, with the theme 'Maintenance is cheaper than breakages'.

The conference focused on sharing research and innovation that would help producers improve the longevity and, in effect, efficiency and profitability of their dairy herds.

Terry Wiggil, managing director of Chemuniqué, said climate change was being made out to be one of the biggest problems facing humankind, with cows being vilified and made out to be part of the problem. But the only crisis the world was heading into was a food crisis: "Dairy production is part of the solution, as we produce nutrient-dense foods that will help to address the food crisis. But we will need a lot of innovation and technology to continuously produce enough food for the growing populations and to do so cost-effectively."