Santiago A. Utsumi, PhD
Innovations for Sustainable
Farming & Ranching
Inspired by Nature, Driven by Science
Thank you Dairy Australia and Ellinbank Dairy research Station, VIC for the invitation. Very productive days!. To read the entire article from the Stock Journal go to the following link https://www.stockjournal.com.au/story/6233950/technology-on-hand-to-make-better-choices/
SUSTAINABILITY OF PASTURE-BASED DAIRY SYSTEMS
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Ingham partner with a network of leading ruminant nutritionists around the world. We caught up with Santiago Utsumi on his visit to New Zealand.
In recent years, Santiago has conducted applied research on agricultural ecology and the sustainability of pastoral farms. Currently, his focus is on the production efficiency and of grazing-based dairy operations in Southwestern Michigan, USA.
The folks from Ingham have had the good fortune to spend time with Santiago at the Michigan State University's Kellogg Biological Station, where he runs his grazing trials that include comparisons between US Holstein Friesians and NZ Friesians. In March of this year he finally had the opportunity to join us on farm with Klass and Lisa Groen in the Waikato to see NZ Friesians in their natural environment.
In relation to pastoral farming, Santiago was able to highlight how important cow nutrition is in getting the cow’s metabolic state into a position that drives efficient milk production. He also noted that among high producing cows (over 30kg of milk) there are individuals with superior metabolic efficiency that can produce the same or more milk with less grazing effort and intake. Compared to an average pasture intake in a herd (16kg) this can represent a saving of 2kg per cow for the same same or even better milk yield. Notice that this can represent a 17% decrease in requirements or even better, a 17% increase in stocking rates (without sacrificing yield), if superior cows are used.
Santiago also discussed the key role of supplements in grazing diets. A partial mixed ration (PMR) and properly formulated concentrates can aid the metabolic status of the grazing cow while helping farmers to keep control on stocking rates, utilisation of pasture, and grass intake. Importantly, his research also demonstrates that a well planned, targeted supplementation programme can drive improvements of production through better conversion of grass into milk.
The bottomline is that pasture-based dairy systems can further succeed when focusing on both per hectare and per cow production, and instead of forcing an unnecessary competition between the two.
For in-depth findings from Santiago’s research, please see the article.
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Many Thanks to Pip and Sonya for making this visit possible!
Dairy Australia, Dairy SA. Thank you for the invitation. Truly honored to be your 2019 guest Keynote speaker. Big thank you to Kylie Boston and her entire team, Dairy Australia chair David Nation, and the DairySA board.
What a great opportunity I had to see first-hand the great dairy program of CSU on regenerative agriculture and resilient systems. CSU is really working ahead to address many big challenges agriculture is facing. I can't imagine better ways to nurture the next generation of professionals that will carry that torch into the future. Thank you Dr. Cythia Daley, Founder and Director of the center, for the invitation to participate in the open day event https://www.csuchico.edu/regenerativeagriculture/blog/soil-lab-farm-tour.shtml
Here is a wonderful article written by my friend, colleague and former lab member Dr. Juan Insua. The article describes his excellent work and contributions on pasture monitoring systems, including use of drones. Well done Juan! https://www.todoalfalfa.com.ar/nuevas-tecnologias-para-el-monitoreo-de-pasturas/
Video courtesy of "el campo, la industria verde": Ana Fernandez Moujan and Ing. Hector Huergo. Note: CC and subtitle auto-translation to English and other languages is enabled by inspection and change of video settings.
What a wonderful experience has been to attend "The First Latin American Congress on Robotic Milking" organized by the world leader in dairy robotics, DeLaval. This was a great opportunity to learn first hand from outstanding DeLaval Leaders, VMS experts, renowned nutritionists, vets and professionals, and world industry leaders including Fair Oaks founder Mike McCloskey (left) and senior administration staff of the Heller's family dairy farm "Ancali", Miguel Aparicio and Odriom Escobar. Today, world largest robotic dairy with over 72 robots in operation.
Big thanks to Delaval VP Ezequiel Cabona and regional chair Marcelo Catala, and the DeLaval staff for this invitation. Wonderful future unfolds for DeLaval's VMS robotics! Kudos.
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https://www.clarin.com/rural/lado-cordillera-aparecio-tambo-futuro_0_YmABpxOVF.html
Precision Dairy, A Real Paradigm Shift
Last December, 2018 I was invited to speak and share experiences on robotics with an impressive audience of top dairy producers from the Villa Maria, Cordoba region, in Argentina. The turn out of the meeting and exchange of ideas was incremental and I had the unique opportunity to hear directly about several interesting projects already on folder showing impressive applications for robotics. The thermometer, both for the meeting and interest for adoption of VMS robotics was quite high! A great future for VMS unfolds in Villa Maria. Thank you senior DeLaval staff Marcelo Catala and Marcelo Balda for the invitation
Here the wonderful article written by Jose Lachetta, a real dairy journalist expert.
Outstanding Symposium on Dairy Nutrition and Technology Innovations, organized by "La Serenisima", Mastellone Hnos. Thank you Flavio Mastellone (below), Programa Mas Leche, and GEA for sponsoring and for the invitation. I really enjoyed and learned tons! A true retreat "to rethink opportunities for passionate dairy farmers with innovative ideas and bold attitude to make them happen".
One of the greatest career rewards has been to go one on one on the latest of Robotic Milking with World Progressive Dairy Farmers at the 2012 World Dairy Expo, Madison. WDE is "The" place to spot latest innovations for the industry, such as the DeLaval first AMR robot (below), check on World Elite show cows and genetics, and appreciate first hand the true passion for dairy by those that attend and follow the many seminars and cow exhibits taking place in the 'colored shavings' arena. Thank you Laura Paine, Wisconsin Dept. of Ag and UW Extension for extending this invite!
No better place than World Dairy Expo (WDE) 2011 to discuss with US Universities, Agencies and USDA- ARS scientists on the past, present and future landscape for US dairy research, The place in the World to spot on latest news and innovations for the industry and see first hand world elite show cows and genetics, Thank you Wisconsin Dept. of Ag and WDE for this invitation.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! A different Holidays season kickoff at the MSU Robotic Dairy Farm. We have had the nice opportunity to tour our robotic dairy and research facility with FOX 17 News. It is always a joyful and delightful opportunity to share our research with the community. That's in our DNA. At MSU, we strive to make dairy farming economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable, together with our community.
Thank you FOX 17 Morning News, Grand Rapids for visiting
Nice sequel of interviews by MercadoVision of the Argentinean TV Channel Canal Rural. Thank you to the Argentine's Holstein Breeders Association and Guarino Producciones for this invitation. It was wonderful to have a relaxed talk with Silvio Baiocco about US research and consulting experiences leading currently into recent developments for the Why's, How's and What's for robotic milking and digital dairy technologies.
It is quite evident that as farmers continue to be under the pressure to remain profitable they depend on technology advancements to hunt and capture new scales of milk production efficiencies.
Bottom line:
1) Efficient dairy farming depends increasingly, on providing "Genetically and Genomically" Elite Cows nested hierarchies of dietary and environmental comforts, so each cow in the herd has sufficient ability to meet her unique array of requirements, being these nutritional, physiological, metabolic, behavioral or social.
2) Farmers are increasingly reliant on digital dairy technologies to capture profitable production. This involves: a) data capture and analytics, b) information and KPIs monitoring, c) modeling assessment and decision making, and, e) careful planning of actions and proper procedure execution.
Advancing Science and Knowledge on Agriculture
