Launch of Countdown Downunder
There has been considerable media coverage of the "Countdown Downunder" program since its launch in December. The comprehensive Farm Guidelines manual is now available and supporting technical information is being written and will be published as a companion book in early 1999. During this year a series of technical up-dates for advisers and farmers will run in all of the dairying regions of Australia with the first sessions being held in Western Victoria after March. The program will been driven by regional teams ensuring that the Countdown Downunder activities are matched to the needs of each locality.
What is Countdown Downunder?
The Countdown Downunder plan consists of a set of recommendations to assist dairy farmers with profitable control of mastitis. The program is targeted at all people who influence the harvesting of milk, primarily the people who milk the cows, but also farm owners, managers and dairy extension officers, veterinarians, and machine technicians.
Clear Farm Guidelines to Control Mastitis
The core of the Countdown Downunder program is a consistent set of "best practice" mastitis control and milk quality guidelines.The guidelines cover each period of the cow's milking year:
- what has to be done;
- why it should be done;
- how to do it;
- how to check that it has been achieved.
Who's behind Countdown Downunder?
Countdown Downunder has been developed by the Australian Mastitis Advisory Council which includes representatives of:- Australian Dairy Farmers' Federation
- Australian Dairy Products Federation
- Australian Milking Machine Trade Association
- Australian Dairy Equipment Council
- Avcare
- Australian Veterinary Association
- National Herd Improvement Association
- Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme
- State Agriculture Departments
- Australian Milk Harvesting Program
- Dairy Research and Development Corporation
The Countdown Downunder: Farm Guidelines for Mastitis Control, are now available from the Timboon Veterinary Group at a cost of $20.
You can also view the guidelines at the Countdown Downunder web site
- Countdown Downunder's timetable for the first twelve months is:
- December 1998 - program launch at the Australian Dairy Industry Conference
- January 1999 - distribution of the Farm Guidelines and Technotes to be published
- February to June 1999 - regional launches and seminars for advisers and farmers
- July to December 1999 - continuing seminars, and adviser and farmer training workshops
- Countdown Downunder has set two goals for 2001:
- at least 90% of Australian dairy farms supplying milk with a cell count of less than 250,000 cells/ml in all milk supply periods;
- 100% of Australian dairy farms supplying milk with a cell count of less than 400,000 cells/ml in all milk supply periods.
Click here to view the rest of the 1999 February newsletter.