22 July 2014
Second Fonterra Youtube Series Highlights on-Farm Milk Safety And Quality
Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited has launched the second installment of its Farm Focus YouTube series showcasing responsible dairying initiatives taking place on New Zealand dairy farms.
The latest series focuses on milk safety and quality, and features dairy farmers from Invercargill, Waihi and Waiuku
discussing the importance of sharing knowledge, utilising technology and high standards of animal welfare.
Supply Fonterra Programme Director, Lisa Payne, says the second Farm Focus series shows the passion and dedication dairy farmers have to delivering the top quality milk that goes into Fonterra’s
dairy products.
“Safety and quality start on-farm, and require absolute commitment to maintaining high standards and a fastidious
approach to detail,” she says.
In this series:
• A former Fonterra tanker operator-turned farmer shows how he applied his knowledge of safety and quality
standards gathered from years collecting milk to his farm
• Two husband and wife teams discuss how they combine technology, animal science and training to produce
consistently safe, high quality milk
• Another husband and wife team show how a covered barn helps care for the herd during cold winter months and
calving, and increases milk production
Payne says dairy farming can be complex, requiring a delicate balance of inputs and outputs, and that Fonterra farmers
are some of the best in the world at getting high productivity from their herds while ensuring superior standards of
animal welfare and top quality milk.
“What I want people to take away from watching these videos is the importance of great people, healthy animals and
attention to detail in the production of quality New Zealand milk, and how what happens on-farm underpins the trust
customers and consumers have in Fonterra’s dairy products,” said Ms Payne.
The four Farm Focus videos are now available on Fonterra’s YouTube channel. The videos will also be posted on Fonterra’s Facebook and Twitter pages under the hashtag #farmfocus.
Keep up to date with www.twitter.com/Fonterra and search the #farmfocus for further details.
About the Farmers
Marco & Boogie Dela Concepcion, Invercargill: http://youtu.be/ewqpgUdQn7c
Originally from the Philippines, Marco and Boogie came to New Zealand in 2005. The couple worked their way up as
sharemilkers and equity partners before buying their own farm in 2010. Marco has an animal science degree and knows that
quality starts with taking care of the herd: “Cows are part of the family, they’re part of the business, and just like
everything in the business you take care of them. You provide a stress-free environment and that leads to less animal
health issues and more, higher quality milk.”
Mark & Deborah Hamill, Invercargill: http://youtu.be/b6rC1K0l-rw
Southland farmers Mark and Deborah Hamill embraced technology when they converted their sheep farm to dairy six years
ago. From the moment they started planning for their first conversion, the Hamills had a strong focus on milk quality,
Mark explains: “When we were about to convert, Deborah and I went and looked at many sheds around the countryside.
Farmers were all too keen to show us their new sheds and in the end we decided to go with the best for prevention of
mastitis.”
Tony & Marlene Walters, Waiuku: http://youtu.be/L09iFZ69Di0
Waiuku farmers Tony and Marlene Walters have increased their milk production by 40% since building a covered barn last
year. The couple took their investment seriously, researching options for two years with a view to providing the best
conditions for their animals. Tony explains: “We’re very wet in this area, so we wanted to build a facility to house the
cows over winter-time and to calve safely.”
Roger & Erin Madsen, Waihi: http://youtu.be/gcArQkphj7o
Since taking over the family farm 24 years ago, Roger and Erin Madsen’s milk has consistently passed every standard milk
quality test every season. Roger is a former tanker driver and says collecting milk from thousands of farms helped him
with ideas on how he can consistently supply safe milk. Roger says the key to their milk quality success is having good
systems in place and not getting distracted while milking or washing.
About Fonterra
Fonterra is a global leader in dairy nutrition – the preferred supplier of dairy ingredients to many of the world’s leading food companies. Fonterra is also a market leader with our own consumer dairy brands in Australia/New Zealand, Asia/Africa, Middle East and Latin America.
The farmer-owned New Zealand co-operative is the largest processor of milk in the world, producing more than two million tonnes of dairy
ingredients, value added dairy ingredients, specialty ingredients and consumer products every year. Drawing on generations of dairy expertise, Fonterra is one of the largest investors in dairy based research and innovation in the world. Our more than 16,000 staff work across the dairy spectrum from advising farmers on sustainable farming and milk production, to ensuring we live up
to exacting quality standards and delivering every day on our customer promise in more than 100 markets around the
world.
ENDS