Illinois dairy producers are being asked to sign affidavits indicating they have stopped their use of rbST (recombinant bovine somatotrophin). The justification for this movement by dairy processors and retailers is that "consumers are demanding it". This initiative sets a dangerous precedent for U.S. and global agriculture. Scientific data indicate that milk from cows given rbST is a safe and effective management tool that can be used to benefit both the producer and consumer for the following reasons: bST is a protein and is present in milk of all cows, rbST in well-managed herds increases milk yield by 10 pounds, the nutrient composition of milk from cows given rbST is not different, bST is a protein broken into small peptides and amino acids in the digestive tract, rbST is species specific, rbST does not contaminate milk with antibiotics, and rbST has beneficial effects on utilization of resources and on the environment.

It has been approved as safe by the following U.S. and world-wide organizations: American Medical Association, American Dietetic Association, American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation, American Academy of Pediatrics, National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, and European Economic Community.

If dairy managers stop using rbST in 2008, several short and long term impacts can be expected: milk yields in late lactation cows may drop 20 to 30 percent, culling rates will increase, and more cows experience longer dry days and/or gain excessive body weight.

AFACT (American Farmers for the Advancement and Conservation of Technology) is a grassroots movement of producers and industry participants concerned about the future abilities for farmers and producers to choose technologies and practices for their operations.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has asked 16 dairy companies to correct their labels by January 1, 2008, because their claims can not be verified or imply that their product is safer through absence labeling (telling consumers what is not present rather than what is present).

In the last three months, I had the chance to visit three different countries and see part of their dairy industry. It was impressive to see the factors and conditions that drives each country’s dairy industry in Japan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.

Japan is the closer to the North American dairy industry with Holstein cows, imported corn and soybean meal, application of technology, and herd sizes similar to the U.S. Challenges included the static milk prices while feed prices increase, reducing inputs to save money currently, trend to exist the dairy business, and large corporations looking to expand in to dairying (other livestock organizations). Japanese consumers are very aware of food safety and quality. A popular milk contains 4.4% milk fat along with 3.75%, 2%, and low fat milk. Little cheese or butter are offered or consumed.

Egypt remains a small farm survival approach with water buffalo milk common (containing 8 to 9% fat). Farm sizes are small with 4 to 6 milking buffalo or dairy cows for family use and sales locally (source of income managed by females. Milk pooling stations are beginning to form. Milk cows are handled and fed individually and seen as a valuable resource keep in the same building as the family lives. A few large Holstein dairies are being developed with political challenges and concerns.

Saudi Arabia is very futuristic with major financial resources available and encouraged to be invested due to oil revenues. Most labor is foreign. The one farm I worked with had 7000 North American Holstein and adding 2500 more. Alfalfa and corn-soybean based diets are fed with excellent production (over 70 lb of milk a day with day temperatures over 120 degree F). A cultured milk drink is popular in the summer which is a challenging time to produce milk. Cow cooling with commercial water and air movement was developed in Saudi Arabia and results in excellent cow comfort and high quality milk. These large farms are selling milk in the Midwest region. Security is a high priority for farms and visitors.

Dairy is part of all three companies economies, Egypt is critical for family survival and income, Saudi Arabia is a profit center with tremendous potential, and Japan’s industry is challenged and changing.