Sustainability in practice: “Most importantly, sustainability means being able to stay in business and pass the farm to the next generation. If that doesn’t happen, the most environmentally progressive practices are worthless” -John Fiscalini, Fiscalini Farms, USA

We asked milk producers around the world how they look at sustainability. What are their driving forces? What solutions or practices can they recommend? As you will see some have found new ways of adding value to their business, and new technology is continuously being developed and used on dairy farms. Read interviews with milk producers from the US, Netherlands, Turkey and Denmark>>

Sustainability articles and reports:
Read news articles and reports from the US, the EU, NZ and India>>

Sustainability web sites:
Links to web sites dedicated to Sustainability>>

La version de milkproduction.com para el mundo hispanoparlante. La página web para estar al día de todos los aspectos relacionados con la producción de leche y conocer de primera mano las experiencias reales de productores de leche en todas las partes del mundo. http://www.producciondeleche.com/

Reproduction and genetics:
Sexed semen economics - Albert de Vries
Sexed semen: Is it finally a reality? - David Thorbahn
Direct comparison of natural service vs. timed AI: reproductive efficiency and economics - A de Vries, C Risco, F Lima, M–J Thatcher, W W. Thatcher

Dairy Goat Management:
The 'Best management practices for dairy goat farmers' by Clara Hedrich contains basic knowledge to help those who are considering a dairy goat operation make a sound decision as to whether or not this would be a viable business for them. Download here>>

Tropical diseases:
Climate change and Rift Valley Fever - Has global warming increased the risk of an outbreak? by C M E McCrindle

At Dina farms in Egypt they currently milk 4500 cows, but their target is to milk 8000 cows in 2009 and 10 000 cows in 2011. The long term goal is to have a total of 30 000 cows in several different locations in Egypt . Read more about Dina farms in Egypt>>

The Automatic Milking System allows Jeroen van Wijk, a fourth generation farmer in the Netherlands, to spend more time with the animals, for checking them, and for cleaning. The robot gives more flexibility. Although he initially wanted to purchase a rotary milking system, Jeroen is very pleased he decided to go with the robot, which he now heartily recommends. Read about the van Wijk family's farm>>

The presentation of the Hammoudeh farm in Jordan has been updated>>