Statistics show that more than two-thirds of the dairies in the Southeast have closed since 1995. Six universities are aiming to find out why, and to try to find a way to reverse the decline. The USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture is funding the $3 million effort.
Steve Oliver, assistant dean of University of Tennessee AgResearch and a professor of animal science, will lead the project. He explained the study will focus on improving herd health and milk quality and quantity by lowering the incidence of mastitis, according to an article onKyForward.com.“The Southeastern dairy industry is in serious trouble,” Oliver said. “Although the nation is experiencing a surge in milk and dairy demand, the Southeast has experienced a greater than 37 percent decline in total milk production. Milk quality is also consistently the poorest of all the regions of the U.S.”
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture will serve as the study’s lead institution, and regional participants include the University of Kentucky, the University of Florida, the University of Georgia, Mississippi State University and Virginia Tech.
Researchers plan to reach out to challenged and underperforming dairies to enhance regional milk production and improve overall milk quality.
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—From an article by Aimee Nielson on KyForward.com
