Belmopan, 22nd October 2003

QUALITY MILK BEGINS AT THE FARM

Milk quality - i.e, clean safe milk that is free from bacterial contamination and pesticide and drug residues - and human health issues are big concerns in the dairying industry worldwide. BAHA and Belizean dairy farmers are just as concerned.

Dr. Ann Godkin, dairy specialist for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food in Canada, is presently in Belize to train personnel from the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) on dairy herd health.

The objective of the training is to identify 4 dairy farms in Spanish Lookout where standard operating procedures for milk production can be developed. These farms will be encouraged to implement proper milking procedures, high standards of hygiene and milk cooling as is done elsewhere in the world. The experiences and achievements gained at these farms would then be available for transfer to other Belizean farmers.

Over the course of two weeks, Dr. Godkin will deliver a 3 hour lecture on herd health and mastitis to dairy farmers on Thursday, 23rd October 2003, set aside a specific day to visit dairy farms upon the request of farmers, as well as conduct a two-day dairy workshop on the 29th and 30th October at Central Farm for BAHA's animal health and food safety staff. The workshop will cover herd health, on-farm food safety, mastitis and lameness. At the end of her consultancy, Dr. Godkin will discuss with key people in the industry and government the current status of dairying in the world and the measures Belize needs to take to become competitive.

Part of BAHA's mandate is to plan and organize programmes in animal health and to develop and promote private sector participation in the execution of these programmes. Dairy farmers, while cooperating with BAHA during the testing of their dairy herds for freedom from tuberculosis and brucellosis, voiced their need for assistance in herd health and on-farm food safety. Dr. Godkin's consultancy is just one more way that BAHA is listening to and meeting the needs of farmers.

For more information on Animal Health programmes please contact Dr. Victor Gongora at 011-501-824-4899, 011-501-824-4872 or by email at baha@btl.net

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