New plant first step in a long journey - ofi
The Singaporean conglomerate behind New Zealand’s newest milk processing plant says this is the first step in a long journey.
The company, which is building a new milk processing plant in Tokoroa and recruiting farmer suppliers, claims almond animal feed has the potential to help reduce both methane emissions and input costs on farm.
Ofi, part of the Olam Group, operates largescale almond orchards in Australia. The trial will see the almond hulls and shells that are currently a by-product of almond processing repurposed into a nutritious feed source for dairy cows in New Zealand.
“Almond hulls are a proven source of nutrition for dairy cows,” says Paul Johnson, general manager milk supply for ofi New Zealand.
“As part of our research for the trial we met with Australian dairy farmers successfully using almond hulls as a source of fibre in a pasture-based system.
“That gives us confidence the model will work well here.”
The feed will be supplemented with Agolin Ruminant (Agolin) which has the potential benefit of reducing methane emissions and increasing the feed conversion rate, which in turn will support milk yields.
Johnson says the trial period will explore ways to efficiently and effectively package and transport the feed, and assess if the feed can be manufactured and used in New Zealand at scale.
“Another part of our assessment will be how to blend this feed source in an optimum way with existing feed used in New Zealand dairy farming blends or supplied in bulk on farm.
“We know animal feed is a significant input cost on a dairy farm and believe this trial will make a real difference to our farmers’ bottom lines,” he said.
Ofi country head for Australia and New Zealand, Duncan Smith, says the trial will also bring benefits to ofi’s Australian operation.
“Finding a consistent way to repurpose almond hulls and shells, which are a nutritious by-product of our almond processing, has been a priority for us as it will contribute to a more efficient and sustainable way of operating on our orchards.”
Ofi has also appointed Sarah Greenwood as a farmer relationship manager. She brings a background in animal feed nutrition and will lead the trial in the coming months. Access to the trial is open only to ofi dairy farm partners in New Zealand, the company says.
