Wednesday, 10 July 2024 11:55

100-year-old milk powder

Written by  Milking It

OPINION: A 100-year-old sample of milk powder from Ernest Shackletons’ first solo expedition to Antarctica has been analysed by scientists.

It came from a Fresian cow, and it was either Spring or Autumn was it was milked way back in the early 1900s and was made at a milk plant in Bunnythorpe.

According to Radio NZ, Fonterra Research and Development Centre lead investigator and principal research scientist Dr Skelte Anema told its Nights programme it had been an exciting time for his team.

“It takes a lot to get a scientist excited but once we heard this powder existed, we were absolutely thrilled... it was the fact that it was 100 years old, it was made in New Zealand... it was made only about 20km down the road from where we are in Bunnythorpe.

But how did New Zealand made milk powder end up with Shackelton in the first place?

New Zealand company Glaxo donated about 450kg of milk powder (enough for 3500 litres of milk), some butter and cheese for the expedition.

More like this

Tatua's just too-good

OPINION: Earlier this month, small Waikato milk processor Tatua reminded the country that it’s still number one when it comes to paying farmers for their milk.

China's dairy pain

OPINION: It was only in 2018 that the Chinese Government embarked on a mission to lift domestic milk production and stop billions of dollars from leaving the country and into the hands of exporters like New Zealand.

Sour grapes

OPINION: It seems Greenpeace is upping its long-running but ineffective public campaign against Fonterra.

Too little, too late

OPINION: Economists, in their usual excitable tones, have, for a while now, been openly questioning the Reserve Bank’s glacially slow reaction to the recessionary economic conditions we’re all drowning in.

Sour grapes

OPINION: As a country we should be celebrating Fonterra’s solid annual results announced last week.

Featured

Cultivating successful cow families

Michael and Cherie Berkers’ Holstein Friesian herd exemplifies how breeders can consistently develop successful cow families by seizing opportunities for improvement year after year.

Rare species discovered at stream restoration site

Rare Canterbury mudfish and tadpole shrimp have been discovered at an environmental restoration site at Bennetts Stream in North Canterbury which is part of a biodiversity initiative being carried out by Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL).

National

Love for choc milk still strong

Premium dairy brand Lewis Road Creamery is celebrating a decade since the country went crazy for its iconic fresh chocolate…

An ambition within reach

A couple closing in on their ultimate farming dream is taking the first steps of another farming ambition – to…

'Pasifika milk' makes its debut

While walking through supermarket aisles, young South Auckland entrepreneur Saion Angi decided that there weren’t enough Pacific or Māori products…

Machinery & Products

A formidable duo for tillage

The new Lemken Solitair MR series mounted drills, available in three or four metre working widths, features a 1500-litre tank, which…

When compaction is a good thing

Good silage starts by cutting the crop at the correct growth stage, followed by reducing moisture content, chopping to a consistent…

Quick, accurate access to data

Agri-tech company Precision Farming is linking with John Deere’s Operations Centre guidance technology to automate nutrient and spray record-keeping and…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Tatua's just too-good

OPINION: Earlier this month, small Waikato milk processor Tatua reminded the country that it’s still number one when it comes…

China's dairy pain

OPINION: It was only in 2018 that the Chinese Government embarked on a mission to lift domestic milk production and…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter