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MPO press releases

5 February 2007

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE ARC NATIONAL
MASTER DAIRYMAN COMPETITION

Free State Jersey farmer the best in 2006
Kobus Behrens from Waterbron Jerseys near Ventersburg in the Free State, recently made history by becoming the first National Master Dairyman. He was one of five finalists comprising of the winners of the 2006 Master Dairyman competition in the various provinces.

The other finalists were Dèan Kleynhans from Bredasdorp, Niekie van Rensburg and Sons from George, Peter Durham from Dundee, and the Mallesons from Pretoria’s Hazeldean Farm.

In recent years the Master Dairyman Competition has expanded to include the five dairy-producing regions in the country. It uses the National Milk Recording Scheme as a starting point.

As of this year, the National Master Dairyman was appointed from these provincial winners. This year’s prize included a Semex-sponsored tour to the Quebec Spring Show in Canada. Agri Animal Feeds and the ARC added the necessary pocket money to the prize, bringing the total prize value to R45 000. In addition, DeLaval also sponsored a milking parlour role-brush to the value of R17 000.

In response to the question of what he regards as their farm’s strongest point, Kobus said that their low somatic cell count featured prominently during judging as a sign of healthy managing practices in their dairy. They have been awarded as the farm with the best somatic cell count in the Free State for a number of years.

The main sponsors of the competition are Afgri Animal Feeds, DeLaval, First National Bank, Semex and The Dairy Mail.

Captions
Meester2: Kobus Behrens receives the National Master Dairyman award from Prof Peter Mbati, Group Chief Executive Officer of the ARC Livestock Business Division

For more information, contact Japie van der Westhuizen at 012 672 9069 or 082 331 9923

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