Online Advice Can Improve Milk Quality

One of New Zealand’s leading milk quality experts says the Internet is capable of improving the health of dairy herds, and raising milk quality.

QCONZ Business Manager Murray Pedley, whose advice is available online via rural portal RD1.COM, says improvements will come from faster access to information that is more current and able to be kept current and accessible far more easily.

Sophisticated milk quality advice is one of three new areas of expertise available from RD1.COM in an expansion of its information services.

The website is to provide online advice on milk quality from experts at QCONZ, a company specialising in quality management solutions for the rural sector.

QCONZ Business Manager and milk quality specialist Murray Pedley says the alliance with RD1.COM will allow quick responses to farmer questions, using the Internet as well as an 0800 line.

As a starting point, Pedley, a former MAF adviser and milk quality manager for the former Morrinsville/Thames Valley Dairy Coop, will make available online New Zealand Dairy Group’s ‘Trouble Shooting Guide for Milk Quality’, recently updated by Pedley and his colleagues.

Mr Pedley says the most common questions from farmers centre on bacteriological defects in milk and contamination of milk, usually from mastitis treatments.

He says the venture with RD1.COM is a new move into an online environment for his firm and its advisory services, but a welcome one.

“As an advisory tool it certainly has some exciting possibilities. The ability to answer a questions, attach some fact sheets for further advice and offer up additional web sites and resources is very powerful,” he says.

RD1.COM has also signed a deal with Dexcel to provide online expertise on pasture and feed.

And it has secured an agreement with Lawlink, an association of mid-sized law firms throughout the country, to provide regular articles on legal issues affecting the rural community.

Lawlink General Manager Carol Patton says the group’s lawyers have particular expertise in the rural area where many Lawlink firms are based.

Legal information provided via RD1.COM will include asset and succession planning for farmers, including trust administration. It will also cover financing, contract law, rural property, employment and resource management issues.

RD1.COM is the country’s leading online rural supplies and services provider with more than 15,000 registered users and around 8,000 items available through its online store.

Its new ‘expert’ services complement its existing services provided by content partner AgResearch, and its information and exchange services with partners including e-commerce site Woolnet.

RD1.COM chief executive Neal Murphy said that a fundamental objective of RD1’s was to provide customers with tools to raise productivity and improve their bottom line.

“The Internet enables us to do this both through the convenience of online sales and delivery and powerful information and farm management tools, thanks to our growing range of partners.”

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