Dairy industry stakeholders attended the formal launch of AHV NZ at the end of last year. Since its inception in February 2022, close to 300 dairy farmers in the Waikato and Canterbury have started using AHV solutions with good success.
Distinguished dairy industry speakers Sir Henry van der Heyden and Jeremy Hill in his capacity as Adjunct Professor at the Riddet Institute at Massey University shared their views on global dairy trends. Sir Henry emphasised the importance of the NZ dairy industry in feeding the growing global population and the need for more milk from New Zealand as we can produce it sustainably. Science and technology are key to enabling the NZ dairy sector to adapt to changing consumer needs and climate change. Prof Hill shared data generated from the Delta model that the Riddet’s Sustainable Nutrition Initiative have developed to evaluate what role different foods play in global nutrition. Prof Hill used the model to explain the global contribution of dairy to 26 out of the 29 essential nutrients in the model and what role dairy plays in the environmental greenhouse gas footprint in New Zealand from a consumer and producer perspective (only 1%). This model is being used to advise governments and policy makers around the globe and why more efficient food production including efficient dairy cows is needed in order to meet global nutritional needs.
AHV introduced its full-service concept to New Zealand earlier this year, built to properly guide and support dairy farmers in their transition to its innovative solutions, which are developed with the science of quorum sensing (QS). These solutions focus on the biochemical communication between selected bacteria (i.e., quorum sensing). By inactivating their QS, we can eradicate biofilms, and the immune system of the animals is supported in a natural and effective way. AHV’s solutions fit very well with the global trends and needs, as they are there to proactively improve the longevity and productivity of dairy cows through optimized health.
“We are proud of and thank our early adopting customers who are the trail blazers of the NZ dairy industry. Our team has grown to six territory managers and we are recruiting to expand geographically into other parts of New Zealand,” AHV New Zealand managing director Janneke van Wagtendonk says.
“Our customer journey starts with prioritizing cows through (herd test) data analysis, for our AHV udder, energy or fertility solutions. Once customers get good results with individual cows, we aim to support the entire herd to improve longevity and productivity through optimized health. We stay close to customers and provide expert advice until farmers feel comfortable with our new AHV concept, and we aim to keep empowering farmers to use our new and innovative tools. AHV NZ have proven the QS solutions work equally well in New Zealand, as advice is adapted and adopted to suit the NZ market. We are looking forward to continue our partnership with NZ dairy farmers in 2023.”
Animal Health Vision
AHV International was founded in 2014 by a team of Dutch veterinarians and researchers. Its mission is to empower farmers worldwide through innovation in animal health, applied in sustainable solutions and value-added advisory service. This way, the farming community is supported to take (proactive) control over their animal health and business results, and to improve the efficiency, social welfare, and environmental management of their farms.
The AHV portfolios include key solutions in the form of mainly feed supplements that support uterine health and udder health for optimal fertility, production, and longevity. As AHV work from the animal’s life cycle, they also offer solutions for optimal calving and transition, energy and digestive management, calf rearing and young stock health, among others.