Latest news with #Dairy
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Korean cash cows: Heifers drive dairy gains for Nepali farmers
Korean cows help build Nepal's sustainable rural economy, says Kamalamai mayor SINDHULI, Nepal — In Kamalamai Municipality of Nepal's Sindhuli District, Korean aid is delivering visible results, chiefly in the rising incomes of local dairy farmers. Upendra Kumar Pokharel, mayor of Kamalamai Municipality, has witnessed the changes firsthand. 'For farmers with limited income, this project has been transformative. Dairy productivity is up, and so are local incomes,' he said during a press interview. In December 2022, South Korea's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, together with the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation and non-profit organization Heifer Korea, dispatched 100 high-performing Holstein heifers and eight bulls to Nepal. Of these, 80 were placed in Kamalamai's Korea-Nepal Model Dairy Village. Since the arrival of Korean Holstein heifers, many farmers have seen a dramatic rise in milk yields, five to six times more than local varieties, according to Pokharel. Farmers who once earned just 5,000 Nepalese rupees ($36) per month are now making up to 30,000 rupees. 'Roughly 80 percent of local dairy farmers have seen measurable improvements in both yield and income,' he added. Beyond milk, the impact is spilling into other sectors, creating a virtuous circle. With Korea's support, an eco-friendly biogas system now recycles dairy manure into kitchen fuel and serves as fertilizer to boost crop yields. Pokharel outlined potential new business opportunities, including processing milk into value-added products and establishing feed production facilities and small-scale dairy processing centers to generate additional jobs. Local infrastructure has also improved, most notably through the installation of a 1-metric-ton-capacity water tank, with one-third of the cost covered by the municipal government. Still, the mayor stressed the need for continued external support. 'We're doing our best, but local funding is limited. Support from the central government and international partners like Korea remains essential.' The success has drawn national attention, with mayors from other regions visiting Sindhuli to see the model dairy village firsthand, with a close eye on its cattle-raising environment. 'They want to replicate our cow sheds and farming systems,' the mayor chuckled. Projecting forward, the mayor shared his vision of Kamalamai becoming a national hub for dairy education, where local farmers take the lead in training their peers across Nepal. "We hope to move forward through continued collaboration, enabling our farmers to achieve greater growth and success," he added. minmin@
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
No relief from stray cattle menace on highways this monsoon
Bhopal: Commuters on highways in the state will have to stay alert this monsoon, as the govt has decided to drop its drive launched last year to remove stray cattle from roads due to a financial crunch. The move drew sharp criticism from the commuters, who say the menace poses a major risk to motorists especuially during the rainy season when visibility remains poor. The govt, however, said steps were being put in place to resolve the issue permanently. You Can Also Check: Bhopal AQI | Weather in Bhopal | Bank Holidays in Bhopal | Public Holidays in Bhopal Last year, the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Dept, now called the Dept of Animal Husbandry, Dairy, and Cow Protection, launched a coordinated effort in Raisen, Vidisha, Sehore, Dewas, and Rajgarh - the five districts adjoining Bhopal - to address the issue. The drive involved cattle-lifting vehicles linked to toll booths, used to transport stray cattle to nearby shelters with the help of toll booth operators and other organisations. The initiative led to the removal of 5,068 cows from highways. According to department data, 192 cows died in road accidents during the last monsoon between July and Sept, while 689 cows were rescued and treated. Hemant Mishra, a resident of Ganjbasoda in Vidisha district and a regular commuter between Vidisha and Bhopal, said the stray cattle pose a threat on the road while driving, and the problem increases during the monsoon. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo The drive carried out by the govt last year should have been continued, he added. Asked, a senior official from the department said the drive has been shelved due to a financial crunch. Animal husbandry and dairy minister Lakhan Patel told TOI, "Monsoon has just started. There will be no such problem (cattle menace on the road) from next year. We are coming up with 30 cow sheds in the state with a capacity to keep thousands of stray cows. Cows will not be found on roads once the cow sheds are developed." Last year's exercise followed govt directives issued on June 21, asking officials to address the issue of stray cattle on roads especially during the rainy season to prevent accidents and boost traffic movement.
Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
PETA names Chicago the country's most vegan-friendly city
Alison Eichhorn was raised in a Dairy Queen. Her parents owned a location in Lansing, where she started working when she was 14. At 19, however, Eichhorn gave up her favorite treat — a chocolate peanut butter cup Blizzard — to become vegan. Eichhorn spent the next several years wondering why she couldn't find a vegan replica of a Blizzard. Eventually, she took matters into her own hands. In May 2024, she opened Runaway Cow in Bridgeport with her partner, Aaron Gutierrez. The ice cream shop offers oat milk soft serve in chocolate, vanilla, swirl or the featured flavor, with a myriad of add-in options for a Snowstorm. Just like a Dairy Queen Blizzard. Runaway Cow was one of several vegan spots named by PETA in early June when the animal rights organization recognized Chicago as the top vegan-friendly city in the country. 'People may be surprised that the city that was once named 'The Hog Butcher of the World' is now a vegan paradise,' said PETA representative Amanda Brody. Brody said PETA chose Chicago because it has become so easy 'to enjoy classic Chicago dishes' in vegan form, citing Buona's Italian beefless sandwich and Kitchen 17's vegan deep-dish pizza. At Runaway Cow, Eichhorn offers fully vegan beef sandwiches and Chicago dogs. Rafael Tenorio, who lives in LaGrange, has been vegan for 10 years. He stopped eating meat after he began volunteering at animal shelters, joining his daughter in the lifestyle. He has found it easy to maintain in the Chicago area. Most restaurants, he said, can accommodate vegans even if their menus are not designed for them. Tenorio's approach to vegan food leans plant-forward. He likes being vegan in Chicago, but not because of beefless hot dogs — he prefers to prioritize vegetables in his diet. 'I find there are so many vegans who are hung up on meat,' he said. Tsadakeeyah Emmanuel is not one of them. The chef and owner of Majani, a South Shore fast-casual all-vegan spot that focuses on Southern cuisine, said his restaurant is 'definitely plant-forward.' Emmanuel opened Majani in 2017, when he remembers there being only about a half-dozen vegan restaurants in his area. Now, he feels that the vegan scene in Chicago is robust, supported even by nonvegans. The vast majority of his customers are meat-eaters. 'We're glad to see Chicago is rising in the food scene, and the vegan food scene,' Emmanuel said. Dame Dia has had a similar experience at Native Foods, where he estimates that 80% of his customer base is not vegan. Native Foods offers traditional Senegalese dishes — many of which are already vegan — among a wide variety of other foods, such as imitation chicken sandwiches. He took over the Loop location of the chain restaurant because he believes in the health value of vegan food. 'People want to change their lives, they want to be healthy,' Dia said. Many vegan restaurant owners tout a strong sense of community among vegans in Chicago. They have different feelings, however, about the strength of veganism in the city. While Emmanuel feels optimistic about his dream of one day opening a 'vegan village' — a collection of all-vegan restaurants in one place — Eichhorn worries that veganism may be a dying fad. She feels like she sees vegan restaurants closing all the time. 'We're still seeing people afraid of the word 'vegan,'' she said. That's why Runaway Cow markets itself as a neighborhood ice cream shop first, and a vegan eatery second. Many of her customers don't realize they're eating oat milk ice cream until Eichhorn breaks the news. They're always pleasantly surprised.
Fast Company
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
MAHA is betting on whole milk. Oatly is betting on coffee and punk
Dairy is having a moment. Influencers on social media are drinking raw milk, consumers are going back to cow's milk, and Republicans are pushing for whole milk's return to school cafeterias. But, while the plant-based milk world might appear in the rearview mirror, Oatly is leaning into coffee culture—and making some truly bizarre ads in the process. As part of a recent campaign called Blind Love, Oatly invited consumers to blind test whole milk and Oatly in coffee in a bizarre how-to video. In the accompanying ad, voiced by SNL alum Chris Parnell, the brand spoofed typical American pharmaceutical commercials, and presents a made up condition dubbed DOMP (Dormant Oatmilk Preference), to help viewers to 'diagnose themselves' and discover their oat milk preference in coffee. Oatly knows what it is doing. Studies show that Gen-Z is more responsive to 'absurd' tactics, and 72% of Gen Zers and millennials prefer humorous ads. It comes to no surprise then that oddball advertising is becoming increasingly common for Oatly (and other brands, too). Nutter Butter fills its TikTok with obscure brain rot content; Duolingo's owl faked his own death; and Wendy's irreverent comments have started a feud with Katy Perry. Yes, advertising is stranger than ever, but it's effective. 'We always do it in a strange way,' executive creative director at Oatly Michael Lee says. Late last year, the brand hired 31 professional Santas for a taste test switching milk and cookies with oat milk and croquembouche. Before that, another campaign featured ' auditions ' for an Oatly cooking show (spoiler: the casting tapes were the show). Oatly is very much in on the joke: on its website, the advertisement tab reads 'brainwashing.' The ad campaigns track with Oatly's marketing evolution. While the Swedish brand was born in 1994 targeting those with dairy allergies, it wasn't until 2013 when they shifted strategies to appeal to wider audiences, including a major redesign. The brand originally boasted muted packaging, but opted for a more rebellious rebrand as it entered the American market. Now Oatly's carton, covered with playful typography and quotes like 'wow no cow,' and 'it's like milk but made for humans,' is a staple in grocery store aisles and coffee shops. 'We had a very solid mission to convert dairy drinkers to plant based. But we were also human about it, and we had fun with it,' Lee says. 'We did a lot of stuff that was very provocative that other brands wouldn't have done, and so we had this kind of fearless, kind of punk quality.' The plant-based revolution is declining Just a few years ago, almond and oat lattes dominated orders, and recently more niche plant-based alternatives like pistachio milk have peaked consumer's interest, yet there is no denying alt-milk is taking a hit. From 2023 to 2024, whole milk saw a 1.6% increase in sales, while plant-based milks sales declined by 4.4%. For Oatly, its first quarter financial report revealed a 0.8% revenue decline compared to the same period the year prior, although it still expects to meet its first full year of profitable growth. While consumers with dietary restrictions will remain loyal to nondairy products, most of the time, picking between whole milk and alt-milk is a choice. 'The plant based group is really kind of a story of overlap,' Darren Seifer, executive director and industry advisor for consumer goods and food service at Circana, says. '90% of [alt-milk users] are also using traditional dairy items.' Like the perfect storm that allowed alt-milks to boom in the first place, a similar one is brewing elevating whole milk to cult status. Buzzwords like 'high protein,' 'low-sugar,' and 'gut healthy' can be naturally occurring features in dairy, making it an attractive choice for users. 'We've seen so far in the last year in traditional dairy, there's been a strong emphasis around health claims,' Seifer says. 'Aligning with the health trends that we see popping up, that's been helping to drive some of its growth. And again, because there is an overlap among those who use plant based it feels like it's drawing them away from it.' Additionally, financial factors like the higher price of alt-milk at a time of economic uncertainty might also be driving consumers away, Seifer explained, and cultural trends are also at play. 'We started to see people tell us that they're trying to get away from artificiality again,' Seifer says. From the rise of tradwives, Make America Healthy Again, and a disdain for oils, many consumers are now opting away from ultra-processed foods, artificial colors and sweeteners, and more. 'Define that as you wish, but that's just the terminology that was thrown out there,' he adds. 'And they might look at something like almond milk and say, well, that doesn't occur naturally, so it's processed.' Brewing culture In the midst of shifting trends, Oatly is doubling down on humor and culture. Specifically, it's tapping into coffee culture and baristas' expertise, going where consumers might first meet their product: in a coffee shop. 'We want it to be easy for people to engage with us. So it has to be fun, it has to be cool. It has to be part of culture. So, coffee kind of plays that role for us,' Lee says. Traveling from New York and Chicago, to London and Berlin, the over 60 baristas on staff spend time at coffee shops around the world, informing Oatly not only where culture is going, but how coffee fits into the mix. 'Every barista is not just a barista. They are tattoo artists. They're in a band, they're artists, they're designers. And so that was a perfect way for us to follow coffee into culture,' Lee added. 'Coffee culture is moving into fashion. It's moving into nightlife. It's moving into music. And since we have such a strong relationship with coffee, there's kind of a license for our brand to do that.' Leveraging the intersection of fashion and coffee, the brand recently released a ' global lookbook,' presenting various summer recipes like an Ube matcha latte and a cherry bakewell dirty soda recipe, both featuring colorful editorial visuals. 'The company has been around for 30 years, and from our perspective, trends come and go,' Lee added. 'We're staying the course.' The final deadline for Fast Company's Next Big Things in Tech Awards is Friday, June 20, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.
The Courier
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
5 times Stirling and Stirlingshire have featured on property TV shows
A Bridge of Allan family recently appeared on Location, Location, Location. It's not the first time Stirlingshire has featured on a property television show; from Scotland's Home of the Year to Love It or List It, viewers love a peek inside other people's homes. From hunting for the perfect home to renovating run-down rooms – here are five times Stirling or Stirlingshire has featured on property TV shows. A mother and daughter enlisted the help of Phil Spencer and Kirstie Allsopp on Location, Location, Location to find their dream home in Stirling. The Channel 4 show, featuring Lorraine Macleod and Emma Carman, aired in June 2025. The pair, who were living with Lorraine's parents, viewed four homes within their budget of £275,000. However, despite offering well above the asking price for a cottage in Torbrex, Lorraine and Emma lost out on the property. Luckily, they found their dream three-bedroom townhouse in Bridge of Allan for £255,000 after the show. Scotland's Home of the Year has featured several Stirlingshire homes since it first aired in 2019. This year, a steading conversion in Deanston was part of the BBC show. The Dairy, owned by Mhairi and Andrew Wilson since 2023, boasts impressive views over the Trossachs. In 2024, a mill conversion near Dunblane was part of the series. The 200-year-old building had been abandoned for 25 years before it was lovingly restored by Lee and Dawn Collins. Plus, a Georgian renovation in rural Killearn was crowned the winner in 2021. Judges loved The Moss' 'dreamy pink interior' which included a pink Aga cooker in the kitchen. TV presenter Kaye Adams appeared on a celebrity edition of Escape to the Country last year. The Loose Women presenter viewed four properties in Stirlingshire to find a three-bedroom home with open plan living, a garden and space to record her podcast. Kaye, who had a budget of £850,000, said her favourite house looked over Loch Ard. An episode of Homes Under the Hammer featured a Stirling flat last year. A Musical Sink saw host Martel Maxwell, from Dundee, follow Ross as he purchased a damp run-down property in the city centre. He bought the two to three-bedroom flat prior to auction for £135,000 and carried out a five-month renovation to restore it to its former glory. Ross invested £35,000 into the works and turned the property into a short-term let. A property expert valued it as worth £180,000 to £200,000 – a profit of up to £30,000. Kirstie and Phil's Love It or List It has also had a Stirlingshire episode. In series two, the hosts set out to help Karyn and Duncan in the Carron Valley. The couple had been arguing for two years over what to do about their three-bed rural semi. Phil took Karyn and Duncan to view properties in Fife, Strathyre and Sauchie, while Kirstie inspired a £40,000 upgrade. At the end of the 2016 episode, they decided to keep the property.
