South Gippsland Dairy | Celebrating Australian Food and Agribusiness Innovations 2021
The initial secretion produced by mammals post- birth, colostrum is highly nutritious and rich in the antibody proteins essential to fighting infection. Thought to boost immunity, improve gut health and accelerate healing, interest in colostrum as a health supplement has increased throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
That’s been good news for the family-run South Gippsland Dairy, which takes hand-collected colostrum from cows to process into its Bio Colostrum Powder product. Taking only what is excess to the needs of calves and in adherence to HACCP processes registered with Dairy Food Safety Victoria, the SGD team ensures high bioactivity levels through gentle processing and no alternations, artificial unbalancing or antibody level processing in-factory.
The only colostrum manufacturer in Australia, SGD developed its own unique harvesting practices to validate the quality and safety of the product for human consumption. Independent CSIRO testing has shown the product to have greater levels of bioactivity and immunoglobulins when compared with available imported alternatives.
Launched in late 2019, Bio Colostrum Powder has developed a network of regular users, who buy direct online and are based in ANZ, France and the US. The company has also appointed wholesale distributors in response to huge demand from markets including Vietnam and Korea.
The SGD team is using that established client base to gather information and provide valuable insight into product use and experience, with a view to understanding more about the potential of this incredibly complex product and its benefits.
SGD’s Campbell Evans says that none of this would be possible without the assistance of organisations such as FIAL and Australian Government departments.
“Understanding more about the product means more research, lab work and testing — something that’s only been possible through the support of FIAL and Food & Fibre Gippsland,” he said.
“We’ve also had help navigating through the complexities of exporting into countries like Vietnam. As a small business that’s already stretched, how could you achieve that on your own? They’ve helped us transition South Gippsland Dairy from a side business to a fully fledged entity,” he said.
