Dave Fortier and Sophie Bédard found that human factors were the most challenging part of a major dairy barn renovation which changed the barn from tie-stall to freestall and robotic milking.
Managing through a dairy barn retrofit
Human factors were the most challenging part of dealing with a change from a tie-stall to freestall with robotic milking on this Quebec farm
Quebec hatcheries automate chick sexing
WingScan device uses artificial intelligence to recognize chick wings
Artificial intelligence is helping sex broiler chicks at hatcheries in Quebec. The hatcheries have been implementing WingScan, which uses Artificial Intelligence to recognize chick wings, a task that has had to be done manually, typically by temporary foreign workers.
Eye Breed technology helps with inseminator shortage
The product limits the need for palpating cows as users can watch the inside of the cow during insemination
Glacier FarmMedia – In the summer of 2024, a visit to the Grégoire Fortin Farm in Charlevoix, QC was an opportunity to see how insemination is done with the Eye Breed.This equipment was deployed by the Centre d’insémination artificielle du Québec (CIAQ) in the Charlevoix region to compensate for the lack of inseminators. Eye Breed […] Read more
Why group calf housing continues to grow
Labour efficiency, strong growth and socialization are reasons why farmers choose group housing of calves
More dairy farms are turning to group housing. In this second article on housing young calves, how group housing is working on farms. (Read the first article here)The content of this article comes from a video podcast produced by the Dairyland Initiative at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It is hosted by Courtney Halbach, extension specialist, […] Read more
Why individual calf housing continues to be popular
Disease management and individual feeding are reasons farmers use individual calf hutches
Housing for young unweaned calves has evolved greatly. Today, there are different styles, with variations. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. This article is the first in a series of two. Read the next article here.In a video podcast, the Dairyland Initiative at the University of Wisconsin-Madison presented the different types of housing for young […] Read more
Managing cross ventilation with the right baffles
Adding baffles meant removal of two large cross ventilation fans at this farm
After a summer in their new barn with cross ventilation, Mathieu Larose and Nancy Clouâtre of Ferme Laroselait in Verchères installed canvass baffles in 2020 to force air down onto the cows in the stalls and cool them in the summer. According to Larose, it’s a must-have for cross ventilated barns. Why it matters: Ventilation […] Read more
Dairy cows need to be optimized for resting time
Cows need to lie down for 12 hours to maximize milk production
The message often conveyed in terms of animal welfare is that dairy cows need to be given more resting time. According to researcher Nigel Cook, we should instead seek to optimize the resting time. In a webinar with co-host Courtney Halbach, an extension specialist, Cook, an expert on the impact of the environment on dairy […] Read more
Strategically feed the robot
Feeding more in the milking robot doesn’t mean more visits by cows
Feeding cows that are milked with a robot is more complicated than you think. It is not enough to add feed to the robot. It is necessary to ensure that the cow’s complete ration is adequate. How much feed should be added to the robot? What is the impact on cow performance? What will be […] Read more
Cows managed precisely in new robot milking barn
Cows can be sorted in five different directions out of the robot
A change in generations mean the building of a new barn, robotic milking and new way of working at Ferme Desnette. On Oct. 20, 1200 people attended the open house at the farm in Warwick, Que. Owners Marianne Desrochers, Mikael Dumas, Carl Desrochers, and Sandra Verville met with visitors and showed off their new barn, […] Read more
Reducing dairy methane starts with feed
AAFC researcher reviews what farmers can do to mitigate methane
Feeding strategies can play an important role in helping dairy farmers in Canada achieve the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050, a target set by the Dairy Farmers of Canada. In the life cycle of dairy farms, nearly 50 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions come from methane of enteric origin, mainly in the […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
