A new technology from dairy equipment company DeLaval helps monitor in-barn cow behaviour, with updates every 2.2 seconds. The company used the 2023 Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show for the official North American launch of its DeLaval Plus Behavior Analysis tool for monitoring in-barn cow behaviour and herd health. Why it matters: Advancements in artificial intelligence […] Read more
Cow health — page 8
System delivers suite of dairy data every 2.2 seconds
Connecting data to the cloud, not on-site computers helps to increase speed of data interpretation
New dairy innovations featured at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show
Dairy business leaders’ perception of what consumers expect of Canadian farmers is driving information technology innovation in the sector. The DeLaval dairy equipment company used the 2023 Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show to officially launch in Canada and the U.S. its DeLaval Plus Behavior Analysis tool for monitoring in-barn cow behaviour and herd health. The company’s […] Read more
New players find way into dairy genetics markets
Some Canadian farms are now selling bull semen
New service providers and technology allow some large dairy farmers to sell genetics from their own bulls. Stanton Farms, one of Ontario’s largest dairy farms, now sells its bull semen directly to farmers. The Stanton family has a tradition of marketing cattle to other farmers. It has purchased some of the top-performing cows in the […] Read more
Monitoring dairy cows’ water use has benefits
Maximizing water use efficiency should be a priority, says AAFC researcher
Small changes can pay big dividends in water use on dairy farms, both financially and in preserving water quality and supply. Determining where to make those changes often takes careful monitoring and investigation. That was one of the messages delivered during the Southwestern Ontario Dairy Symposium earlier this year by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researcher […] Read more
New research will look at dairy welfare and technology
The use of artificial intelligence to help farmers improve dairy animal care will be studied on Ontario and Quebec farms
A new research collaboration at McGill University and the University of Quebec in Montreal will explore the role of artificial intelligence in promoting dairy cattle welfare. The project aims to create “a digital living lab to link animal welfare and dairy farms’ profitability.” Why it matters: An updated Code of Practice for the Care and […] Read more
Probiotic developed for dairy cattle
University of Alberta researcher says using probiotics to prevent infection could reduce disease and lower antibiotic use
Glacier FarmMedia – A breakthrough probiotic has been shown to boost milk production and the reproductive health of dairy cows. The use of probiotics to prevent infections could lower the incidence of diseases, potentially reducing the need for treatment with antibiotics, said Burim Ametaj, a professor of physiology and nutritional immunology at the University of […] Read more
Solutions available for common calving malpresentations
It requires sharp observational skills and a little know-how
Glacier FarmMedia – Calving problems have been greatly reduced over the years but there are still issues we can’t control. One of these is malpresentations of the fetus. Some cows can deliver a calf with a foot back, but these are rare and most cows require birthing assistance. Producers must maintain sharp observational skills to […] Read more
Increasing veterinary capacity in Ontario to receive $15 million in funding
To help address veterinary shortages in rural and northern communities, the Ontario government is investing more than $15 million to establish anew Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program with the University of Guelph and Lakehead University. The government is also providing grants to new veterinary graduates as an incentive to work in underserviced areas in […] Read more
Canadian dairy carbon-neutral guidebook released
Kitchen table meetings may be the next step for the introduction of the guide to farmers
There are no financial incentives and the adoption of practices isn’t mandatory to continue shipping milk, but Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) insists there are strong reasons why the country’s milk producers should get on board with a just-published Best Management Practices Guide to Mitigate Emissions on Dairy Farms. The new document forms the cornerstone […] Read more
Updated Dairy Code of Practice released
The updated Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Dairy Cattle is now available from the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) and the Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC). It replaces its predecessor, developed in 2009, effective April 1, 2024 (unless indicated otherwise in Requirements with a later phase-in date). The 2009 dairy […] Read more
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