Reuters — When dairy farmer Ben Loewith’s calves are born next spring, they will be among the first in the world to be bred with a specific environmental goal: burping less methane. Loewith, a third-generation farmer in Lynden, started artificially inseminating 107 cows and heifers in June with the first-to-market bull semen with a low-methane […] Read more
Genetics — page 4
Dairy farmer eager to see results of low-methane breeding decisions
Lynden-area farmer's herd one of the first to use trait
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
U.S. researchers uncover emerging Holstein genetic defect
Affected recumbency calves unable to stand after birth
The North American dairy breeding sector is providing early-stage advice to protect herds against a newly discovered and potentially fatal genetic defect affecting Holstein calves. The first official word on the defect, currently referred to as calf recumbency, came through a joint news release on April 3 from the U.S.-based Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding […] 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
Ronbeth Holsteins mark 17 generations VG or EX
Unique honour a first in Canada
Breeding acumen through collection of four Master Breeder shields from Holstein Canada is evident in a Hastings-area dairy farm, which can now celebrate the rare feat of having one of its cow families achieve 17 generations classified as either Very Good or Excellent. The first-in-Canada achievement “wasn’t something on our radar,” Steph Murphy told Farmtario […] Read more
Semex to offer methane index for Elevate users this April
Semex is introducing a genetic solution that it says can reduce methane emissions 20 to 30 per cent by 2050. Dr. Michael Lohuis, Semex’s vice-president for research and innovation, said in a release Tuesday that the company has been working with industry scientists toward such a goal. For more than five years, he said Canada’s […] Read more
Turning dairy into beef: Shaking up supply chains
Different approaches are needed to capitalize on the value of dairy-beef crossbreds
The revolutionary ramifications of breeding beef genetics to dairy cows are remaking supply chains. That brings new opportunities and challenges. The University of Guelph’s Dr. Michael Steele got the attention of attendees at the recent Dairy Cattle Industry Forum when he showed a line of antibiotic treatments used at one farm that raises weaned dairy […] Read more
VIDEO: Improving immunity in dairy cows
Nitric oxide levels in cows have a significant impact on their immunity. Researchers have shown that two per cent of cows have serious health impacts due to their nitric oxide levels. Semex is working with the University of Guelph to integrate nitric oxide measurements into its immunity genetic index. In this video, Steven Larmer, Director […] Read more
Lactanet releases new herd reports for A2 milk
Organization pleased with over 600 downloads in first week
There have been more than 100,000 dairy cattle genotyped for the A2 beta casein in milk and that’s allowed geneticists to create new reports for farmers. “Beta casein is a protein that represents approximately 30 per cent of all milk proteins,” said Lactanet’s Chief Services Brian Van Doormal in an article about the release of […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
