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
Dairy — page 10
Why group calf housing continues to grow
Labour efficiency, strong growth and socialization are reasons why farmers choose group housing of calves
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
Amazing biology, but there’s also risk in bovine hooves
Is the suspensory apparatus in bovine hooves a boon or Achilles' Heel?
The intricate structure of cow hooves is a marvel of biological engineering but also a potential point of failure under stress. The suspensory apparatus can be a boon or an Achilles’ heel for today’s dairy cows. Damage to the complex suspensory apparatus leads to permanent structural changes and the chance of chronic lameness. The persistent […] Read more
Strategic use of chelated trace minerals in dairy rations makes sense
There are specific cases where chelated trace minerals should be used in dairy diets
In the last couple of years I have noticed that most dairy lactation diets contain a fortified level of chelated trace minerals. When I ask dairy producers why they feed them over conventional ones, they often say they don’t know or their nutritionist thinks it is a good idea. There is nothing technically wrong with […] Read more
Preventing the introduction of BVD
European analysis shows dairy herds at greater risk for the disease than beef cattle
Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) infection is typically introduced to a herd with the arrival of a persistently infected (PI) animal—a bovine that appears normal but sheds large amounts of the BVD virus into the environment. Naïve cattle exposed directly to the virus through nose-to-nose contact or indirectly through contaminated materials become sick with a fever, […] Read more
Managing veterinary medicine shortages
Cattle producers often find bare shelves when they need animal health products
In the ever-changing world of global supply, cattle producers regularly face inconsistent supplies of critical animal health products. This makes it necessary for producers to be in close contact with their veterinarians to ensure they’ve got what they need when they need it. The issues that can affect supply are varied and include: For example, […] Read more
Genetic analysis confirms stable flies as mastitis vector
Research shows flies can carry the bacteria from manure breeding sites
New genetic sequencing research shows that stable flies carry pathogenic bacteria associated with mastitis. Petri dish research is now supplemented with gene sequencing in the bacteriology lab so a team of scientists at the University of Wisconsin decided it was time for an update to the understanding of relationships between dairy barn-dwelling flies and milk […] Read more
How dairy testing for avian influenza works in the U.S.
States are taking varied approaches that range from animal testing, to recording who enters a farm
States in the U.S. are playing a key role in the nation’s response to a growing outbreak of avian flu among dairy cattle that has also infected a small number of humans. The states are chiefly responsible for testing cows and people for the virus, but they take different approaches. Scientists tracking bird flu are […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
