Beef cattle grazing in belly deep pastureland, wearing collars with orange circular receivers that alert them to virutal fencing.

Cattle virtual fence provides management options

Ontario farm is managing two groups of cattle with the new system

[Updated: June 11, 2024] Jenny Butcher and Wes Kuntz were like many livestock farmers and faced the costly prospect of rebuilding fences. One of the areas that needed work was in a rented pasture and that meant much higher potential rents if the owner had to rebuild the fences. They found a new option in […] Read more

Purple coneflower, or echinacea is used to treat illness and inflammation in humans and researchers have found that it works for dairy bull calves as well.

Purple coneflower can aid calf immunity

Humans have taken purple coneflower, or echinacea, to manage colds and infections

A University of Guelph study shows that feeding purple coneflower to dairy bull calves has positive effect on immunity and inflammation levels. Purple coneflower, known by the scientific name echinacea, has long been used by humans to try and prevent the common cold, infection and skin wounds and conditions. It is thought to stimulate immune […] Read more

Starbucks sweetens pot for FCC sustainability program

Starbucks sweetens pot for FCC sustainability program

Coffee giant to support ‘top achievers’ and ‘most improved’

Starbucks has joined Farm Credit Canada in its Dairy Sustainability Incentive Program, which offers Canadian dairy farmers interest rate rebates for sustainability initiatives. Why it matters: Starbucks says milk products are a significant source of the company’s carbon footprint. The announcement represents entry into the Canadian dairy sector of a company that has already made […] Read more

The DNA Connect app helps dairy farmers moniter feed and dry matter intake.

Trouw targets dry matter accuracy of dairy feeding with new app

DNA Connect allows for adjustments through smartphone or tablet

Accurately tracking dry matter intake is critical for dairy farmers, and a new app from Trouw Nutrition aims to make that easier and more efficient. One of the app’s early adapters, Clinton-area producer Evan Klaver, says it’s working out pretty much as advertised. Why it matters: Information technology companies see opportunities in marketing to the […] Read more

Cows have more freedom to lay down as they wish in a bedded pack compost barn.

Moisture management is key in compost-pack barns

Compost barns could be a transition option for those who now milk in tie stalls

Compost bedding packs that get too wet can be bad news and result in problems with slower composting, milk quality and the need to add more bedding. Those are findings from recent research projects on Ontario dairy farms, conducted by students at the University of Guelph, including Angie Wilson, who is completing her post-doctoral research […] Read more


Barry Bradford of Michigan State University says that short gestations are the biggest risk factor for dairy farms trying to reduce dry periods.

Shorter dry periods make sense, with caveats

Farmers should be able to target a dry period of 45 to 50 days, says researcher

Dairy farmers have given their cows 50 to 60 days off each lactation, but research suggests that a shorter period could make sense – for farmers and the cows. Barry Bradford, a dairy management and nutrition professor at Michigan State University, says that in some circumstances, cows will perform well down to 40 to 50 […] Read more

As employee numbers increase on dairy farms, farmers have to learn to communicate the process improvement that has been part of their own way of working.

Make your dairy processes lean and clean

Stopping and observing are the first steps to efficiency

Dairy farmers work through similar processes every day, but taking another look at ordinary tasks can yield significant time and financial savings. Process evaluation has many names, including lean, Kaizan or Six Sigma, but the concepts are similar: constantly improve, find bottlenecks and reduce waste, says Dr. Chris Church, a master’s student at the Lang […] Read more

Panelists discuss their diversified dairy farm operations at the Canadian Dairy Xpo’s Canadian Dairy Business Conference. They included Korb Whale, left, Joel LePage, Gilbert Matheson, Bonnie den Haan and moderator Dan Matheson.

Diversifying dairy means more than milking

Here’s how four dairy farms grew their businesses beyond milk production

Farmers who diversify their dairy operations can make it work with luck, great planning and a willingness to take risks. The Canadian Dairy XPO’s new Canadian Dairy Business Conference brought together four farmers who have diversified so milking cows is just part of what they do. Why it matters: Dairy farmers who want to grow […] Read more


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Canada expands bird flu surveillance in dairy cattle

Government issues requirements for testing bird flu in dairy cattle and milk

The Government of Canada and stakeholders are taking new precautions to help prevent the emergence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Canadian dairy cattle. Late last week, the feds announced intentions to expand its avian flu surveillance by: -Requiring negative HPAI test results for lactating dairy cattle being imported from the United States to […] Read more

Dry hay can help with dairy transition

Dry hay can help with dairy transition

Research finds hay can help in some conditions where cows already have acidosis or inflammation

Hay fed to dairy cows for a couple of days after calving can help those that have health issues. Cows are fed high starch diets at calving as they ramp up milk production, which helps manage ketosis and fatty liver, but it also increases risk of acidosis and inflammation. Why it matters: Providing hay post-calving […] Read more