At Nieuwenhof farm, the attention is on the details. This is particularly the case for dry cows which are housed in small groups at the farm at Sainte-Agnès-de-Dundee, QC. And it pays off. The farm recently produced two kilograms of fat per cow per day for four consecutive months. How many groups of cows do […] Read more
Dairy — page 21
Every detail counts at Nieuwenhof farm
PHOTOS: A virtual tour of Comestar Farm
The internationally renowned farm has a new barn, with a new focus on milk production
Of all the dairy farms in Quebec, Comestar Holstein in Victoriaville is the most recognized throughout the world. Today, with a new generation taking up the farm, a new chapter is beginning. And what better than the construction of a new barn to mark this new stage? May 20, 2003 marked a turning point in […] Read more
Use of robotic milkers continues to grow, but it’s not for everyone
Producers share lessons learned and why robot milkers work for them, or why they don’t
If growth continues in Canadian dairy farmers’ use of robotic milkers, robots will milk half of the national dairy herd by 2040, said Carolin Turner. Turner, with Holstein Canada’s classification field services, told Grey-Bruce Farmers’ Week dairy day participants that 130 Canadian dairy herds transitioned to or built a new robotic barn in 2021. Why […] Read more
Livestock producers must watch for zoonotic diseases
Several diseases can be easily passed from animals to humans
Cryptosporidia and giardia are two intestinal parasites that can cause diarrhea in people and calves. These parasites are single-celled organisms (and Cryptosporidium is a common cause of diarrhea in both beef and dairy calves under one month old. Young children, pregnant woman and immune-compromised adults who are infected can have severe diarrhea and abdominal pain. […] Read more
Ontario farm Canada’s third-best-managed dairy herd
Seven Ontario dairy farms in the top 10
[UPDATED: Feb. 24, 2023] Stewardson Dairy Inc. of Thedford, Ont., has been named Canada’s third best-managed dairy herd by Lactanet. Each year, Lactanet brings together dairy producers and industry stakeholders from across the country to pay tribute to top-performing herds and celebrate excellence in dairy herd management. Lactanet’s Herd Performance Index allows herds across the […] Read more
Salmonella Dublin poses serious risks in cattle and humans
Infection classed as “emerging disease” in Ontario
For cattle farmers who see a spike in calf mortality but not the typical diarrhea that accompanies common bacterial infections, Quebec-based veterinarian Dr. Frédéric Beaulac says Salmonella Dublin should be top of mind. And if there is an outbreak, it could be a long road to recovery for the farm. Why it matters: Salmonella Dublin […] Read more
Researcher calls for stronger focus on shipping healthy calves
Veterinarian says every animal should be examined for the four H’s
Examining all calves before transport and following the same nutrition and care protocols for male and female newborns could improve health outcomes for dairy farm animals that eventually end up at veal facilities. University of Guelph PhD student Dr. Devon Wilson, now working in the Population Medicine lab of Dr. Dave Renaud, spoke about calf […] 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
Silage growers urged to protect feed supply from Bt-resistant corn rootworm
Pest has caused significant yield loss in both Canada and the U.S.
Some livestock producers in the U.S. corn belt have had to make a difficult and costly decision. They’ve harvested their silage corn for grain to salvage some financial return. Now a provincial entomologist says Ontario producers may face the same decision if resistance to the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) trait in corn continues to grow. Bt-resistant […] Read more
Targeting improvements in calf health, welfare, antibiotic use
University of Guelph research shows Canadian dairy producers doing well but there is room for improvement
Calves can represent the future of the herd or provide an additional income stream for dairy farms, so it’s important that health challenges are kept to a minimum. Based on recent research at the University of Guelph, dairy farmers in Canada can take pride in the way they manage, house and care for replacement and […] Read more
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