Enhanced calving biosecurity pays off

Enhanced calving biosecurity pays off

Creating a plan to prevent the spread of disease is crucial when cows and calves are more vulnerable to infection

Biosecurity is always of the utmost importance on beef operations. That importance is amplified at calving time due to two groups of animals being more susceptible to infectious diseases: new calves and their dams.

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

Producers get hands-on experience managing unexpected calving problems, without the stakes of live animals at the Manitoba Beef and Forage Production Conference in Brandon in December 2023.

Pro tips for a calving crisis

When is it actually time to call in the vet?

Glacier FarmMedia – The calf was breech. Standing a few feet away, Brandon veterinarian Dr. Grayson Ross coached producer at the rear of the cow through the potential disaster. “Get it in your mind’s eye,” he said. “You’ve got the rump of a calf right in front of you. The tail’s there. You’ve figured out […] Read more

DeLaval North American business development manager Sjenk Van Soelen shows the newly developed ear tags that are central to the company's new DeLaval Plus Behavior Analysis tool that monitors in-barn cow behaviour and herd health at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show.

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

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

Assistance provided by producers can make a significant difference in calving outcomes when malpresentations occur.

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


dairy calves

Transition milk continues to show benefits

Improved gut health and reduced mortality are some benefits

A recent study shows that dairy farms are encouraged to feed transition milk to calves following the colostrum feeding. Transition milk is defined as the second to sixth milking after calving. “It’s low in IGG (immunoglobulin G) concentrations, but higher in other bioactive molecules like hormones and oligosaccharides and antimicrobials that have other benefits for […] Read more

Decreasing inflammation and stress could be a strategy to prevent disease in early lactation, improve the welfare and performance of dairy cows and lower disease-related costs for producers.

Aspirin may ease calving stress in dairy cows

Cows can experience inflammation and stress during calving, which can increase the risk of diseases such as mastitis

Glacier FarmMedia – Aspirin could become another inflammatory medication to provide pain relief for dairy cows. A year-long American research study found cows that received a short course of acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin or ASA) after calving had lower metabolic stress and produced more milk than untreated cows. Why it matters: Decreasing inflammation for cows that […] Read more

There are a host of factors to take into account if you’re thinking of changing your calving season, but the main question to answer is: What works best for you?

The right time for calving depends on your farm — and you

While many producers are calving earlier, some have gone the other way

Calving season looks different on every operation — there is no one right method or time of year to calve a cow herd. While more producers in Western Canada have moved to later calving, some have gone the other way. Here are the experiences of three ranching families. Late summer/Fall calving Taralea Simpson has been […] Read more


Calves that receive adequate colostrum within the first two hours of life are given the best start.

Success with beef starts at the calf level

A veterinarian says farmers cut back on animal health as a cost saving

Glacier FarmMedia – Calf health is the No. 1 priority for success on a beef operation. The top third of producers invest the most in genetics, nutrition and animal health. They do not cut back on feed because they do not want calves to lose weight, said veterinarian Joe Gillespie of Boehringer Ingelheim. Why it […] Read more

Corn and distillers grains can be used to help replace hay when it is in short supply.

Lowering winter beef cow feed costs

There are opportunities to decrease the highest expense on beef farms

Katie Wood, assistant professor in ruminant nutrition and physiology at the University of Guelph recently offered five tips to lower winter feeding costs in beef herds. Speaking at the Ontario Beef Symposium at the University of Guelph on Jan. 18, Wood outlined the key steps: Test feed; Optimize alternative feeds; Know the herd’s body condition […] Read more