A Toronto-based start-up has developed a real-time cattle monitoring system it says will help farmers increase the efficiency of their operations. Cattle Scan’s Bovine Monitoring Bolus tracks dairy cattle health 24/7 from inside the animal to provide early alerts of potential health issues before the onset of visible symptoms. Why it matters: Earlier intervention means […] Read more
Tag Archives Dairy Cattle — page 19
Automating dairy cattle health monitoring – from the inside
Ontario inventor creates dairy cattle bolus system to monitor internal metrics
Study shows heat stress challenges increasing in Ontario dairy cows
Data suggests Quebec cows have been less affected than those in Ontario
Ongoing research aimed at identifying genetic determinants for heat stress tolerance in Canadian cows has, as a side effect, turned up interesting comparisons between the long-term impact of rising average temperatures on dairy farms in Quebec versus Ontario. According to analysis conducted by Masters student Ivan Campos at the University of Guelph, decreases in milk […] Read more
Rumen development critical for young calf health
Supplements and management can help develop the rumen to allow nutrient transport
Keeping calves longer on milk helps ensure the rumen is developed well enough to absorb important nutrients. By the time ruminants are weaned, it’s imperative that rumen epithelia are functioning optimally to ensure the proper absorption of volatile fatty acids (VFA) into the blood stream. Why it matters: Better absorption of nutrients after weaning means […] Read more
Neutrophil system plays big role in dry cow immunity
Extra bunk space is good buffer to reduce health risks and improve immune activity
It’s believed transition cows have suppressed immune systems, but Dr. Stephen LeBlanc of the University of Guelph says it’s not as simple as just blaming compromised immune systems for all transition dairy cattle problems. “Metabolically, yes cows have reduced aspects of immune function through the transition period and part of some of the reasons for […] Read more
Work continues on dairy feed efficiency evaluation index
Planned Canadian release date pushed back to April 2021
Lack of data has pushed back the planned implementation of a genetic tool targeting dairy cattle feed efficiency, but the project’s researchers remain confident it will be ready for dairy breeders by April 2021. Working in the researchers’ favour, meanwhile, is the fact that the heritability is relatively high for the three genetic traits being […] Read more
COVID-19 aid ‘falls short,’ farm groups warn
Aid package includes AgriRecovery for cattle, hog sectors
Ottawa — Despite Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saying more money will be provided if needed, the agriculture sector continues to criticize Ottawa’s $252 million in COVID-19-related financial aid offered to producers and processors. “If we have to add more, we will,” said Trudeau, after announcing new funding and programming. The federal government is offering an […] Read more
Beef Farmers of Ontario ask for curb on cull sales
BFO concerned over processing 'backlogs'
Updated, April 15 — Ontario’s cattle producer organization is asking members to consider delaying sales of cull cows until market conditions “normalize.” Beef Farmers of Ontario’s board on Thursday published a memo to beef and dairy cattle producers, asking them to help “prevent a further surge in cull cows in the market” — especially of […] Read more
Dairy sector shuts down most visits from off-farm providers
In agriculture, dairy farms are among those most called-on by outside services
New additions to Gerrit Herrema’s dairy barn have made it easier for his family to abide by recent directions to avoid contact with milk truck drivers to reduce COVID-19’s spread. “We have boot washes and other biosecurity measures in the barn. We need to take these measures in order to minimize the damage,” said Herrema, […] Read more
Separating stature from major Holstein traits
A new composite index should help maintain desirable traits, while de-emphasizing stature
Canada’s dairy breeding sector is attempting to slow a gradual increase in the average size of the nation’s Holstein. At Lactanet Canada’s recent Open Industry Session held in Guelph, geneticist Dr. Allison Fleming provided information about the development of a composite index of four well-established dairy genetic traits. Why it matters: As the average height […] Read more
Study looks at once-per-day milking of ketotic cows
Economic analysis remains to be done on the idea that shows promise in treating ketotic cows
Two weeks of once-per-day milking can clear up a high proportion of ketosis cases —although researchers are holding off on recommending the strategy pending further analysis of the financial drawbacks. Dr. Stephen LeBlanc of the University of Guelph’s Dairy at Guelph research cluster provided an update about ongoing research at the recent South Western Ontario […] Read more
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