One of the most difficult decisions dairy farmers face when building a new free-stall barn is determining the best ventilation system. Naturally ventilated freestalls have been popular for decades, with lower-profile fan-ventilated free-stall barns growing in popularity in Ontario over the past couple years. A concept from Wisconsin combines some of the advantages of both. […] Read more
Tag Archives Dairy Cattle — page 20
New hybrid barn combines natural and mechanical ventilation
The concept improves air quality and cow comfort
Opportunities exist to increase profits at the feed bunk
Feed bunk costs can vary by 10 per cent based on gross revenue
The cost of feed for lactating and dry cows ranges by approximately 10 per cent of gross milk revenue. This provides opportunity for dairy farmers to increase profitability at the feed bunk. “The balance we found was a range of 25 to 35 per cent of gross milk revenue being used to feed our lactating […] Read more
Ben + Jerry’s says ‘happy cows’ lawsuit should be put to pasture
Reuters — Ben + Jerry’s said it does not deceive consumers by saying it used milk and cream from “happy cows” to make its ice cream, and that an environmental advocate’s lawsuit claiming otherwise should be dismissed. In a Monday filing seeking to end the proposed nationwide class action, Ben + Jerry’s said James Ehlers […] Read more
Research project hopes EPDs can catch lameness in cattle early
Members of the Canadian Angus Association are asked to score cows when they come in this fall for pregnancy checks
Glacier FarmMedia – Lameness in cattle is a painful condition that affects their welfare and overall performance. Why it matters: Lameness is an important animal welfare issue that also affects producer profitability. Good feet and legs are primary considerations when selecting animals that can move easily year after year. The Canadian Angus Association received nearly […] Read more
Quebec ag co-op to power up on dairy cattle manure
About a dozen Quebec dairy farms will be getting their collective manure together next year for the province’s first-ever ag co-operative devoted to renewable natural gas. Coop Agri-Energie Warwick, launched Monday, plans to start construction this spring on a $12 million biomethanization plant which will take in slurry and manure from dairy cattle mixed with […] Read more
Cattle producers get longer phase-in on new transport regs
New federal livestock transport regulations, due to come into force in February, will now roll out on a longer timeline for the beef and dairy cattle sectors. Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau has announced a “two-year transition period” for bovines, which is meant to provide “time to gather more data on effective solutions concerning the […] Read more
Straw moves up in the world
The golden stems of cereals have increased so much in value, they are nearing the price of hay
Straw is having a big year. The golden-stemmed bottom half of the wheat plant has always been the low-priced also-ran, compared to wheat kernels and hay. Over the past 15 or so years, wheat straw, along with the stems of other cereals, has played an increasing role in high quality dairy rations. Why it matters: […] Read more
The uncertain future of dairy data governance
Farmers advised to ask questions when buying new technology
With high-tech robot barns leading the way, and many dairy farmers with older-style milking systems adding sensors, the collection of real-time data about cow care has exploded in the past few years. The rapid increase of sensors and in-barn artificial intelligence (AI) has given rise to new issues previously not considered. Why it matters: Dairy […] Read more
Consumer concerns driving livestock production discussion
Working towards trouble-free animals are often areas farmers are already working to improve
Areas of consumer concern like climate change and animal welfare are driving the livestock discussion, but farmers are already regularly improving both areas while they make their farms more efficient. That was the message from recent interviews conducted by Farmtario with a member of the leadership team behind Lactanet’s annual ranking of herd management scores […] Read more
Switchgrass can replace straw in dairy rations
However, researchers caution against feeding too much to lactating cows or milk production could drop
Switchgrass has potential as both dairy cow bedding and feed – especially for dry cows. One of its benefits is that it is low in potassium relative to the more commonly used wheat straw. High potassium levels can cause problems for dairy cattle, especially if they are calving during a dry season. Gail Carpenter, a […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
