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Tag Archives Dairy Cattle — page 22

Holstein cows in a modern freestall dairy barn in Brazil.
Livestock

Domestic demand drives Brazilian dairy expansion

Brazil, an exporting power in other agriculture commodities, consumes 98 per cent of dairy production inside the country

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Optimism is the name of the game in the Brazilian dairy industry as the sector continues to boost production in South America’s largest country. According to a recent survey of Brazil’s top 100 dairy producers by independent research firm MilkPoint, 90 per cent of respondents plan on expanding their operations in the next three years. […] Read more
Farmers will have to examine how practical it is on their farms to provide several feedings of cow transition milk to their youngest calves.
Livestock

Calves benefit from mother’s post-colostrum milk

University of Guelph study identifies ‘bio-actives’ in days two to four of lactation

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Taking newborn calves completely off colostrum after one or two feedings may contribute to future health challenges, according to as-yet-unpublished research by the University of Guelph’s Department of Animal Physiology. Instead, explained Associate Professor Dr. Michael Steele in the annual webinar series of the US-based Dairy Cattle Welfare Council (DCWC), it might be advisable to […] Read more
There’s a glut of Holstein heifers on the market, so some farmers are turning to cross-breeding to beef.
Livestock

Breeding strategy bringing dairy-beef crosses to meat market

Advent of sexed semen means more dairy cattle being bred to beef

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The father-and-son duo of George and Heath Taylor believe they have an ideal strategy for dairy farmers taking up the use of sexed semen for breeding: Wagyu beef. “They’ve got two-thirds of their herd that they’re not breeding for replacements,” George said recently at the family’s Thorndale beef operation, which shares space with the somewhat […] Read more
Researchers found that there was no relation between level of antimicrobial use and milk production.
Livestock

Kicking antibiotics out of the dairy barn

Contrary to popular belief, reducing antibiotic use has not resulted in lower returns to producers

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It has been 68 months — and counting — since a cow in the milking herd at Rosy-Lane Holsteins LLC near Watertown, WI, was treated with antibiotics. The owners are now taking a hard look at whether they can reduce or eliminate antimicrobial use in dry cows and calves. While the 1,000-cow Wisconsin dairy Lloyd […] Read more
Raising heifers is expensive and one area where farmers can cut costs.
Livestock

Ways to live with narrower dairy profit margins

The gradual implementation of trade deals is expected to squeeze growth on dairy farmers as expenses increase

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Dairy producers haven’t yet felt the implications of recent trade deals, but they will soon. “These deals have really not affected [the dairy producers] at all,” says Jack Rodenburg, with DairyLogix. But, he says producers will feel the impact this year and then the market will be affected, especially from 2020 to 2025. Rodenburg spoke […] Read more
Bethany Desphande is the co-founder and CEO of SomaDetect.
News

Canadian company chosen for global agriculture business accelerator

SomaDetect will be part of the Pearse Lyons Accelerator’s latest group

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A glance at the startups that form part of the latest cohort at a global ag tech accelerator, paints a vivid picture of where the future of farming is going. Sensors, blockchain, cell-cultured meat, biotechnology and artificial intelligence feature among the 2019 cohort of the Pearse Lyons Accelerator — and it also includes a homegrown […] Read more
Martin Pronk and his cows in their pack barn.
Livestock

Getting the grass-fed dairy details right

Harriston-area dairy farmer focuses on pasture and grass forages and feeds no grain

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Martin Pronk showed a slide of a cow that had been milking for over 700 days, and suggested to an audience at the recent Guelph Organic Conference that his lack of concern about either getting that cow pregnant or sent away for slaughter is what sets him apart from most fellow dairy farmers. But in […] Read more
The dairy producer panel on genomics at the Grey-Bruce Dairy Day: Gary Markus, Markhill Farms Ltd., Wayne Wagler, Claynook Farms Ltd., Phil Armstrong, Armstrong Manor Farm, Lynsay Beavers, industry liaison co-ordinator, Canadian Dairy Network.
Livestock

Genomic best practices from committed testers

Have a plan say dairy farmers who use genomics to determine which heifers to keep

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If dairy producers want to use genomics to improve their herds, they should have a plan, develop goals for their operation, and stick to them, according to Gary Markus of Markhill Holsteins. “Jump in with both feet, use the data, and don’t dabble,” he said during a producer panel on Dairy Day at the recent […] Read more
Neil McCutcheon of BDO LLP talks about how milk production is the most important factor for farm profitability.
Livestock, News

Optimizing dairy farm returns

The dairy farmer’s mantra: How do I get more milk out of my cows?

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Milk production, more than any other factor, drives profitability on a dairy farm, according to Neil McCutcheon. He spoke during Dairy Day at the recent Grey-Bruce Farmers’ Week. Milk production matters more than whether you have a free stall or tie-stall operation and it matters more than even the size of the operation. Why it […] Read more
The body condition scoring camera is placed above the cow usually on an exit gate.
Livestock

Cameras provide base for dairy automation and monitoring

Dairy Focus: Companies are using the cameras to measure everything from feed intake to body condition

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Cameras are helping attach milking machines to teats, monitor body condition score, heats and feed consumption on dairy farms, making it one of the base technologies of the dairy data revolution. Why it matters: Farmers need technology that can reliably work over many repetitions and in tough conditions. Cameras that see in three dimensions have […] Read more

Cyber-Savvy Farmer

Glacier Farmmedia Podcast