Progressive Dairy Canada

Ketosis, also called hyperketonemia, is a disease defined by elevated levels of ketone bodies in circulation, or high ketones, for short. While this is not a new disease by any means, it is still an important health problem to address in your dairy herd. This short article will review the economics and prevention of ketosis in five points. 1.

Much like the focus elite athletes give to their workouts, training programs and diets, managers of high-producing dairy cows must dedicate a similar level of care and attention to fine-tuning the health and routine of their herd. At least, this is how Dr. Stephen LeBlanc, professor at the University of Guelph, sees it.

Coined the “most prolific accolade awarded” by Holstein Canada, the Master Breeder Award is not something to sneeze at. Breeders are recognized for consistently producing animals that are the complete package: high-producing, great conformation, healthy and long-lasting. The years of hard work are honoured annually at the Holstein Canada National Convention, with over 1,000 Master Breeder shields awarded since 1929, acknowledging exceptional breeders from each province.

Sedley Benitz for Progressive Dairy Published on 28 July 2022 Regenerative agriculture is a phrase growing in popularity within agriculture. Corporations are using the phrase to market their products and grow their businesses. Although this approach to farming is growing in profile, it remains lacking a clear definition, with the most common similarity between definitions being improving soil health.

In the Black Hills of Deadwood, South Dakota, young farmers and ranchers asked many questions during my presentation to them last January. When I asked the group of cowboys in their black Stetsons what was the one thing they grasped after four hours of interaction, it was “importance of communication.” It is easy to say, but how do you put it into practice? Here’s a random sampling of their questions to me and my responses to help improve communication. See what lands for you on your farm or ranch.

Safe and secure manure storage is very important on your dairy. In order to maximize contents during the growing season, manure pits must be agitated and pumped out regularly Although on some operations this task only happens a few times a year, planning ahead, developing safe operating procedures and ensuring everyone is trained on manure pit safety will help keep employees and anyone else that may be on the farm safe. Let’s take a moment to examine some of the common hazards.

Donna Benschop and Matt Groen for Progressive Dairy Published on 19 July 2022 “I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling 22.” You might be wondering why an article on heifer raising is starting off with lyrics from a popular Taylor Swift song, but that line from her 2013 song describes a lot of themes around setting goals and optimizing heifer raising. When asked “What age do you want to calve in your heifers?” many producers may very well repeat that exact line.

One of the biggest challenges in the fight to mitigate carbon emissions and address climate change is that every group and every player who participates in this collective mission has different goals. These goals develop based on the interests of each group. The groups may be global organizations like the United Nations, federal governments, national boards, localized community groups, regional organizations or individual households, among others.

Have you ever felt like the solution to your problem would be achievable if only the right tool existed? Have you then wondered why such an obvious tool is not available? If you answered yes to these questions, chances are you can relate to Donald Russell. After becoming a dairy farmer in 1995, Russell, an avid reader of scientific papers and journal articles, wondered why the research he was consuming often conflicted with industry practices.

The first two months of a calf’s life are a critically important period that lays the foundation for their future health and productivity. Exciting current research has shown that high pre-weaning growth rates impact future productivity of calves by improving milk production in the first and second lactation, age at first calving and longevity within the herd.