dairy cattle Archives - Page 11 of 14

Trump wins support for possible WTO action on Canada dairy

By GFM Network News April 19, 2017

Reuters – Australia and New Zealand dairy industry leaders say they would support moves by the United States to draw the World Trade Organization into a trade dispute with Canada, after President Donald Trump said existing rules were unfair. On a visit to the U.S. cheese-making state of Wisconsin on April 18, Trump said he […] Read more

This is an actual picture of hairy heel warts taken by a dairy producer.

Cattleman’s Corner, Dairy Cattle

Controlling hairy heel warts in dairy cattle

A clean barn is part of preventative measures

By Peter Vitti March 27, 2017

Since the new year, I have travelled to many dairy farms across Western Canada and conducted a personal survey about lameness in dairy cattle. At each visit, I asked producers “What was their biggest cause of hoof problems?” Almost unanimously, their answer was “hairy heel warts!” This is no surprise, since multiple surveys conducted over […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Dairy Cattle, The Dairy Corner

Dairy Corner: How to optimize dry matter intake

Assess what’s happening at the feed bunk, supply proper ration

By Peter Vitti March 6, 2017

There is only one way I know to supply the essential nutrients to high-producing cows to yield large volumes of milk, milk-fat, milk-protein and solids — assure dairy cows optimize dry matter intake of good feed is at its best. As a dairy nutritionist, I am so convinced each bite of lactation diet counts that […] Read more

More whole milk is needed to meet the basic water requirement of pre-weaned calves.

Dairy Cattle, The Dairy Corner

Pre-weaned calves need extra water

Dairy Corner: Satisfying thirst also promotes good dry calf starter intake

By Peter Vitti January 19, 2017

Feeding milk replacer or whole milk does not provide enough water for growing pre-weaned dairy calves. Young calves have a natural requirement for water which is often higher and separate than what is provided by most milk-based feeding programs. By providing all the water needed, calves adapt to dry calf starter quicker, grow faster and […] Read more

Raw palm kernels need to be crushed and oil rendered, fractioned, filtered and separated before being turned into commercial beads, prilled or flaked free-fatty acids.

Cattleman’s Corner, Dairy Cattle, The Dairy Corner

Dairy Corner: Don’t overdo palm fat in dairy cattle rations

Palm fat can help increase milk fat, but more isn’t necessarily better

By Peter Vitti January 6, 2017

There has been an explosive use of palm fat in many dairy diets. This growth has been fuelled by the numerous incentive days issued by milk marketing boards to increase milk fat production in lactating dairy cows. On the plus side, I see a profitable milk fat increase on many farms because some bypass palm […] Read more

Corn, Dairy Cattle, The Dairy Corner

Right and wrong fermentation

Dairy Corner: If silage moisture is too high going in, it can affect feed quality and palatability

By Peter Vitti December 6, 2016

This autumn, I have seen a variety of corn fields being chopped into silage for dairy cattle. While some of this corn was dried enough to make some good quality corn silage, I was surprised when I saw some producers literarily harvested green chop. After all, they were faced with another rain shower, which forced […] Read more

Dairy Cattle, Livestock

Greig: Salmonella strain hard to treat in livestock

By GFM Network News November 30, 2016

A strain of salmonella resistant to multiple antimicrobials is spreading in Ontario and Quebec cattle herds. There have been 23 cases of Salmonella Dublin in 15 herds reported in Ontario since 2012, but the numbers have been increasing each year. There were eight cases reported in 2015 and four in 2016 through August. Dr. Dave […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock, The Dairy Corner

Dairy Corner: Good starter provides a good start

Make sure the starter has proper nutrients but also great taste

By Peter Vitti November 14, 2016

In recent years, I have seen a lot of pressure on dairy producers to feed more whole milk or milk replacer to their pre-weaned calves. University trials show baby calves fed high levels of milk turn it into superior bodyweight, girth and height at weaning, which make better future-lactating cows. Not to be overshadowed, there […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Dairy Cattle, Livestock

Dairy Corner: Twofold impact of heat stress

Reproduction setbacks may take longer to correct than milk production problems

By Peter Vitti October 13, 2016

This summer in the eastern Prairies seemed to be hotter and definitely more humid than in previous years. I noticed this year in particular had many August nights when the humidex barely fell below 25 C. In talking to dairy producers, some had the same experience and also noticed their heat-stressed cows’ milk production as […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock, The Dairy Corner

Dairy Corner: Rain can compromise good quality hay

Feeding and management options to consider

By Peter Vitti August 15, 2016

The other week I was driving in southern Manitoba and saw a group of dairy cattle grazing tall lush pasture. The grass was up to their bellies and I thought: “When was the last time that our pastures looked so good?” The next field had cut hay in wide swaths that looked rained-on and bleached. […] Read more

GFM Network News

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures sink on concerns over Trump’s push to lower prices

U.S. grains: Soy hits four-month high on hopes for China trade deal

Canadian Grain Commission to use surplus to avoid fee increases

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