dairy cattle Archives - Page 12 of 14

New Zealand farm firm bans use of palm in feed

By Reuters, GFM Network News August 8, 2016

Wellington | Reuters — New Zealand farm company Landcorp said Monday it would ban its farmers from using palm kernel expeller (PKE), a feed supplement used for cows that environmentalists have linked to rainforest destruction. The state-owned company, which runs 140 farms, said it would end the use of the feed by June 2017 to […] Read more

Calf weight growth rates chart by Iowa State University

Cattleman’s Corner, Dairy Cattle

Dairy Corner: Doubling the weight of newborn calves

Consider an accelerated feeding program over 56-days

By Peter Vitti May 31, 2016

When I tour a calf barn along with dairy producers, I often ask them what their main goal in raising baby calves to weaning? Many people respond that they wish to double the newborn’s bodyweight by weaning. My first thought is that this objective is truly challenging from any angle. To start, I calculate the […] Read more

A.I. service can be an option for introducing improved genetics and overall herd performance.

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Something magical about 10:2:1 ratio

A per cent hear and there in reproduction and growth makes a difference

By Sean McGrath May 30, 2016

If it is possible to have a favourite ratio, 10:2:1 is mine. The reason for the favouritism is this ratio comes from one of my favourite pieces of extension material, done by Melton et al. way back in 1995. The 10:2:1 ratio reflects the relative importance of reproduction:production:product, particularly for those marketing calves directly from […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, The Dairy Corner

Dairy Corner: Tips for preventing selective eating

By Peter Vitti May 18, 2016

Recently, I attended the 2016 Western Canadian Dairy Seminar and took in several of the excellent presentations. One of the talks was by Tom Oelberg, who discussed the mixing of the milk cow’s Total Mixed Ration (TMR) as well as some of the improper diets that are often put down in the feed bunk. This lecture made […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Beef cows get mastitis, too

Early treatment can save the udder, and plan to cull susceptible animals

By Roy Lewis April 25, 2016

Even though we think of mastitis as more of a dairy disease, beef producers still need to be vigilant for the condition in their herds. With higher milk production and cows being retained in herds longer, both these factors have a tendency to increase mastitis incidence. Mastitis cases can be smouldering during the long period […] Read more

Livestock, The Dairy Corner

Reviewing dairy records can point to somatic cell count fix

By Peter Vitti March 18, 2016

In the last year, I have reviewed in extensive detail the somatic cell count (SCC) records from dozens of DHI-monitored and robot barns. As a result, I re-educated myself as to the dynamics of reducing high SCC in any particular herd in order to achieve a lower incidence of mastitis and higher milk production. My […] Read more

This newborn calf appears to be bright and alert and soon ready to try nursing.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Get newborn calves breathing and eating

Events immediately following birth are important to future health of the calf

By Heather Smith Thomas January 26, 2016

Two of the most important steps after a calf has been born are to make sure it breathes properly, especially if the calf had to be pulled. And then shortly after, make sure they find the udder. In most normal births, the calf will begin breathing within 30 to 60 seconds after delivery. If it […] Read more

Dairy Cattle, The Dairy Corner

Hutch-reared calves need good diet and TLC

Keeping them dry, out of drafts and well fed leads to a healthier calf

By Peter Vitti January 6, 2016

Each year, I literarily see hundreds of preweaned dairy calves overwintered in outdoor calf hutches. Most perform well, but there are also more “poor doers” than I care to see. I find that each poor calf tells a similar story. Some of the mediocre calves are shivering, others are skinny, a few calves are coughing […] Read more

One of the challenges of putting up corn silage is to harvest when it is not too dry or too wet. Although water can be added to the ration to increase moisture content.

Dairy Cattle, The Dairy Corner

Test corn silage moisture for better milk production

The Dairy Corner: Dairy producers should test every time a new bag, bunk or silo is opened

By Peter Vitti December 3, 2015

There are three stages to the corn harvest in Manitoba. The first starts in September when the corn crop matures and whole plant moisture dries to about 35 per cent dry matter — it’s one of the best time to take off corn silage. The second occurs weeks later when the grain corn dries to […] Read more

With 1.3 million acres of soybeans in Manitoba it has not only become an important cash crop, but it can also be processed as an excellent protein source helping dairy cattle produce more milk.

Cattleman’s Corner, Dairy Cattle

The Dairy Corner: Soybeans have excellent fit in dairy diets

Sometimes more expensive, but they can put more milk in the tank

By Peter Vitti November 12, 2015

I am fortunate to travel across wide stretches of Manitoba and have observed the explosive growth of soybean acres over the last decade. From 2005, only about 100,000 acres were planted and this acreage has steadily increased to about 1.3 million acres, today. Recently, I asked many dairy/soybean producers, why they grew this crop. Most […] 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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