dairy farming Archives - Page 2 of 3

Norm McNaughton (l) and Pierre Lampron (r) with CanWest DHI chair Ed Friesen. (CanwestDHI.com)

Dairy services organizations create partnership

By GFM Network News November 23, 2017

Three major service providers in Canadian dairy farming have formed a partnership that will result in one company supplying herd management and genetic services to Canadian dairy farmers. The partnership, including CanWest DHI, Valacta and the Canadian Dairy Network (CDN), still has to be approved by farmer-members of the organizations. CanWest DHI provides on-farm testing […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Dairy Cattle, Livestock

Maintain forage fibre in a dairy diet

Dairy Corner with Peter Vitti

By Peter Vitti October 19, 2017

I recently visited a dairy producer running 200 cows having problems maintaining butterfat at 3.9 per cent in his 35-kg milk producing herd. He asked me to walk the lactation barn and see what I could find out. It took about 20 minutes to walk the feed bunk and cows, and in the end, I […] Read more

Dairy Cattle, Livestock, The Dairy Corner

Know your lactating dairy diet costs

Look to find a balance between very expensive and very cheap rations

By Peter Vitti August 21, 2017

Occasionally, I talk to dairy producers about the financial aspects of operating a barn, aside from dairy nutrition. All producers wish to reduce their lactating feed costs. One producer I know wants to switch to a notorious cheap protein supplement, while another wants to hire a private dairy consultant and tender out all dairy feed […] Read more

Dairy Cattle, Livestock, The Dairy Corner

Avoid giving your baby calves gut aches

It takes time for a calf stomach to develop to handle certain feeds

By Peter Vitti July 25, 2017

I visit literarily hundreds of dairy farms across Canada each year. On most, pre-weaned dairy calves are raised away from the main lactation barn or older replacement heifer facilities. Whether these baby calves are housed in hutches, group pens or brand-new calf barns, when I find a group of calves that are sick and not […] 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

Quebec OYF regional nominees Dominic Drapeau and Celia Neault and their four children – Kelly and Mavrick, 10-year-old twins, Alicia, nine and Liam, seven.

Dairy Cattle, News

Outstanding Young Farmers Quebec: Dominic Drapeau and Celia Neault

Dominic Drapeau and Celia Neault are part of a four-generation family farm

By Lee Hart December 1, 2016

Relying on the knowledge and advice of an expert team, strong family support, a well-planned goal, and a lot of hard work has helped a young southern Quebec couple build one of the most progressive and productive dairy farms in the province. Dominic Drapeau and Celia Neault say it is a combination of these and […] Read more

Columns, Hart Attacks

Tory hopeful targets supply management

Let’s get Hillary elected first, then we can worry about milk and eggs

By Lee Hart October 27, 2016

I shouldn’t get too involved in Canadian politics until the U.S. presidential election is over. There is no doubt the race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump makes good theatre. I am glad I don’t have to make the decision as a U.S. voter. It is truly a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you don’t contest. But, in keeping […] 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

GFM Network News

U.S. livestock: Feeder cattle hit contract highs on tight supply

U.S. grains: Soybeans tumble on doubts over U.S.-China trade progress

Alberta harvest wrapping up: report

Tag Archives dairy farming