milk Archives - Page 6 of 8

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

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, 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, Cow-Calf

Pencil the profits of creep feeding

In a 300-head herd it could mean about $7,000 worth of extra gain

By Peter Vitti September 14, 2016

For much of this summer a lot of rain has fallen across the Prairies and has made pastures lush with green grass. Many beef cow-calf producers which creep spring calves have found cows are literarily bursting with milk, so their spring calves are making few visits to the calf feeders. It has been my experience […] 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

Purdue University researcher Bruce Applegate says the system could be tested to see if it works without pasteurization. (Purdue Agriculture Communication photo/Tom Campbell)

Dairy Cattle

Cool-temperature process extends milk shelf life

Rapid heating and cooling by 10 C

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News July 20, 2016

Purdue University researchers say they have developed a milk preservation system using a lower temperature than pasteurization, but providing a longer shelf life. The researchers found that increasing the temperature of milk by 10 C for less than a second and then cooling it rapidly eliminates more than 99 per cent of the bacteria left […] Read more

Dairy Cattle, Livestock

EU livestock farmers get compensation

Dairy farmers receive funds to offset price slump after scrapping of quotas

By Reuters, GFM Network News July 18, 2016

Brussels/Paris – Reuters — The European Union will grant an additional 500 million euros (C$721 million) to EU farmers struggling with a long-running crisis linked to low prices, notably in the dairy sector where it aims to reverse a boom in milk output after the scrapping of production quotas. European milk farmers have been struggling with […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Putting life back into tired soil

Productive soils should translate into more productive livestock

By Debbie Chikousky July 4, 2016

Last fall we were able to disc 10 acres of our old hayfield that has been increasingly infested with water hemlock. Considering this has been a work in progress for about 10 years it felt magnificent to actually, finally, have the equipment, time, and weather all at once. After researching chemical control of water hemlock, cultivation […] 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

U.S. grains: Soybeans, corn fall on harvest pressure

U.S. livestock: Hog futures slide in technical correction

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: Acknowledging the past, seeking a better future

GFM Network News