Articles
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Fine-tuning haylage & cereal silage quality for different life stages within the herd
At-a-glance: Spring is the perfect time to set haylage quality goals, considering the varying needs of different animal groups on a dairy farm, to improve forage quality across all life stages, even i...
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How the transition period influences the longevity of dairy cows
Managing cows correctly during the transition period is one of the most important factors for overall farm success. During the transition period, nutrient requirements change to support fetal growth, ...
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Quebec’s Modern-Day Dairy Farm
They say if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. It’s probably fair to say that even the most passionate dairy farmer would have something to say about that, and there’s n...
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Building a Dairy Legacy
There’s a special pride that is only felt by farmers. It’s the pride that comes from being part of a family-owned farm – the kind of farm that will be passed on from generation to generation. Fo...
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Know the six signals to monitor in youngstock
Successful calf and heifer raising can be measured in a few ways. Ultimately, the investment put into replacement animals results in a reduced age at first calving (optimum target of 22 to 24 months),...
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Providing a team approach for a more prosperous industry
This drastic increase in readily available information has pushed farmers to seek out various industry personnel to provide insight not only on how to best make use of the vast information but also wh...
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Using Key Indicators on the Farm to Optimize Quality of Forages
Forages are the basis of dairy herd feeding programs, and their optimal use has a significant impact on farm profitability. They provide cows with the nutrients they need to support their maintenance,...
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Maximizing herd lifetime productivity: Key factors and strategies to enhance longevity
Dairy cow longevity has moved more in the spotlight in recent years, mainly due to the economic and sustainability consequences associated with short animal lifespans. The decision of culling or keepi...
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What is your dry cow program costing you?
When evaluating feed costs on any dairy operation, there are three main areas of focus: the lactating herd, the heifer program and the dry cow period. While many producers have moved to some variation...
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What are the 6 Freedoms of a Cow?
The six freedoms of a cow outlined by a dairy farming training organization are space, rest, water, air, light and feed. These freedoms have aligned benchmarking goals to help producers realize higher...
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Cover the Bases on Foot Health
Our cows have so many demands on them: Put clean milk in the tank, breed back, efficiently utilize feed and more. However, each of these demands are contingent upon the cow’s mobility. Sometimes it ...
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Feed bioactive metabolites to support growth, immunity and better calf performance
Raising replacement animals is a key segment of many dairy operations. Not only does it represent a significant cost, but it also demands an important investment in time and dedication to raise highly...
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Forage digestibility dynamics: A new look at NDF
The start of a new forage year is always filled with much anticipation – will it be a record-breaking year in terms of yield? Will the quality match or surpass the previous year? Will we be able to ...
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Forage Season Success Starts with First Cutting
With the 2024 crop season around the corner, it is time to plan for forage inventory, field management, harvesting and storage. Considering that forage comprises more than 60% of our dairy diets, even...
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Focusing on Corn Silage Makes Cents
At-a-glance: High-quality corn silage significantly boosts milk production and dairy profitability by enhancing nutrient availability and reducing feed costs. Corn silage season is an exciting time in...
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How Safe is Your Dairy Farm?
When you grow up on a dairy farm, it can be hard to see the dangers that exist all around you. From low-hanging beams in barns to the loose ladder on the silo or small rise in the cement, we can becom...
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Kick Sublinical Ketosis to the Curb
Management practices and nutritional strategies during the transition period have a significant impact on the health and productivity of the dairy cow and, as a consequence, influence both the profita...
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Tested and True: Five Strategies that Improved Herd Performance in 2022
Strategizing to improve herd performance has a direct impact on financial returns. Improving herd performance may include a focus on reproduction, cow comfort, data analysis, ration optimization and, ...