Flax could have an important role in improving reproductive performance in dairy cattle. Research studies looking at including flax oil in dairy rations in Alberta, BC and Oregon showed "mixed results, but in all three studies we found reductions in pregnancy losses," explains Divakar Ambrose in the interview below. Ambrose, a dairy research scientist with... Read More
Category: Livestock
The first quarter of 2016 is in the books and it's becoming clear the last two years in the cattle market were likely outliers. "Unfortunately it's a reminder of what normal is. 2016 is nothing like 2014 and 2015 which were really bull markets that kept running through most of both years. That's not the... Read More
What makes a dairy farm sustainable? The definition of sustainability would suggest the future of Canadian dairy farms would rest heavily on environmental, economic and social factors. Farms need to respect the environment, make money and also reflect the aspirations of consumers and their growing awareness of animal welfare. In an era of increasing scrutiny... Read More
The Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency is generally known for its work funding research and market development in the beef and pork industries, but the organization also has a vested interest in dairy. Whether its forage production, animal welfare or meat prices, dairy has more in common with other livestock industries than most recognize, says... Read More
The number of soil tests in Manitoba with phosphorus concentrations below the critical level for crop production grew by 7 percent between 2010 and 2015, according to the new North American Soil Test Summary published by the International Plant Nutrition Institute. Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec, as well as 13 U.S. states, all saw more... Read More
They've built it, now it’s time to come. With the 2016 Canadian Dairy XPO just two weeks away, show organizers are getting ready to unveil the new WeCover Cow Coliseum and pedestrian bridge that will connect the building to the Stratford Rotary Complex. The steel bridge will carry the more than 15,000 visitors expected to... Read More
Cows aren't the only creatures that need to be trained to use a dairy robot. The value a dairy farm gets out of an automated system depends on all the people involved knowing how to utilize the machine's capabilities. "That robot is doing nothing more than milking your cows," explains Ben Smink of Lely North... Read More
The 20 million acres of canola that blooms yellow every summer is a pride of the prairies. So what does that have to do with dairy? Canola and soybeans duke it out in the oil market, but also the meal market. At the Western Canadian Dairy Seminar, I searched out some answers on this canola... Read More
A cow-calf producer from apple country in southeastern Ontario is the new president of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association. Dan Darling and David Haywood-Farmer of BC were elected by acclamation as president and vice president, respectively, at the Canadian Cattlemen's Association's annual general meeting in Ottawa this past weekend. Darling, who served as vice president for... Read More
This week Shaun and Debra attended the Western Canadian Dairy Seminar in Red Deer, Alberta. Since 1982 the seminar has been helping educate dairy producers, nutritionists, suppliers and vets on the latest in dairy research, best practices and current issues. Shaun got a chance to discuss the Western Canada Dairy Seminar agenda with the program... Read More