My parents married Dec. 27, 1955. My brothers each chose to marry that same week in 1984 and 1990. I, being the rebel, got married on Independence Day: July 4, 1981. Wes and I have outlasted Chuck and Di, who married the same year, same month.

When nutritionists balance diets, all of the calculations are made on a dry matter (DM) basis. This is because the requirements of the animals are defined on a DM basis and also to eliminate the effect of different moistures on the different feeds. This way we bring everything to a common denominator.

Molds damage silage quality, and some molds can lead to the development of mycotoxins that can make silage unhealthy for livestock consumption. Growers need to understand which molds are harmful and how to limit their development in crops.

There is no doubt that dehorning (also referred to as disbudding) is painful. Given that much of the horn as well as the skin surrounding the horn is highly innervated, dehorning elicits immediate and acute reactions from calves. However, the pain from dehorning can and should be minimized.

“Move! I don’t have time for this!” You are moving a first-calf heifer into the milking parlour for the first time and, despite all efforts, she refuses to enter. What do you do?

In Canada, dairy producers are recognized as world leaders in the production of quality milk and meat. Dairy producers are already regularly inspected to ensure they adhere to rules and regulations for producing milk.

Strategies to get the truth about dairy farming to our consumers Dairy farming provides a very tangible opportunity to benefit our fellow Canadians. Our consumers rely on us to provide them with the top-quality dairy products they have come to expect from our excellent industry.