Whether you are new to needling cattle or a seasoned pro, the risk of injury or side effects from mishaps that may occur while performing this task are always present. 

There are numerous benefits to both the cow and calf with cow-calf contact rearing. Animal welfare and consumer perception are key factors to consider.

As mom to a young successor and wife to a very ambitious, determined, successful seed grower who is wired to get tasks done, I’m seeing firsthand how it can be an interesting journey to graciously let go of control and mentor the next manager of your farm business.

PDO tour participants observed rotary parlours and robots in response to labour shortages in California.

On March 30, the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) and Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) released the updated Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Dairy Cattle.

There’s not one specific detail that has helped Skyline Dairy maintain a somatic cell count (SCC) of 50,000, but it is rather a team-based focus on cow comfort.

When the Moreys decided to expand, the robots had to be upgraded or replaced. They decided to build a barn and parlour for the future, preparing the Morey family farm for the next generation.

Slurry contains valuable quantities of nitrogen in the form of a liquid: ammonium usually found in livestock urine. Ammonium is readily available for absorption by plant root systems, but from the moment it hits the barn floor until it is incorporated into the field, large quantities are lost in the atmosphere in the form of ammonia gas.

Close monitoring of dietary protein, shade, cooling systems and ventilation will all keep cows cooler during the heat of summer.