Progressive Dairy

Make farm fire prevention a priority this fall

Seven tips shared for Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 9-15) to reduce a farm’s risk of fire.

September 9, 2022

No one person or farm is immune to the threat of fire. The risk is something every farmer accepts but rarely plans for. This Oct. 9-15 marks Fire Prevention Week, and for farmers, it serves as a reminder that farm fire season is fast approaching.

Trace mineral supplementation in the diets of dairy cows

The impact of trace mineral supplementation in dairy cow diets depends on the source, and a recent study finds organic trace minerals may help optimize herd health.

September 8, 2022

Bruna Mion

Trace minerals are the minerals required in small quantities, normally added in milligrams or micrograms to dairy cow diets. Required trace minerals include cobalt, copper, iodine, manganese, selenium and zinc.

The effect of sugar supplementation on milk urea nitrogen and protein efficiency

Focus on optimizing milk urea nitrogen (MUN) through sugar supplementation to enhance production and animal performance and reduce protein feed waste and nitrogen excretion.

September 8, 2022

Sydney Moore

Focus on optimizing MUN through sugar supplementation to enhance production and animal performance and reduce protein feed waste and nitrogen excretion.

Research Review: How slag filters can be effective, low-maintenance systems to reduce nutrient pollution from bunker silo runoff

September 8, 2022

Merrin Macrae, Steven Roche, Julia Saraceni, Andrew VanderZaag, and Carlee Wright

Bunker silos are a popular option for storing large volumes of silage for animal feed; however, due to their large surface area and exposure of contents to precipitation, these structures present a unique challenge for effluent management due to infrequent flows with high nutrient concentrations, high biological oxygen demand and low pH.

Rising expenses and interest rates: How much can we control?

Steps your farm can take today to combat rising interest rates and take advantage of untapped potential in breeding and at the feedbunk that will yield long-term results.

September 8, 2022

Patrice Fortier, Simon Jette-Nantel, and Rene Roy

Without rubbing salt in the wound, we all know fall is not easy for a farm’s cash flow. Milk cheques are often at their lowest at the end of summer, and field crops consume a lot of cash flow during this time as well, making autumn a difficult time of year.

Help! My parents have loads of debt we don’t want

Debt service plans are an important part of the farm transition process.

September 8, 2022

Elaine Froese

“Every front door looks beautiful” is one of my favourite Irish sayings. It came to mind in Deadwood, South Dakota, where I was listening to the woes of a young ranch couple.

Stay safe when working from ladders, heights

Proper fall protection and ladder safety are necessary to prevent serious injuries on the farm.

September 8, 2022

Cheryl DeCooman

Proper fall protection and ladder safety are necessary to prevent serious injuries on the farm.

Teamwork and cow comfort are paramount at Lucky Hill Dairy

An Alberta dairy does not take anything for granted, appreciating luck in all they do, including their breeding achievements and new barn geared towards cow comfort and longevity.

September 8, 2022

Emma Ohirko

Co-owners of Lucky Hill Dairy Ltd. Willem and Joanne van der Linde say lucky is more than just a part of the farm’s name, it is an outlook on farm life itself.

Dairy Farmers of Canada’s latest campaign a rallying cry for sustainable agriculture

Canadian dairy farmers have been caring about the environment for decades and want consumers to know they have big plans.

September 7, 2022

This summer, Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) launched a powerful new advertising campaign promoting an ambitious dairy industry target to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

What does feeding behaviour tell us and how can we use it to optimize nutrition management?

Beyond diet, how cows eat is major factor influencing cow health, efficiency and productivity, which means optimizing nutrition also requires an understanding of cow feeding behaviour.

September 7, 2022

Emma Ohirko

When you consider the ration you feed your cows and the feed additives and nutritional components you invest in, do you also prioritize the conditions under which this feed is consumed?