A streamlined method of visual scoring, which can be performed quickly, consistently and accurately by farm personnel, continues to play a crucial role in managing lameness in dairy herds.

If we consider your farm a hockey team, you are Conner McDavid. You are responsible for doing the heavy work of production. Relying on your advisers as a team will make your position as the CEO more successful. Scoring goals is great, but our ultimate aim is to win the Stanley Cup of long-term financial success.

Producers are encouraged to monitor their test results and assess their farm’s free fatty acid risk factors. A discussion with their nutritionist, veterinarian and/or field service representative can also be helpful to target any free fatty acid concerns.

Calf welfare has been a key focus area of Drs. Dan Weary and Marina (Nina) von Keyserlingk’s industry research chair in animal welfare at the University of British Columbia. In a recent episode of the Dairy Farmers of Canada’s research podcast series, Paths to On-Farm Excellence, Weary and von Keyserlingk discussed milk feeding and group housing – two key elements of their research surrounding calf welfare and management.

As global demand for dairy products continues to rise, the pressure to produce high-yielding cows has been increasing. However, this pursuit often brings with it a significant challenge: the historical trade-off between high milk production and reproductive efficiency.

Everyone that works with or around large animals must understand their behaviours, signs of aggressive or defensive behaviour, their herd mentality and the way their vision works, including their blind spots.