Progressive Dairy

Research Review: Using technology to improve locomotion assessments in dairy cows

March 25, 2023

Researchers are testing alternative, automated methods for assessment of lameness to identify and treat cows before more severe lameness develops.

Physiological and metabolic changes caused by heat stress

Heat stress in summer can lead to problems even in fall and winter.

March 23, 2023

Catherine Delorme Tetreault and Marc-Antoine Guesthier

Heat stress and its effects can begin at relatively low temperatures combined with high humidity. The effects can be long-lasting and wreak havoc on production, reproduction.

High-pressure fogging vs. soaking

A discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of high-pressure fogging and soaking based on climate, farm size and other factors.

March 21, 2023

Dan Veeneman

Choosing the right cooling system for a dairy farm will depend on various factors such as the climate in the region, the size of the farm and the cost of installation and maintenance.

Canadian Dairy XPO is back for 2023 and better than ever

March 14, 2023

Karen Lee

Three years have passed since the dairy industry last came together for the Canadian Dairy XPO (CDX) in Stratford, Ontario. Much of the event will remain the same, while enhancements will provide an even better experience for the record-breaking crowd anticipated to attend April 5-6.

Increasing longevity, shortening calving interval and focusing on milk quality brought these herds to the top in 2022

Each area of Lactanet's Herd Performance Index helps producers measure their growth and areas of need.

March 14, 2023

Lora Bender and Katie Coyne

"Every day, I try to target the small deficiencies and see how I can improve it. In this sense, in 2022, both milk value and longevity were affected by the precision of my transition to an owner, complete investigations with my expert robot nutritionist, and small modifications in our forage harvesting process for an optimal quality." —Isabelle Lasalle

Dynamic leaders, coachable youth and team building all lead to a trip downtown

A trip to the TD 4-H Classic starts early in the spring with dedication to the trip through teamwork.

March 14, 2023

Katie Coyne

Building skills for a lifetime with an emphasis on teamwork, a trip to Toronto in November for the TD 4-H Classic begins with dedicated volunteers such as Bobbi-Jo Uhr.

Ontario dairy making a name in the beef market

Ferme Gillette began expanding into the beef industry in search of better steaks and have since made a name for themselves – producing and processing local beef.

March 9, 2023

Matti McBride

A question from junior partner Eric Patenaude sparked an idea that led to a tasty new enterprise for Ferme Gillette of Embrun, Ontario. Read about Ferme Gillette's success in the beef industry here!

Seven considerations for converting a tiestall barn to a robotic milking system

Renovating an existing tiestall barn for a robotic milking system is a cost-effective way to introduce automation on the farm. Consider these seven factors to successfully make the transition.

March 7, 2023

Richard Franta

Automated milking systems have gained popularity in recent years for a variety of reasons, whether it is reducing labour, gaining a more flexible schedule or desiring herd management data.

DFC is a proud sponsor of Nutrition Month

March 2, 2023

Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is proud to return as a sponsor of Dietitians of Canada’s Nutrition Month. The annual March commemoration celebrates food and healthy eating, shining a spotlight on the role of dietitians in providing effective, credible nutrition guidance to Canadians.

How to load cows on a trailer safely

Being prepared and ensuring that anyone involved in loading or unloading cattle has a good understanding of the safety measures that need to be taken is good for both the animals and the people involved.

March 2, 2023

Cheryl DeCooman

There is often a lot of conversation regarding loading cattle from the cattle perspective, and this is certainly important information to consider, but it is also important to keep the safety of the animal handlers top of mind as well.