Over 15 years, my partner and I facilitated a management club for a group of 20 or so farms. We would meet quarterly at a different farm, with a different topic for discussion at each meeting. We also calculated income over feed costs (IOFC) for each farm.

Have you ever heard a neighbour say, “If I used every new product that claims to add a kilogram of milk, I would be at 60 kilograms”? This is usually said sarcastically to express hesitations over some new additive, and there may be some truth in the statement.

Many years ago, when I was a “baby” vet, I was working with an old bachelor who milked 30 cows. During pregnancy checks, I asked how his calves were doing. “If I ever get a sick calf, I go to the liquor store and buy a bottle of whiskey.

The first Canadian national dairy survey was conducted in 2015. Not surprisingly, producers from every region listed feed costs as a concern for their operation. Yet there is an older technology to improve return over feed (ROF) only used by 50% of Canadian producers.

Ketosis is a very common disease in dairy cattle. Various testing methods are available to help dairy producers understand how it affects their herds. Here are a couple of points to consider in selecting the method that is right for you.