February 1, 2025

February 1, 2025 Progressive Dairy-Canada digital magazine

February 1, 2025

The latest issue of Progressive Dairy-Canada magazine is available. To view, make sure you're logged into your agproud.com account. If you do not have access, click "Subscribe" in the top-right corner of agproud.com to add permission to view.

Research Review: Mounting evidence for dairy's role in preventing Type 2 diabetes

January 30, 2025

Type 2 diabetes affects 11% of Canadian adults – roughly 3 million people – and costs nearly $20 billion annually. As a significant public health concern, the disease is influenced by genetics and lifestyle, with diet being one of the most modifiable factors in reducing diabetes risk.

Dairy Farmers of Canada: Discover more farmer resources from DFC

February 1, 2025

Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) offers a wide variety of tools and resources to support dairy farmers. It’s one of the ways we’re helping to strengthen dairy’s place in the healthy, sustainable Canadian diet of today and tomorrow.

Who is responsible for what on your farm?

Use the RACI chart described in this article to delegate who is responsible, accountable, consulted and informed of projects and tasks.

January 22, 2025

Elaine Froese

If you are gearing up for spring planting or tending to livestock, you know there are many daily tasks to complete, and your mind may be saying “The work on this farm is never done.” Many young farmers are keen to work hard to prove they are ready to become farm managers, but what tools are helpful for founders and successors to delegate the tasks ahead?

The importance of financial literacy for the next generation of dairy farmers

Investing in financial literacy will ensure the sustainability, profitability and growth of family farms in an increasingly complex agricultural landscape.

January 21, 2025

Andy Leach

The challenges facing today’s dairy farmers are vastly different from those of previous generations. Rising costs, environmental regulations and technological advancements have created a complex and competitive environment. For the next generation poised to take over family dairy farms, financial literacy is not just an asset; it is a necessity.

Maintenance tips to keep equipment running properly

Proactive steps to prevent fatigue can increase worker safety when working on or around farm equipment, in addition to following the manufacturer’s guidelines for specific maintenance requirements.

January 16, 2025

Cheryl DeCooman

Keeping your farm equipment in good condition is a vital part of maintaining a safe operation. Performing regular inspections and routine maintenance ensures your equipment is in safe working condition and can prevent incidents. Employees should not operate any equipment that is not in safe condition.

Four tips to help unlock the potential of beef-on-dairy

Beef-on-dairy can be a viable and useful option for increasing calf value. However, for maximum return, farms should provide quality care and strategize when they sell them.

October 28, 2024

D J Dominguez

Using beef semen to cross with Holsteins, Jerseys and other dairy breeds has helped change the value of each calf. Dairy producers are looking for ways to maximize this strategy and reap the financial benefits. Here are four tips to help unlock the potential of beef-on-dairy calves and secure maximum results.

AI and dairy farming

For dairy farmers seeking to enhance efficiency and productivity, AI offers a wealth of opportunities. From optimizing herd management to streamlining operations, AI is reshaping the landscape of modern dairy farming.

January 15, 2025

Dan Veeneman

The dairy industry is undergoing a significant transformation, with artificial intelligence (AI) at the forefront of this revolution. For dairy farmers seeking to enhance efficiency and productivity, AI offers a wealth of opportunities. From optimizing herd management to streamlining operations, AI is reshaping the landscape of modern dairy farming.

What is the best bedding choice for cow comfort in stall barns?

Locomotion and hock scores, along with resting time, are indicators of the quality of the lying surface and bedding choice. With many bedding options available, this article provides recommendations for how to optimize each of them to improve cow comfort.

November 7, 2024

Emily Fread

Using a custom index to select your best robot cows

Creating a custom index based on milk production, milkability, robot visits and milking speed can aid in creating an efficient herd.

October 11, 2024

John Gerbitz

The best robot cows combine four factors – milk production, milkability, milking speed and trips to the robot. Each of these factors can be measured, and the measurements can be combined to rank the best robot cows.

Which traits make an efficient dairy cow?

Understanding how to make indexes work for you will aid in your herd's profitability.

January 14, 2025

Albert De Vries

Which traits make an efficient dairy cow? To answer that question, it is useful to carefully think about what a very efficient dairy cow looks like. One definition of an efficient dairy cow is cow that maximizes milk production while maintaining good health and fertility, thereby optimizing profitability for the producer.

Control digital dermatitis with a cow-sensitive approach

Improved hygiene on the dairy through proper footbath protocols is a key way producers can manage the presence of digital dermatitis in their herds.

April 8, 2024

Jenn Coyne

Severely lame cows are easily distinguishable in the herd, even to the untrained eye. The key is to work with the farm team in identifying and addressing lameness early. This may be before the lesion is visible until you pick the foot up in the hoof-trimming chute.

Tips from an expert: How to improve hoof health on your dairy

Jamie Sullivan suggests dairy producers evaluate lameness standards, keep accurate trimming records, create a functional environment for hoof trimming and treat lameness quickly.

January 28, 2025

Matti McBride

In a recent Progressive Dairy Podcast episode, Jamie Sullivan of Rippleview Hoofcare addressed some misconceptions surrounding hoof care, gave his thoughts on where hoof health priorities should lie and challenged the dairy industry to reframe thinking around lameness.

What happens in the dry cow group impacts the whole dairy

Setting up your farm for successful cow transitions

March 20, 2024

Melissa Hart

Calving is not a disease; it is a stage that needs to be managed and how that is done will impact a cow for her entire lactation. Best practices for transitioning a cow from far-off fresh to her lactation group has a host of areas that need focused attention by the entire management team on the dairy.

G.I. tract health is key in pneumonia prevention

Probiotics may help with pneumonia prevention, as they aid in keeping the microbiome in balance and preserving calf health.

February 21, 2024

Kimberley Morrill

Raising calves in the winter brings many challenges, and feeding an effective probiotic is one tool that can help reduce the stress involved in calf raising.

Preweaned calves, technology and long-term profitability

While raising calves as cheaply as possible may have been a past goal, research shows that raising calves for maximum performance is more productive. Modern technology can play a big role in achieving this through timely information and more efficient management.

August 27, 2024

Robert James

Until recently, raising all heifer calves to breeding age or calving and selling them was not profitable. Using the concept of genomics, lower-ranking females in the herd have been bred to beef sires, resulting in a new profit center for many farms. Finally, we are learning to appreciate that the better we raise our heifer calves, the healthier they are, and they produce more milk during their first and later lactations.

Investigating causes of late-term abortions

Learn common pathogenic and nonpathogenic causes of late-term abortions and how dairy producers, their herd veterinarians and veterinary diagnostic laboratories can work together to help find the cause of late-term abortions.

July 16, 2024

Angela Rowson

Learn common pathogenic and nonpathogenic causes of late-term abortions and how dairy producers, their herd veterinarian and veterinary diagnostic laboratories can work together to help find the cause of late-term abortions.

How can we determine the ideal amount of corn silage in dairy cow diets?

The optimal proportion of corn silage in a dairy cow’s diet generally ranges between 25-75% of the total forage, but the precise answer varies depending on factors unique to each operation.

January 9, 2025

Jean-Philippe Laroche

Producers who work with corn silage sometimes wonder about the optimal proportion of this ingredient in their diet. Answering this question is no easy task, as the effects of changing it are multiple and complex. Let's look at the facts to guide our decisions.

Chris-Adie Holsteins: Staying cow-oriented while looking to the future

The Flaman family stays committed to cow health and comfort while embracing innovation.

January 22, 2025

Matti McBride

In a conversation with Matthew and Mike Flaman of Chris-Adie Holsteins, it’s obvious that their cows are top priority. Terms like “cow flow” and “cow comfort” pepper their descriptions of the operation. With an average of 38-40 litres of milk per day, the Holsteins of Chris-Adie are well cared for.

Winter-proof your farm tires: Essential tips for the cold season

Adequate storage, maintenance and care are crucial to making tires last when temperatures drop.

January 7, 2025

Greg Jones

Winter is here and with it comes colder temperatures, wet or icy ground and snow in some areas. Despite the changing weather conditions, you still need to get work done, and farm tire maintenance is crucial to staying productive, no matter the weather.

Faber's Food for Thought: Cow hunting with sheriffs

April 1, 2024

Dwayne Faber

There is a saying that when you have livestock, you will invariably have deadstock. While this may come as a shock to some vegan consumers, cows do die, and it’s not typically in a hospital surrounded by their family and friends.

Just Dropping By: The things I learned at the door of poverty

January 19, 2024

Yevet Crandell Tenney

Sometimes I look at my bank account through online banking and wonder where all the money went. I can track it, but still, it went faster than I expected. I can’t help but wonder why I wasn’t born in the proverbial lap of luxury.

Life on the Family Farm: My valentine

February 7, 2024

Tom Heck

I remember back many years ago to a very special time in my life: Feb. 14, 1989. It was Valentine’s Day, and it was the third month that I had been dating a very beautiful, godly lady named Joanne.

The Milk House: The first herd

October 19, 2024

Ryan Dennis

Sometimes, while trying to hold a milker on a heifer intent on kicking it off or struggling to get a difficult dry cow into a trailer, I wondered – in all the sweat and anger and cussing – how we got to this moment.

Our Publications

Progressive Dairy Canada

Digital edition

February 1, 2025 Progressive Dairy-Canada digital magazine

News & business

Research Review: Mounting evidence for dairy's role in preventing Type 2 diabetes

Dairy Farmers of Canada: Discover more farmer resources from DFC

Management

Who is responsible for what on your farm?

The importance of financial literacy for the next generation of dairy farmers

Maintenance tips to keep equipment running properly

Topic articles

Four tips to help unlock the potential of beef-on-dairy

AI and dairy farming

What is the best bedding choice for cow comfort in stall barns?

Using a custom index to select your best robot cows

Which traits make an efficient dairy cow?

Control digital dermatitis with a cow-sensitive approach

Tips from an expert: How to improve hoof health on your dairy

What happens in the dry cow group impacts the whole dairy

G.I. tract health is key in pneumonia prevention

Preweaned calves, technology and long-term profitability

Investigating causes of late-term abortions

How can we determine the ideal amount of corn silage in dairy cow diets?

Chris-Adie Holsteins: Staying cow-oriented while looking to the future

Winter-proof your farm tires: Essential tips for the cold season

Departments

Faber's Food for Thought: Cow hunting with sheriffs

Just Dropping By: The things I learned at the door of poverty

Life on the Family Farm: My valentine

The Milk House: The first herd

La laiterie : Du cheddar tu ne voleras point

Finding, writing and applying for grants for your ranch

InFocus: 2024 per capita milk production

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