May 1, 2023

May 1, 2023 Progressive Dairy-Canada digital magazine

May 1, 2023

McConnell, Finstad on 'The Dynamic World of Agri-Food'

A fireside chat at the Western Canadian Dairy Seminar covered all that is exciting in the future of agri-food.

April 4, 2023

From technology to sustainability to land ownership to youth to the mature crowd, Kim McConnell and Diane Finstad kicked off the Western Canadian Dairy Seminar with a dynamic talk about the dairy world.

Progressive Dairy Operators tour California

For the first time in five years, PDO toured internationally

April 25, 2023

PDO tour participants observed rotary parlours and robots in response to labour shortages in California.

Research Review: From the Journal of Dairy Science: Iodine for cattle, human health and selective dry cow therapy

April 19, 2023

Pedro Nogueira

Two invited reviews providing an overview on the mechanisms that contribute to the iodine concentration of milk and dairy products and associated impacts of selective dry cow therapy on udder health, milk production, economics, antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance.

Dairy Farmers of Canada: Updated Code of Practice released – what producers need to know

April 20, 2023

On March 30, the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) and Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) released the updated Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Dairy Cattle.

Wisdom to mentor the next manager on your farm

Questions to ask and answer when developing a new farm manager.

April 26, 2023

Elaine Froese

As mom to a young successor and wife to a very ambitious, determined, successful seed grower who is wired to get tasks done, I’m seeing firsthand how it can be an interesting journey to graciously let go of control and mentor the next manager of your farm business.

The bang for your tech buck

Working through the process of identifying the problem for the business from the bottom up, determining the ROI and planning the timing of your investment can help maximize your technology purchases.

March 3, 2023

Trent Dado

When we get into the weeds of all this technology, it becomes very difficult to decide which technology is right for our business. Even more, it is difficult to decide when to implement it.

Robots to rotary: Morey family expands Unique Valleystream

Replacing robots with a 50-stall rotary parlour has prepared the Morey family for the future at their Alberta dairy.

April 17, 2023

Katie Coyne

When the Moreys decided to expand, the robots had to be upgraded or replaced. They decided to build a barn and parlour for the future, preparing the Morey family farm for the next generation.

Injury prevention when administering medicines and vaccines

Cautious behaviour when using needles can prevent injury and unintended exposure to products not meant for humans.

April 28, 2023

Cheryl DeCooman

Whether you are new to needling cattle or a seasoned pro, the risk of injury or side effects from mishaps that may occur while performing this task are always present.

Does executive coaching work on farms?

January 6, 2023

David Jones

Coaching is not about giving you an endless supply of advice and telling you what to do. The goal of any coach is to help short-term and then not be needed anymore.

5 reasons to consider cow-calf contact on your dairy

Labour, cost and calf growth are just three considerations when utilizing cow-calf contact on a dairy.

April 27, 2023

Joel Fox

There are numerous benefits to both the cow and calf with cow-calf contact rearing. Animal welfare and consumer perception are key factors to consider.

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.

Turn a pollutant into green gold by reducing nitrogen loss in slurry

Slurry is often seen as an inconvenient problem for the farm. A good slurry management plan that encompasses the whole cycle from barn to the field can turn a problem into a valuable resource.

April 13, 2023

Julian Lopez

Slurry contains valuable quantities of nitrogen in the form of a liquid: ammonium usually found in livestock urine. Ammonium is readily available for absorption by plant root systems, but from the moment it hits the barn floor until it is incorporated into the field, large quantities are lost in the atmosphere in the form of ammonia gas.

Pinkeye: A dairy producer’s nemesis

Practicing good housing management, fly control, trace mineral supplementation and vaccinations are all key parts to reducing the risk of pinkeye.

February 24, 2023

Jason Anderson

Hate dealing with pinkeye? Isn’t it a summer issue ... why do outbreaks occur at unusual times of the year? Pinkeye is a disease adding frustration to the dairy sector.

Strategies for managing heat stress in ruminants

Feed quality can aid in heat stress management during times of lower feed intake due to heat stress.

April 11, 2023

Sydney Moore

Close monitoring of dietary protein, shade, cooling systems and ventilation will all keep cows cooler during the heat of summer.

Cow comfort influences low somatic cell count at Skyline Dairy

Skyline Dairy understands that happy cows create high volumes of quality milk. Generating an environment for their herd to do exactly that has resulted in success for the Manitoba operation.

April 18, 2023

Matti McBride

There’s not one specific detail that has helped Skyline Dairy maintain a somatic cell count (SCC) of 50,000, but it is rather a team-based focus on cow comfort.

Breaking down in vitro fertilization

Fifty-seven percent of IVF embryos produced in the U.S. in 2020 came from dairy cattle. Proper care throughout ovum pickup, fertilization and embryo development can ensure the success of these embryos.

February 20, 2023

Kara Schmidt

Mastitis 101

Mastitis is a complex infection, and reviewing the basics often can benefit your operation.

February 22, 2023

Maria Jose Fuenzalida

Everyone in the dairy farming world knows how mastitis can negatively affect operations.

Optimizing milking robot performance with proper equipment sanitization

An effective hygiene process inside and outside of milking robots maximizes a dairy producer’s investment in their milking system. Follow TACT to establish an appropriate cleaning routine.

February 17, 2023

Gaylen Guyer

Routine sanitization of milking equipment is a critical component of operating a dairy that promotes positive animal health, milk quality and working conditions. Robotic milking facilities come with unique sanitization routines that can be fine-tuned to improve these conditions.

Use parlor data to tap into the pulse of your herd

Rely on milk performance data to know which animals best contribute to the farm’s bottom line.

January 27, 2023

Matthew Heisner

How do you ensure your barns are filled with profitable cows and that the overall trajectory for your herd is headed in the right direction? By using accurate, actionable parlor performance data, of course.

'Rookies' are your future: 3 tips for assessing their first year

Daily weight gain along with a healthy immune system can go a long way to meeting first-lactation goals and maximizing profitability.

June 6, 2022

Raffael Lichdi

Every team has its own philosophy on developing young talent. The goal for most coaches is to turn all first-year players, the rookies, into dependable assets that can have a big impact on the game while setting the team up for long-term success.

Beyond the stall: How partial outdoor access affects gait and hoof health of movement-restricted cows

Results from a recent study illustrate minor alterations in management practices can enhance cow mobility.

April 6, 2023

Amir Nejati, Elise Shepley, and Elsa Vasseur

The dairy industry's reliance on indoor housing systems that restrict animal movement has raised concerns about animal welfare. Although many dairy farms in Canada still rely on facilities that restrict animal movement without providing pasture access, studies have shown that cows benefit greatly from spending time outdoors.

Faber's Food for Thought: Can you hear me now?

March 11, 2023

Dwayne Faber

There are moments in life where I am reminded that I am a dairy farmer. Moments like driving the family car on the wrong side of the road, hurtling toward oncoming traffic with a screaming wife and kids as I was checking out a neighboring corn field.

The Milk House: An important 'meating' in Dublin

March 11, 2023

Ryan Dennis

Last year, Irish farmers got hit with a difficult directive to cut greenhouse gases by 25% and overall carbon emissions by 51% before 2030.

Family vs. business: Do you know the difference?

January 1, 2023

Katie Dotterer

I went from being a third-generation dairy farmer with my family on the farm I grew up on to a first-generation dairy farmer in 2009. In 2021, I left the dairy farm I helped start and co-owned for 12 years.

Equipment Hub: Making the most of manure

September 28, 2022

Nicholas Holmes

The saying “smells like money” when an individual smells manure could not be more accurate than at the present time. With fertilizer costs at record highs, livestock producers must be more cognizant of the byproducts of their animals.

Just Dropping By: Do we have eyes to see, ears to hear?

April 1, 2023

Yevet Crandell Tenney

Back in the old days, before the internet and the media, there was time to sit and watch the sunset on the porch swing. There was time to notice the budding of new flowers and the coming of spring.

Help wanted

May 1, 2023

Katie Coyne

It's a fact that ownership builds community and we want you to be a part of a few projects we're working on in 2023. We hope you'll nominate your people and share your favourite cheese with us in between planting.

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