Livestock Management
Research conducted as part of a new hen house study shows feed efficiency in cage free systems can be quite good
According to a U.S. hen house environment study, not all systems are created equal for brown and white egg layer performance. “When we look at per capita egg consumption in the (United States) specifically, we see an absolutely dramatic increase there,” said Dr. Benjamin Alig of North Carolina State University. “One of the main (reasons) […] Read more
Livestock Management
Calcium, ketosis big issues in cows post-calving
Glacier FarmMedia – New research on transition cows shows that dairy farmers should adjust some traditional ways of handling post-calving calcium levels and ketosis. More than half of dairy cows in highly managed herds go through the transition period to milking with at least one health problem. Recent research shows those problems reduce the cow’s […] Read more
Feed options needed during drought
Growing perennial and annual crops can stretch the grazing period to provide farmers options during a drought
REGINA — This year could be another dry one and cattle producers may have to consider management options. This includes whether herd numbers can be maintained with available feed sources or whether animals can be moved elsewhere. “Do I work with my neighbour, who is a cropping guy, and maybe strike up a deal to […] Read more
Dry conditions require focus on cow nutrition
REGINA — Several years of drought may have taken a toll on feed supply and quality in some areas. Feed testing is critical to make sure cows receive adequate nutrition leading up to and after calving. University of Saskatchewan beef and forage researcher Dr. Bart Lardner said pregnant cows should be at a body condition […] Read more
Canada’s Code of Practice for the care and handling of beef cattle to be updated
Beef stakeholders invited to fill out a survey
Glacier FarmMedia – The Canadian Cattle Association has initiated an update to the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle. The National Farm Animal Care Council is involved, and the update will be in line with the National Farm Animal Care Council’s Code Development practice. The Code Development process will begin […] Read more
Bird flu pushes U.S. dairy farmers to ban visitors, chop trees
CHICAGO (Reuters) — American dairy farmers are raising their defences in efforts to contain the spread of bird flu by banning visitors, cutting down trees to discourage wild birds from landing, and disinfecting vehicles. On April 10 North Carolina became the seventh state to report an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a […] Read more
System allows convenient data entry
When Bill Leask and Mark Olson met at a Lion’s Club meeting about four years ago, Leask was a cow-calf operator with a need and Olson was an information technology expert who could build him a solution. That meeting resulted in the development of Flokk Systems, a durable hardware and software solution useful for people […] Read more
Studies aim to improve heifer selection
Glacier FarmMedia – A research project underway at Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives (MBFI) north of Brandon might help cattle operations across the Prairies take their replacement heifer game plan to the next level. MBFI is one of three western Canadian sites feeding data into a four-year study aimed at evaluating how various novel technologies […] Read more
Mobile data in sow barns can lead to better decisions
Glacier FarmMedia – When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Erin White and her swine barn staff were sending data to an office, usually by fax, where it was put into a computer by staff there. The information flowed back and forth somewhat slowly, but the system worked. When the country went into lockdown, no one was […] Read more
Batch milking can save dairies time and labour
Glacier FarmMedia – A new concept in dairy equipment management brings the automation and data of robotic milking to a milking parlour orientation. DeLaval has several installations around the world where cows are herded into a holding area from which they access a group of automated milkers. “It really comes down to you and how […] Read more
