December 2021

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DECEMBER 2021

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ONTARIO DAIRY FARMERS SUPPORT LOCAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH HOLIDAY CAMPAIGN Publications Mail Sales Agreement No. 40063866

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BRITISH COLUMBIA

SASKATCHEWAN

Mountain View Electric Ltd. Enderby — 250 838-6455

Dairy Lane Systems Osler — 306 242-5850 Emerald Park — 306 721-6844

Pacific Dairy Centre Ltd. Chilliwack — 604 852-9020 ALBERTA D. H. & P. Supplies & Equipement Ltd. Lacombe Country — 403 782-6473 Dairy Lane Systems Leduc — 780 986-5600 Lethbridge Dairy Mart Ltd. Lethbridge — 888 329-6202

MANITOBA / NW ONTARIO Penner Farm Services Ltd. Blumenort — 204 326-3781 Thunder Bay – 800.461.9333 ONTARIO Claire Snoddon Farm Machinery Sunderland — 705 357-3579 Conestogo Agri Systems Inc. Drayton — 519 638-3022 1 800 461-3022

County Automation Ameliasburg — 613 962-7474 Dairy Lane Systems Komoka — 519 666-1404 Keith Siemon Farm Systems Ltd. Walton — 519 345-2734 Lamers Silos Ltd. Ingersoll — 519 485-4578 Lawrence’s Dairy Supply Inc. Moose Creek — 613 538-2559 McCann Farm Automation Ltd. Seeley’s Bay — 613 382-7411 Brockville — 613 926-2220 McLaren Systems Cobden — 613 646-2062

Melbourne Farm Automation Melbourne — 519 289-5256 Aylmer — 519 773-2740 Silver-Tech Systems Inc. Dunnville — 905 981-2350 ATLANTIC PROVINCES Atlantic Dairy Tech.

Charlottetown, PE — 902 368-1719 Mactaquac Farm Equip. Ltd. Mactaquac, NB — 506 363-2340 Sheehy Enterprises Ltd. Shubenacadie, NS — 902 758-2002 Sussex Farm Supplies Sussex, NB — 506 433-1699

Vol. 97 No. 12

CONTENTS PUBLISHED BY DAIRY FARMERS OF ONTARIO 6780 Campobello Rd., Mississauga, Ont., L5N 2L8

Editorial Board column

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Producer op-ed

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ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Pat Logan pat.logan@milk.org 519-788-1559

Co-ordinated by Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s communications division, Sharon Laidlaw, Manager, Corporate Communications.

Canada Post Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No.40063866.

Return postage guaranteed. Circulation: 8,000.

ISSN 0030-3038. Printed in Canada.

SUBSCRIPTIONS For subscription changes or to unsubscribe, contact: MILK PRODUCER 6780 Campobello Road, Mississauga, Ontario L5N 2L8 Phone: (905) 821-8970 Fax: (905) 821-3160 Email: milkproducer@milk.org Opinions expressed herein are those of the author and/or editor and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or policies of Dairy Farmers of Ontario. Publication of advertisements does not constitute endorsement or approval by Milk Producer or Dairy Farmers of Ontario of products or services advertised.

Milk Producer welcomes letters to the editor about magazine content.

Dairy News $500,000 donation

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Tim Hortons partnership

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DFO’s advocacy strategy

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Antimicrobial research

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Markets Market demand

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Websites: www.milkproducer.ca www.milk.org Facebook: /OntarioDairy Twitter: @OntarioDairy Instagram: @ontariodairy

Cover story Embracing change

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Dairy Research

Farm Management

Feed efficiency

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Cow brushes

34

New N Noted

Manure storages

22

Calf care

24

Improving feed

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Featured products

MILKPRODUCER | DECEMBER 2021

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EDITORIAL

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PROFITABILITY – A KEY ELEMENT OF OUR VISION

By Murray Sherk

DFO CHAIR

I

find leadership tends to be a combination of dealing with situations as they arise along with an effort to keep focused on the longterm strategy and vision. At Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO), we have a vision of a dynamic, profitable and growing Canadian dairy industry and this month, I want to unpack the profitability part of this statement.

From a producer perspective, profitability is often discussed in terms of blend price, volume of milk marketed and cost of production (COP). Recently, there has been a lot of discussion about milk prices and the Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC) announcement to increase the milk price by $6.31 per hectolitre on Feb. 1, 2022, to partially offset recent production cost increases. This is expected to increase the cost of milk used to make dairy products for the retail and restaurant sectors by 8.4 per cent. As the CDC said in its press release, “the

impact of these adjustments on retail prices will depend on many factors, such as manufacturing, transportation, distribution and packaging costs throughout the supply chain.”

This leads to the second component, which is volume marketed. What is not determined is the effect of this price increase on volume of milk demand. Elasticity of demand (change in quantity demanded due to a price change) differs for most dairy products and so the overall revenue benefit from these price increases will not be revealed until late winter or spring/ summer 2022. Also, keep in mind, imports are displacing a larger part of our market every year.

The third element is farm production costs.

Each year, the CDC co-ordinates a COP study on 217 farms nationally. Previous results can be found at https://bit.ly/3DnGPI0. The most recent CDC study found the 2020 COP indexed to August 2021 represents an increase of 13.4 per cent when compared with 2018 COP indexed to August 2019 (a 24-month period).

I won’t go into detail here about the study but, suffice it to say, the data show producers’ costs are up significantly. As you likely know, the adjustment in milk prices for Classes 1 to 4

is based on an agreed-upon formula of 50 per cent change in COP and 50 per cent change in the consumer price index. This formula indicated an increase of 6.407 per cent but there is a provision for exceptional circumstances.

There is a lot of debate among producers about how much the price should increase because volume demand may be impacted significantly depending on where prices are set.

There is no doubt that producers’ costs have increased. One of the benefits of our system is we can recapture some of these increases, but wisdom is needed in recommending the extent to which these costs should be passed on to processors.

The last word in DFO’s vision statement is industry. Although I have only dealt with producer issues in this article, profitability and growth need to occur throughout the entire value chain. Processors need a reasonable expectation of a profit so they can invest in their business and the industry and producers can continue to have a market for their milk. Processor and transporter costs have also increased significantly during the pandemic and we need to work together to ensure the system is sustainable for all.

DAIRY FARMERS TAKE PRIDE IN CARING FOR THEIR ANIMALS

By Emily den Haan

OPINION

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hen I was 16, I knew I wanted to be a dairy farmer. I had watched my parents and neighbours care for their animals with such passion and dedication and heard them reminisce about how their parents and generations before them did the same.

Watching and hearing this is what made me want to carry on the legacy of caring for cattle with such a love for what we do. In 2013, I moved home to our family’s dairy farm after studying at the University of Guelph. Being a heavy user of social media, I was very aware of what four per cent of the population thought of our industry.

Around this time, a video went viral with appalling video footage of animal abuse and it shook me to the core along with many other producers. I do not stand for any kind of animal abuse and I can confidently say neither do any of the dairy farmers I know. The 4

DECEMBER 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

following weeks felt like a hurricane of hate and mistrust that pulled everything I stood for through the mud of social media. We listened to our daily lives being horribly mutilated on global awards shows and watched celebrities with millions of followers wrongfully convict us about information that simply wasn’t true.

The misinformation and the thought that people could think that low of us is what hurt the most. It’s the fact we choose to live a life that revolves around caring for animals, a life that we put so much passion, blood, sweat and tears into and then we’re painted with a dirty brush of misinformation on global television.

The fact is our job is to care for our animals.

The fact is we need our animals to be happy and healthy so we can sustain a viable farm. And the fact is, we are an industry that has immense value for animal welfare and sustainability because the success of future generations hinges on it. In Canada, we have strict standards in place through the dairy code of practice for all dairy farms. These standards define how we produce some of the best quality milk in

the world because we know high-quality milk comes from happy, healthy cows.

The truth is, it is incredibly hard to read such terrible words being said about our industry, way of life, friends and communities, and then continue to work as if everything is fine, but that’s what we do. So, be kind to your mind, take care of yourself and don’t be afraid to disengage with nasty posts or comments on social media. When you’re feeling the pressure of animal activists, know there are people here to support you and talk to. In light of the devastating flooding in British Columbia and the heroic sacrifices farmers have made to save any animal they can, these actions speak volumes of the truth of who we are and what we do. We care and that matters.

Emily den Haan is an Ontario dairy farmer and mental health advocate, who is passionate about raising awareness of modern farming. Follow her on twitter @denhaane.

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DAIRY NEWS

DFO BRINGS HOLIDAY CHEER TO CHILDREN IN HOSPITAL WITH MILK & COOKIES CAMPAIGN Ontario farmers donate $500,000 to four children’s hospitals throughout Ontario

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his holiday season, Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) is once again donating $500,000 to SickKids and other Ontario children’s hospitals and calling on all Ontarians to join in and be a part of this important and heartfelt initiative.

This year’s campaign is completely owned and run by DFO and features a new text-tofill prompt with milk and cookie emojis people can use to share messages of love and support for kids in hospitals. The campaign kicked off on Nov. 29 with a TV commercial that includes milk and homemade cookies moments, more dairy cues and a cookie-baking scene that reflects consumer behaviour on holiday baking—all while retaining the feel and tone of the original TV commercial.

This is the third year for the popular campaign, and it features even more opportunities for Ontarians to join DFO in giving back to the community, says Julie Granger, DFO’s marketing manager, equity & CSR, adding this holiday season is an especially tough time for sick children and their families and DFO wants to help spread some holiday cheer for those who cannot be home.

“Right now, kids spending the holidays at the hospital aren’t able to receive physical messages or cards of support,” Granger says. “This campaign is yet another way DFO and Ontario dairy farmers can demonstrate our collective commitment to supporting local Ontario communities. The donation will go directly to support initiatives in children’s hospitals that help provide joy to patients and their families during their stay at the hospital.”

The milk and cookies campaign will allow Ontarians to send messages

ONTARIO DAIRY FARMERS ENCOURAGED TO JOIN AND HELP PROMOTE CAMPAIGN

To kick off the campaign and help bring it to life, Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) needs everyone’s help. With a strong network of proud dairy farmers across the province, dairy farm families can be the first to join the text-to-fill initiative and inspire more Ontarians to join them.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:

• Text milk and cookie emojis to 50555 with a message for kids spending the holidays at the hospital and DFO will donate $2 on your behalf to SickKids and other Ontario children’s hospitals, up to a maximum of $500,000; • Share your text response on social media using the hashtag #FillUpWithLove and tag @ontariodairy in your post; • Tag your friends or family and encourage them to do the same.

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DECEMBER 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

of support by texting a milk glass and cookie emoji along with a personal message to 50555.

What’s more, for every text sent with a milk and cookie emoji, DFO will donate $2 on their behalf to SickKids and other Ontario children’s hospitals, up to the maximum $500,000 donation.

After texting their support, Ontarians will get a link to share their message on social media via an Instagram story filter. The filter will allow them to show their friends and family the message they sent to the kids and encourage them to join.

DIGITAL MILK GLASS AND SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVATIONS ADD FUN AND ENGAGEMENT To help Ontarians visualize how every text is making a difference, DFO has created an animated digital milk glass that will fill up as more messages pour in. As messages are received, the milk level will rise until the total of $500,000 is met, which is expected to occur around Christmas.

Each person who sends a text will receive a thank you message with a custom, festive Instagram filter they can use to help spread the word on their Instagram stories.

In addition to the initiatives mentioned above, the integrated marketing plan includes social media, online digital ads, digital outdoor billboards, public relations activities, a Spotify audio ad, a custom festive Instagram filter, a website landing page, brand ambassadors to encourage consumer participation and DFO’s dairy education program holiday letter-writing partnership with Ontario schools. For more information on the campaign, visit https://fillthemilkglass.

USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR ONTARIO CHILDREN’S HOSPITALS

If you’re interested in tagging your local children’s hospital in your social posts, below are the correct handles for the four Ontario children’s hospitals that will benefit from the $500,000 donation and the digital milk glass initiative: •The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Toronto Instagram: @SickKidsVS OR @SickKidsToronto •Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, London Instagram: @CHFhope •McMaster Children’s Hospital, HamiltonInstagram: @SupportHHSFoundation •CHEO, Ottawa Instagram: @CHEOHospital Learn more about DFO’s Milk & Cookies campaign at https:// fillthemilkglass.ca.

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DAIRY NEWS

DFO PARTNERS WITH TIM HORTONS TO INCREASE DAIRY AWARENESS WITH CONSUMERS

D

airy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) has once again collaborated with Tim Hortons to help increase dairy consumption through four targeted promotions that began in September and run through to the end of December 2021.

The $500,000 investment allows DFO to create a variety of activations that speak to consumers about Ontario dairy, says Alan Grebinski, DFO’s director, business & educational development. Tim Hortons is the largest user of dairy in the quick-service restaurant sector, especially when it comes to cream. As part of the December campaign, DFO is featuring a milk & holiday theme activation with in-store promotions and drive-thru BLACK FOREST signage, which is expected to $0.00* FILLED RING TM garner 69 million impressions.

EACH DREAM DONUTS Other promo elements will capitalize on Tim Hortons’ new $0.00* MILK LG. CARTON Espresso beverages that use more dairy per cup than a traditional coffee.

Freshly Black Forest Filled Ring Dream Donut | 000 Cals These initiatives specifically Large Carton of Milk | 000 Cals raps Grilled W target the Ontario market and AN ADI CAN % NEW! 100 do not conflict or overlap with SLOW-COOKED CHICKEN any national initiatives Tim Hortons has established with $0.00* Dairy Farmers of Canada. Rather, NEW! the direct collaboration with Tim SOUTHWEST CHICKEN WRAP Hortons enables DFO to get greater value for its marketing dollars by obtaining more media impressions for its campaigns, Grebinski says, adding Tim

Hortons’ business is over-indexed in the Ontario market, providing a natural benefit for DFO to amplify the support for dairy in the province.

“Our promotion efforts with Tim Hortons over the past four months are meant to engage consumers as they continue to support the foodservice sector coming out of the pandemic,” Grebinski says. “By engaging with Tim Hortons, not only does DFO gain access, awareness and significant media reach by leveraging campaign assets, we are also able to leverage Tim Hortons’ influence with consumers to drive more than 218 million impressions—that means more eyes on our messaging and more opportunities to increase dairy consumption.”

Holiday Dream Team

*Plus applicable taxes. Pricing may vary by region. Milk served at Tim Hortons restaurants is 100% Canadian milk. ‘100% Canadian Dairy (and design)’ is a trademark of Dairy Farmers of Canada. At participating restaurants in Canada for a limited time. ©Tim Hortons, 2021

“The $500,000 investment allows DFO to create a IMPROVED! CHICKEN BACON RANCH WRAP

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n Wrap | 420 Cals Southwest Chicke Sliced Wrap | 430 Cals Chicken Wrap contain 2021 Wrap and Spicy Buffalo Farmers of Canada. ©Tim Hortons, Chicken Bacon Ranch Southwest Chicken of Dairy n Wrap | 390 Cals ng restaurants in Canada. (and design)’ is a trademark Spicy Buffalo Chicke

—Alan Grebinski

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DAIRY NEWS

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DELIVERS SPEECH FROM THE THRONE Officials reiterate government stands by previous commitment to dairy farmers Governor General Mary Simon presented the speech from the throne on Nov. 23. The speech focused on general government directions and set out the federal government’s priorities for the coming years. This year’s speech was relatively short compared with those in previous years.

Themes addressed in the speech include building a healthier present and future, the post-pandemic economy, advocating for diversity and inclusion, having safer communities, reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and the environment.

Although there was no direct mention of compensation for the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) in the speech, officials have reminded Dairy Farmers of Canada the government stands by its previous commitment to dairy farmers. The individual mandate letters, which will be distributed to the various ministers in the near future, will offer more details in terms of the Prime Minister’s expectations and the files they must deliver over the coming months. Dairy Farmers of Ontario will provide details of the mandate letters once they have been made public.

REVISED DAIRY CODE RELEASED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

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hen it comes to developing animal welfare practices in Canada, the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) implements a unique system that ensures all voices across different stakeholder groups are heard. This brings credibility and transparency through scientific rigour and collaboration. This year, NFACC has published the revised Dairy Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Dairy Cattle and launched the 60-day public comment period; during which all stakeholder groups are able to comment on the suggested changes proposed.

“What is great about the process of revising the dairy code of practice is its collaborative approach. Everyone is involved in the conversation because we truly believe the dairy industry is better when we’re working together to achieve the highest standards of animal welfare practices,” says Steve Runnalls, Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) board member for region 12.

After the public comment period ends, NFACC will review all submissions and adapt the code. The final code is expected to be published in late 2022 or early 2023.

“Throughout this time, we encourage all Ontario producers to review the document and submit thoughtful and constructive comments. The proAction module is based on the dairy code of practice,” says Maria Leal, DFO’s director assurance & regulatory compliance. “Once published, proAction will be updated to ensure it follows the new set of guidelines.

It’s important for all producers to be actively involved in the process so their voices are heard, and the code reflects farm realities.”

IMPORTANT - Ontario dairy farmers can submit their comments on the dairy code of practice via this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q5J965Q

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DAIRY EDUCATION VIRTUAL AND DIGITAL PROGRAMS A RESOUNDING SUCCESS

D

airy Farmers of Ontario’s (DFO) dairy education Growing Up Dairy program and virtual presentations have been a tremendous success this school year. All educators have been trained on using iPads and provided with new teaching resources to make DFO’s school programs even more engaging and interactive for students. Since the programs’ launch earlier in the fall: • 78 schools have registered for Growing Up Dairy, reaching 2,968 students in 130 classrooms; • 49 schools have received 115 presentations, both live and virtual to 2,452 students; • Dairycraft has been downloaded 3.7 million times.

MORE THAN

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DAIRYCRAFT GAME WINS TWO MARKETING AWARDS DFO’s popular game Dairycraft was also recognized for its innovation. The online game won two Canadian Marketing Association (CMA) awards in late November. CMA Awards celebrate top marketing campaigns and this year, Dairycraft picked up the bronze award in both the customer experience and engagement categories.

Dairycraft makes learning about the world of dairy farming fun through gaming, designed on the popular Minecraft platform. It has been downloaded 3.89 million times and serves as an ongoing curriculum tool to support virtual and in-class learning.

To experience a day in the life of a dairy farmer by building your very own farm, download the marketplace version at https:// bit.ly/3r8dgqn.

You can also stay up to date on DFO’s dairy education program on Twitter at https://twitter.com/eduONdairy.

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DAIRY NEWS

DFO REBOOTS GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY STRATEGY Organization aims to help build credibility and influence with government

By Constantin Urtilescu

CONTRIBUTOR

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he last year has been key to advancing advocacy efforts at Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO). With a legacy spanning more than five decades, and as the largest agricultural sector in Ontario, DFO is more focused than ever on raising the voice of Ontario’s 3,400+ dairy farmers with credibility and influence. A fundamental piece of this is creating a system to leverage our legacy and the relationships dairy farmers have with local elected officials and media.

New agency partners Wellington Advocacy

and Argyle Strategic Communications were onboarded in May and have been focused on building programs and assets for our dairy producer committees (DPCs) that support their work at the grassroots level, building on existing relationships across the province and ensuring they are well-equipped for advocacy opportunities and both formal and informal advocacy interactions when they arise.

“The most important aspect of the work ahead for government relations and strategic communications teams is to make DFO and what we stand for better known to government and industry,” says Heather MacGregor, DFO’s director of communications. “We want

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to use these efforts to inform policy makers on the potential effects of their actions, convince government and stakeholders to take actions that support our industry and provide broader support to government on issues affecting our industry. The foundational work we have started in 2021 will be the key to success in 2022 and beyond.”

In October, following an active federal election campaign, letters of congratulations were sent to all elected members of Parliament to introduce the official to the DPC chair and vice-chair in his or her riding. Uptake on offers to meet with DPCs was significant, and many committees are now in the process of re-acquainting themselves with their local MP or meeting them for the first time.

A new advocacy toolkit will be launched at a virtual advocacy workshop for DPCs in December and select committee members received experiential media training in November and early December to establish best practices and learn effective rules of engagement with media.

The goal of government relations at DFO is to support the organization’s strategic plan and business goals. The team aims to do this by informing, persuading and supporting government and industry stakeholders on policies and initiatives that will impact Ontario dairy producers.

“Our dairy farmers are passionate advocates in their own communities and they understand the issues affecting the dairy industry,” MacGregor says. “Our government relations team wants to work more closely with them so they’re prepared for those local discussions and able to build credibility and influence at the grassroots level.”

Looking ahead, DPCs engaged in government relations will find regular updates on a new area of the DPC portal (coming soon). Additional support will be available for arranging regular touchpoints with elected officials and sharing lobby materials. Also, with a provincial election expected in spring 2022, DFO will be developing a strategy to equip the grassroots as politicians hit the campaign trail.

“The future of advocacy at DFO is robust, with the grassroots playing a vital role,” MacGregor says.

Constantin Urtilescu is DFO’s senior government relations specialist.

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DECEMBER 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

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DFO INVESTS NEARLY $540,000 INTO ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP RESEARCH

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airy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) is pleased to announce an investment of nearly $540,000 in research at the University of Guelph into antimicrobial medicines, which are used to treat, control and prevent animal and human disease and improve production and growth. The project also received more than $3 million from the Ontario Research Fund.

Dairy Farmers of Ontario is proud to support Dr. David Kelton in his research into antimicrobial stewardship solutions in the Ontario dairy sector.

Antimicrobial stewardship promotes the prudent use of antimicrobials, such as antibiotics, to limit an increase in resistant organisms and is becoming an integral part of food systems around the globe.

“We are proud to partner with the University of Guelph, including Dr. David Kelton and his research team, as we work together toward finding sustainable, science-based solutions to reduce the use of antimicrobials without compromising animal health and welfare,” says Cheryl Smith, DFO’s chief executive officer.

“We provide leadership and excellence in the production and marketing of Canadian milk.

We value consumer trust in our industry and farm practices and work hard to meet their expectations every day.”

Dr. David Kelton received $959,000 for his research into antimicrobial stewardship solutions in the Ontario dairy sector. Kelton, a professor in the department of population medicine, is working with U of G population medicine professors Dr. David Renaud and Dr.

Stephen LeBlanc on improving responsible use of antimicrobials in the Ontario dairy sector.

Kelton says pressure is mounting globally to address antimicrobial resistance, and sustainable solutions will require a collaborative, multidisciplinary One Health approach.

“For Ontario’s $2.4-billion dairy sector,

solutions start on the farm with sound, science-based approaches to antimicrobial stewardship,” he says. “This research will improve responsible use of antimicrobials in the dairy industry, through educational outreach aimed at more effective targeted antibiotic use and by validating alternatives to antimicrobials.”

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MILKPRODUCER | DECEMBER 2021

15

DAIRY NEWS

DFC PRESIDENT PROVIDES UPDATE ON B.C. FLOOD AID AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS

By Dairy Farmers of Canada

CONTRIBUTOR

M

y thoughts and prayers continue to accompany our friends and colleagues affected by last month’s flooding in British Columbia. The images of flooded farms looked disconcerting. Yet, at the same time, we have seen incredible solidarity from dairy farmers on higher grounds that rushed to help those affected by the floods.

They are nothing short of heroes.

I spoke with the president of the BC Dairy Association (BCDA) and informed him Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) will assist BCDA with securing federal aid. Further, DFC has been in contact with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to identify emergency assistance and programs to support producers affected by the floods.

As well, our colleagues from Gay Lea Foods announced they were sending 24,000 kilograms of premium milk replacer to support the producers. DFC was proud to support this initiative by covering freight costs for the shipment.

I would also like to thank DFC employees who have contributed about $4,000 to date to the BC Dairy flood recovery fund.

ADVOCACY UPDATE New Parliament has opened with an emphasis on sustainability.

The 44th Parliament opened last month with a speech from the throne outlining the government’s priorities for the upcoming session. The speech was relatively short compared with previous ones, but one theme stood out as a clear priority for the incoming government— sustainability.

The government’s emphasis on sustainability aligns with DFC’s own focus in this area and shows why we need to continue to make environmental stewardship a priority. From our investments in research to reduce the environmental impact from dairy farming, to efforts to improve biodiversity, to the work we’ve done to develop benchmarks to better assess the environmental impact of dairy and to your invest-

PIERRE LAMPRON, DFC’s president.

ments in green technologies and the continued adoption of better farm practices, dairy farmers have already shown great leadership on the environment.

Further, DFC is teaming up with respected environmental organizations, such as Cleanfarms, Ducks Unlimited Canada and Tree Canada, to promote and advance sustainability in the dairy sector. Partnerships like these must be a priority if we are to succeed in our advocacy and in connecting with Canadian consumers.

We must continue to build on this progress and stay ahead of the curve since the government has expressed a goal of moving to net-zero emissions by 2050.

NEW PARLIAMENT Among the files DFC will be engaged in under the new Parliament are promises made by the Liberals to establish compensation for the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) within the first year of their mandate.

DFC officials will continue to apply pressure to ensure the government delivers on this commitment. We will also make sure the front-ofpackage labelling and marketing to kids regulations promised by the Liberals in their electoral platform reflect the nutritious nature of dairy products.

TRQ CHALLENGE Under CUSMA, most of Canada’s tariff rate

quotas (TRQs) have been allocated to processors, similar to allocation in place under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. The U.S. Trade Representative is challenging the manner in which Canada has allocated its TRQs, triggering CUSMA’s dispute resolution process earlier this year. Both governments have now had the opportunity to argue their positions before the panel adjudicating the challenge, and a decision is expected soon. DFC continues to work closely with the federal government in standing firm against the U.S. challenge.

Separately, the government was expected to announce its new TRQ allocations earlier this fall; however, the announcement was put on hold in light of the federal election and current U.S. challenge to Canada’s TRQ allocation.

TRADE AGREEMENTS DFC continues to follow negotiations between Canada and the United Kingdom toward a permanent trade agreement. Staff continue to advocate with the federal government to ensure it does not make any further concessions on our domestic dairy market. We will also monitor the process for new countries who want access to the CPTPP, which include the U.K., China and Taiwan.

LEGISLATION PROTECTING SUPPLY MANAGEMENT Finally, as the Bloc Québécois promised to reintroduce a bill to protect supply management in new trade agreements, the bill made it to the third reading during the last minority government. The Bloc now hopes the bill will go through the full legislative process and become law.

STAY INFORMED For updates on DFC’s advocacy, research and other work on your behalf, join our mailing list by emailing communications@dfc-plc.ca.

Stay informed with DFC’s Dairy Express Sign up for the Dairy Express e-newsletter.

Email communications@dfc-plc.ca to have your name added to the mailing list.

14

DECEMBER 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

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MARKETS

[ P5 BOARDS MAKE ONE PER CENT CUT TO QUOTA

B

“With continued uncertainty for the next few months, it was decided at the P5 boards that a one per cent cut to quota would be prudent at this point in time,” - Patrice Dubé

ased on the analysis of anticipated reduction in market requirements for the balance of 2021 and the beginning of 2022, P5 boards agreed to decrease the saleable quota allocated to P5 producers by one per cent, effective Dec. 1, 2021.

The decision was made due to several factors, including the result of the lockdown restrictions partially lifted and additional imports that continue to have a downward effect on expected growth. The quota adjustment aims for a better balance between supply and demand for the coming months.

The over-quota penalty of $20 per hectolitre remains in effect.

“With continued uncertainty for the next few months, it was decided at the P5 boards that a one per cent cut to quota would be prudent at this point in time,” says Patrice Dubé, Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s chief economics and policy development officer. “We are still hopeful the public health authorities will be able to fully remove the lockdown restrictions early in 2022 across the country and that it will translate into more growth in the marketplace, but this has yet to be seen.”

While the Canadian Dairy Commission is still forecasting an increase in market demand for the current dairy year of 2.3 per cent, in the short-term, demand is not at the level expected for the fall leading into the upcoming holiday period.

In October 2021, butter stocks reached 26,929 tonnes, down from September when stocks were at 28,308 tonnes. While October butter stock levels continue to be in line with what the industry has seen on average in the last five years, they may be relatively high in an environment where we need to take into consideration the growing quantity of imports, Dubé says.

“There is also the issue of the capacity to process milk during the holiday period and beyond with a number of processing plants shutting

P10 UTILIZATION BY CLASS*

% Butterfat % Solids non-fat

For September 2021 (kg of butterfat/kg of solids non-fat) 12.48%

1a1 1b

2.95%

2a

3.14%

2b4

% Revenue

22.28%

*28.36%

15.79%

*9.13% *5.57%

6.96%

3.23%

*1.99%

0.82% 2.74% 0.22% 1.13% 1.21%

2b5 3a1 3a2

*1.43% *1.28%

4.59% 5.87%

3b2

*5.47% 14.37% 12.63%

3c1

*13.82%

0.69% 0.99% 2.27% 2.73%

3c2 3c4

*0.74% *2.73% 6.16%

3c6

*7.80%

9.07%

0.51% 0.46%

3d

*0.44% 3.59% 5.16%

*3.63%

16.39% 14.70%

4a 4d

-0.05%

*11.99% *0.52%

5.93% 2.68% 2.93%

5a 5b

1.45% 1.51% 0.66%

5c 0% 16

*

5%

*1.71% 8.77%

*2.75% *0.64%

10%

DECEMBER 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

down and/or slowing down manufacturing, which will be very disruptive for the milk supply,” Dubé says.

Another element is the significant quantity of unfilled credit days across the P5. Quebec, which represents about half the P5, has -9.1 credit days. This is milk production that could come forward at any time.

“To put it in context, if Quebec producers filled, on average, eight of these credit days, it would result in around 4,000 tonnes of additional butter in the system,” Dubé says.

National dairy product sales at the retail level are indicating sales are returning to their preCOVID trends. For the 52-weeks ending October 2021, sales for fluid milk, fluid cream, yogurt, ice cream, cheese and butter increased/ decreased by -1.4, 3.3, 2.5, -1.5, 1.6 and -4.6 per cent, respectively, compared with the 52-weeks ending in October 2020.

The P5 provincial boards’ primary objective is to continuously monitor the milk market situation and meet demand in the most optimal way.

Given these uncertain times, adapting production signals to address market changes will continue, as required. .

Class 1a1 (includes Classes 1a2, 1a3, 1c and 1d for confidentiality reasons) Fluid milk and beverages Class 1b Fluid creams Class 2a Yogurt, yogurt beverages, kefir and lassi Class 2b4 (includes Classes 2b1, 2b2 and 2b3 for confidentiality reasons) Fresh dairy desserts, sour cream, milkshakes and sports nutrition drinks Class 2b5 Ice cream and frozen yogurt Class 3a1 Specialty cheese Class 3a2 Cheese curds and fresh cheeses Class 3b2 (includes Class 3b1 for confidentiality reasons) Cheddar cheese and aged cheddar Class 3c1 Feta Class 3c2 Asiago, Gouda, Havarti, Parmesan and Swiss Class 3c4 (includes Classes 3c3 and 3c5 for confidentiality reasons) Brick, Colby, farmer’s, jack, Monterey jack, muenster, pizza cheese, pizza mozzarella and mozzarella other than what falls within 3d.

Class 3c6 Paneer Class 3d Mozzarella used strictly on fresh pizzas by establishments registered with the Canadian Dairy Commission Class 4a Butter and powders Class 4d (includes Classes 4b1, 4b2, 4c and 4m for confidentiality reasons) Concentrated milk for retail, losses and animal feed Class 5a Cheese for further processing Class 5b Non-cheese products for further processing Class 5c Confectionery products WWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA

NOVEMBER PRICES

MONTHLY QUOTA PRICES ($/kg) PROVINCE

PRICE/kg

Alberta Saskatchewan Manitoba

$50,050

AMOUNT WANTED/kg

AMOUNT FOR SALE/kg

AMOUNT PURCHASED/kg

521.40

94.90

87.90

No clearing price established

$38,015.01

319.79

189.93

80.70

British Columbia

$36,500

2,346.27

50.86

50.86

Ontario

$24,000

19,587.87

689.25

689.49

Quebec

$24,000 $24,000

19,936.55

792.89

792.05

689.30

3.00

3.00

7.10

7.10

New Brunswick Nova Scotia Prince Edward Island

Exchange cancelled

$24,000

425.80

*Newfoundland does not operate a monthly quota exchange. Quota is traded between producers. **Quota cap price of $24,000 in effect in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Quebec.

ONTARIO MONTHLY PRODUCER AVERAGE GROSS BLEND PRICE

ONTARIO DEDUCTIONS, PER HL Within quota

Overquota

$85

DFO administration DFO research CanWest DHI Transportation Market expansion

$0.625 $0.050 $0.060 $2.800 $1.400

$0.625 $0.050 $0.060 $2.800 $1.400

$80

Total deductions Average total net

$4.935 $74.797

$4.935 -4.935

$75 $79.32

*These figures are based on Ontario’s average composition for October 2021 of 4.18 kg butterfat, 3.22 kg protein and 5.91 kg other solids, rounded to the nearest cent.

Oct. 2021

Sept. 2021

Aug 2021

July 2021

June 2021

May 2021

Apr. 2021

Mar. 2021

Feb. 2021

Jan. 2021

Nov. 2020

$70 Dec. 2020

For October 2021

A total 3,326 producers sold milk to DFO in October compared with 3,351 a year earlier.

P5 AND WESTERN MILK POOL BLEND PRICES*

WWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA

*There is a three-month lag reporting these figures.

82 P5 blend price WMP blend price

80 78 76

WMP $79.37

Sep 2021

Aug 2021

July 2021

May 2021

June 2021

Apr 2021

Feb 2021

Mar 2021

Jan 2021

Dec 2020

72

Nov 2020

74 Oct 2020

The October 2021 Class III Price, US$17.83 per hundredweight, is equivalent to C$50.17 per hectolitre. This equivalent is based on the exchange rate US$1 = C$1.23969 the exchange rate when the USDA announced the Class III Price.

The Class III Price is in $ US per hundredweight at 3.5 per cent butterfat.

One hundredweight equals 0.44 hectolitres. Canadian Class 5a and Class 5b prices track U.S. prices set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The graph below shows the 12-month blend price for the P5 provinces and Western Milk Pool (WMP).

Blend price in $/hL

U.S. CLASS PRICES

P5 $77.90

MILKPRODUCER | DECEMBER 2021

17

COVER STORY

Photos courtesy of Dairy Farmers of Canada

[

DEDICATED TO FARMING

and producing high-quality milk

Maintaining focus as a family farming operation at Glenview Farms

By Jeff Tribe

CONTRIBUTOR

R

obert, Noreen, David, Stephanie and Denise Walsh and their hard-working staff continue to advance Glenview Farm’s 160-year-plus dairy history through determination and the will to survive, despite being caught between ‘the rock’ and an increasingly urban place.

Robert Walsh describes an exchange with a disgruntled neighbour, who was complaining about agricultural-related odour and informing him that in the rest of Canada, farms were “out in the country.”

“I explained to her that not too long ago, this was the country,” Walsh recalls.

Between 1830 and 1850, Robert’s greatgrandfather, John Walsh, began mixed dairy and vegetable farming near Kilbride, Nfld., on St. John’s outskirts. Glenview’s four-generation evolution began with hand-milking cows and delivering door-to-door via horse and cart in the summer and with a slide (sled) in 18

DECEMBER 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

the winter. Today, the Walsh family has 200 robotically milked Holstein cows plus heifers and calves, supported by more than 500 acres of land, 300 of which are located 15 kilometres from the homestead.

Walsh is used to questions from the public about Newfoundland agriculture due to reduced farming comprehension and skepticism about climate and soil management, given less than one per cent of land is arable. For centuries, the Kilbride and Goulds areas offered pockets of reasonable climate and good soil and today are near a majority of the province’s population and two processing facilities. Most of Glenview’s land is cleared and features limited, stony, rock-crusher-enhanced soil requiring heavy discing and chisel ploughing. Growing seasons typically feature 1,900 heat units, but can drop to 1,400 or 1,500 and up to three forage cuts.

“We did grow corn silage for 20 years, but due to limited good, tillable soil (150 acres) and low crop yields, we focus on growing as much legume forage as possible,” Walsh says.

Glenview and the rest of Newfoundland’s

23 dairy producers face grain and feed freight charges in the $200 per tonne range and double for single-pallet orders. Isolation from agricultural service personnel and equipment requires preparation, Walsh says, adding he had to make sure his farm was prepared when installing their four robotic milkers in 2020.

“We had to stock pretty much one of everything associated with (maintaining) the robots,” he says, adding the farm’s biggest challenges remain labour and, more importantly, land shortages compounded by Kilbride’s amalgamation with St. John’s.

Inclusion within North America’s oldest city has underlined demand for and shortage of available land, as well as high municipal development prices pressuring area agriculture, including a $100-million dairy industry representing Newfoundland’s highest-value commodity.

Walsh credits dairy producers and provincial and federal partners for supporting development in technology and management practices specific to land and climactic challenges.

Glenview Farm’s four-generation evolution began with hand-milking cows and delivering door-to-door via horse and cart in the summer and with a slide (sled) in the winter.

Today, the Walsh family has 200 robotically milked Holstein cows plus heifers and calves, supported by more than 500 acres of land, 300 of which are located 15 kilometres from the homestead.

“Until recently, our province was successful in acquiring St. John’s area land held by non-agricultural interests and leasing it back to farmers,” he adds, linking future dairy viability to agricultural land and boundary protection. “We can build industrial parks and residences anywhere, but there are only small parcels of land suitable for farming.”

Amalgamation brought stricter regulations, for example, equating barn and department store building codes, along with urban encroachment and potentially problematic interaction, although Walsh says the majority of the community supports agriculture.

“We believe it is important to try and develop a healthy relationship,” he says. “We need to coexist, we need each other.”

To build an even better relationship with the community in which his farm resides, Walsh avoids spreading manure during holiday weekends or in warmer weather and provides some neighbourhood snow clearance.

Generally, he says, the public supports the province’s small dairy industry and welcomes high turnouts for farm tours. Dairy Farmers of Newfoundland & Labrador has also had an overwhelmingly positive response to its ‘No Bull’ marketing campaign, which promotes local farm products and producers. Walsh emphasizes the importance of shared provincial and farm community education initiatives and communicating agriculture’s status as a self-sustaining, renewable resource that provides broad economic value.

“We need to farm but we also need to work together with our neighbours who are also our customers to ensure food security for the province,” he says.

COVID has had a “huge impact” Walsh says, including staff safety concerns, erratic demand for milk and technical support isolation. Dairy farmers had to pivot by adopting public health guidelines, deal with quota adjustments, increase food bank donations and improvise where necessary, he adds.

“Newfoundlanders are resilient, but it has been challenging farming in a different way,” he says, adding the industry has had to show resiliency in many areas, such as dealing with food revolutions and challenges concerning science, evolving consumer relationships, trends and choices around food production, the importance of public agricultural education, the right to farm and provincial agricultural development areas, dealing with climate change and its effects, and keeping up with technology.

Throughout the years, the Walsh family has grown Glenview Farms from 40 to 200 milking cows and received milk quality awards for their hard work, all while maintaining focus as a family farming operation.

It’s not an easy life, but worth it Robert concludes. “We value farming and have a passion for it,” he says. “We want to continue producing the best quality milk we can for our customers.”

Continued on page 20

GLENVIEW’S FOUR-GENERATION evolution began in 1830, when John Walsh began mixed dairy and vegetable farming near Kilbride, Nfld.Throughout the years, Walsh family members have developed their operation and now have 200 robotically milked Holstein cows plus heifers and calves, supported by more than 500 acres of land.

COVER STORY

ELL’S DAIRY FARM

Passion for dairy farming shines through Embracing change, cont’d from page 19

G

ord Ell says he’s only missed three milkings in his dairy-farming tenure.

“They were pretty good reasons,” he explained about attending his wedding in his wife Tiffany’s hometown of Leduc, Alta., and subsequently for their daughter Jamie’s and son Travis’ nuptials.

These three occasions are the only ones since 1991 when an immediate Ell family member has not been present for milking, Gord says.

Habit over policy, “something we always do,” he says, which provides indication of the family’s dedication to their craft.

“Definitely a passion,” he says, adding this commitment is shared by a lot of dairy farmers.

“Cows are part of your life, basically.”

His great-grandfather Adam Ell’s decision to settle and begin farming near Kronau, Sask., in 1898 followed his emigration from Germany, with a failed land acquisition detour through Russia.

“There was nothing here,” Gord says, awed by his extended family’s tenacity. “It was just open prairie.”

Today, Ell’s Dairy Farm Inc. has 200 milking cows and 1,000 acres dedicated to feed production. Corn is grown on 150 irrigated

20

DECEMBER 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

acres and another 4,000 cash-cropped. A separate 2,600-acre block is pastured and rented out along with attendant herd management to a beef producer and contracted back for custom silage services. Travis and his younger brother, Ryan, work full-time on the farm, while Jamie, who is on maternity leave, assists Tiffany with accounting.

Ell’s Dairy Farm has a history of progressive farming, it was the first Saskatchewan dairy farm to have a milking parlour installed in the 1950s and was one of the first in Western Canada. Ten years later, the farm became the province’s first 100-cow farm, and late in that decade and into the next, had Saskatchewan’s highest-producing herd and top-producing cow. Gord later showed, shipped and sold cattle throughout Canada and the United States, as well as judged cattle globally.

In 2000, the Ell family consolidated smaller barns into one computerized facility in conjunction with increasing its milking herd size to 200. “It’s not robotic,” Gord says “but still in pretty good shape.” It’s a manageable size right now for what we have in terms of employees and family.”

There is room to grow if, for example, Jamie’s husband, a heavy-duty mechanic at the dealership the family purchases equipment

from, wants to enter the business.

“We could jump up bigger,” Gord says, adding an aging farmer population creates additional cash cropping rental potential. “We could take on more land.”

The family’s journey has come with challenges along the way, such as farming through minus 40-degree Celsius weather, hard work contributing to a short lifespan of about 60 years as indicated on family gravestones, and an extended decade-long drought and high interest rates following Gord, his brother and two cousins’ purchase of the operation from their parents in 1983.

“That was extremely tough,” Gord recalls of battling stress, weather and grasshoppers to produce forage. “A lot of years we sort of went backward.”

The last five years have been particularly demanding with timely rains providing “just enough to get by,” Gord says. “Hopefully we get past that; it puts a lot of stress on everyone.”

Thankfully, COVID has had a minor impact on the farm, partly due to the family and its employees living and working in the same bubble and thus managing to escape major outbreaks.

Ongoing concerns on the farm include static or reduced gross milk returns compared with rising production costs, Gord says.

Gord Ell’s great-grandfather Adam Ell’s decided to settle and begin farming near Kronau, Sask., in 1898 following his emigration from Germany.

Today, Ell’s Dairy Farm Inc. has 200 milking cows and 1,000 acres dedicated to feed production.

“We’ve streamlined as much as we can, but it’s still tight,” he adds.

“For the amount of work we do, the profit at the end of the year is pretty slim.”

Another issue Gord says needs addressing is the ongoing shortage of processing capability, first discussed in 2008. “They’re (the industry) still talking about that,” Gord says. “It would be nice to get with the times.”

The Ell family all get along well, Gord says, even though they are individually housed on the same farm. Looking ahead, the 63-year-old and his wife hope to be able to spend some time at their property in Florida while planning for the next generation to take over the farm.

“We want to make the transition as easy as possible,” Gord says. “Let the kids take on the day-to-day stuff and see where they want to go with it in the future.”

The Ell sons have taken on more responsibilities over the past decade, such as crop and soil management with upgraded computerized machinery.

“I’m allowed in the tractor, but I’m not allowed to touch anything,” Gord laughs, adding more seriously “you have to move with the times or you just sort of get eaten up.”

The Ell family is still going strong by growing scale and embracing technological advances while maintaining foundational respect for truly hands-on family dairy farming.

“I don’t want to ever see that change as long as we’re in the business,” Gord says.

ELL’S DAIRY Farm has a history of progressive farming, it was the first Saskatchewan dairy farm to have a milking parlour installed in the 1950s and was one of the first in Western Canada. Ten years later, the farm became the province’s first 100-cow farm.

Jeff Tribe is a freelance writer for Milk Producer magazine.

FARM MANAGEMENT

MANURE STORAGES: START PLANNING EARLY AND BUILD MORE THAN YOU NEED

By Lilian Schaer

CONTRIBUTOR

H

aving enough storage for manure on the farm is one of the best tools when it comes to good nutrient management. It gives farmers more options for safely spreading manure when crops can use the nutrients, and it keeps those nutrients out of water courses by avoiding the need to spread on frozen or snow-covered ground.

Expanding an existing storage or building a new one is a significant financial undertaking for a farm business, but there are many other aspects to such a project farmers must be aware of. That includes various regulations that come into play, as well as what regional requirements a municipality might have in place in addition to rules set by the province.

According to agronomist and nutrient management consultant Don King of The Soil Resource Group, there’s no one-stop-shop where farmers can find all the answers they need, but there are various tools and sources of information that can help.

For example, when it comes to determining how much storage they’re going to need, farmers can turn to nutrient management consultants or to their builder.

“People come to us when they are in the planning stages to get a better idea of storage requirements and options,” King says. “Most people expanding know what they need for liquid manure storage, but sometimes don’t have a good idea of the size required for their operation when it comes to solid manure.”

The answer varies, depending on the size and type of farm, as well as crop rotation, but the key is to have enough storage to manage through a wet fall or other challenges where it might not be possible to get all the manure applied before winter.

Covering a liquid manure storage can also expand its holding capacity considerably. Ac-

22

DECEMBER 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

cording to calculations by Christine Brown, field crops sustainability specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), a 115-head dairy barn with a 12-foot by 145-ft. circular liquid manure tank can store up to 121 extra days of manure if it is covered.

A handy tool for farmers to determine how much storage they need is the manure storage sizing tool (MSTOR) that is part of OMAFRA’s AgriSuite collection of free-to-use online tools that help farmers and agronomists manage nutrients. MSTOR helps plan and size on-farm infrastructure for nutrient storage by calculating the volume of liquid and solid manures generated by common livestock and poultry operations. It can be found at www. ontario.ca/agrisuite.

Regardless of what the calculator suggests, however, Darrell Schoonderwoerd of Schoonderwoerd Bros. Concrete Ltd. encourages producers to build more storage than they need. His company has been building manure storages in southwestern Ontario since 2003, and as farms have gotten bigger during that time, so have manure storages. Even so, a good buffer, he suggests, is 25 per cent larger storage size.

“Oversizing your storage is a good idea to give yourself more flexibility,” he says. “If you’re too tight (on space), you’ll be out spreading when you shouldn’t be and there’s a cost to being on the land when you shouldn’t.”

In order to get a building permit for a manure storage, farmers need to complete a nutrient management strategy for their farm and have it approved. According to Schoonderwoerd, that can often be the part of the project that takes the most time, so he strongly urges producers to get that process started as soon as possible.

Proper siting on the property and in relation to other buildings is key, and here too, consultants and builders can advise on key aspects farmers need to consider when planning

a storage project. Information is available from OMAFRA, as well as municipal planning officials, builders or consultants like King.

“Where to place the storage is part of the decision-making process and we will draw farmers’ attention to sensitive features, like the distance to wells, waterbodies and creeks,” he says.

“There is also a minimum distance requirement to other properties and residential areas.”

Conservation Authorities will address local environmental regulations governing flood plains or proximity to water bodies, and if a farm is located in a specific geographic area, such as the Oak Ridges Moraine or the Niagara Escarpment, additional rules and restrictions will apply.

And in some jurisdictions, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks monitors nutrient management strategy approvals as well, he adds, which adds an additional layer of complexity.

“Where there are regional differences in Ontario, there is no one-stop-shop for farmers to assist with these types of projects,” King says.

“A municipality won’t consider a permit until farmers have their nutrient management strategy approved, for example, which ultimately puts the onus back on farmers.”

More information about manure stewardship and long-term nutrient management options are available at https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/timing-matters/.

Lilian Schaer is a freelance agricultural journalist, writer and communications professional based in Guelph, Ont. She was born in Switzerland and raised on a dairy farm in Grey County. Follow her on Twitter @foodandfarming.

This article is provided by Farm & Food Care Ontario as part of the Timing Matters project.

The project is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

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FARM MANAGEMENT

INCORPORATING CALF HEALTH INTO HERD HEALTH Your veterinarian can help you achieve your goals and reduce costs over the long run

By ACER Consulting Ltd.

CONTRIBUTOR

T

o say calf health and welfare is a key component to a successful cattle operation is an understatement. Yet another understatement is that, for many producers, calf and health welfare is tough to consistently manage. From weather to new bugs to new practices, there always seems to be something new to learn or a new challenge to tackle.

Looking back through the years, producers have made many positive strides in calf health management. For instance, the estimated mortality rate in pre-weaned calves has trended downward since the 1980s, from an average of 12 per cent down to six per cent. Producers report consistently feeding more colostrum and milk to their calves. As any good calf manager knows, higher planes of nutrition and a focus on colostrum management are some of the important factors in getting your calves off to a healthy start. Male dairy calf care has evolved, too, with many producers reporting pre-weaned calves are treated equally, regardless of gender. Other factors, such as proAction, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) humane transportation regulations and industry shifts, such as the rise of dairy beef, all emphasize increased oversight of calf health and welfare.

Yet nearly every producer will say challenges remain. The biggest culprits? Diarrhea and pneumonia, of course. Recent research studies have shown approximately 21 per cent and 12 per cent of pre-weaned calves have diarrhea and pneumonia, respectively. Those numbers change to roughly one per cent (diarrhea) and five per cent (pneumonia) in the post-weaning period. Studies suggest roughly 25 per cent of calves have failed transfer of passive immunity, an average stillbirth rate of five per cent and

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mortality in the pre- and post-weaning periods of six per cent and two per cent. In short, there is still plenty of room for improvement.

These numbers represent important calf health and welfare challenges, and key costs to your operation. From an estimated $36 per case of diarrhea to $940 per stillbirth, these costs add up in a hurry.

THE OPPORTUNITY One area that continues to be important, and often overlooked, is incorporating calf health into routine herd health visits with your veterinarian. In a 2018 study, only 33 per cent of vets indicated they ask about the health and performance of calves at routine herd health visits. At the Healthy Calf Conference in 2018, 50 per cent of participating producers reported their vet rarely provides calf health advice, while only 20 per cent noted their vet records information on issues, such as total proteins, colostrum quality and growth. This is a missed opportunity for you and your veterinarian.

VETERINARY PERSPECTIVE Veterinarians are busy and there are many areas of the barn in which they need to focus their time and attention. Yet, herd health has become synonymous with reproduction, which is a critical task for dairy herds to ensure consistent milk supply. But the concept of herd health should be more holistic. For instance, young stock should also be considered since they are the future of the herd, are one of the most vulnerable groups on the farm and heifer-rearing is one of the costliest aspects of dairy management.

Veterinarians have identified numerous factors that may affect the opportunity to talk about calf health during a visit, including they: • Sometimes struggle to get producer buy-in; • Have challenges motivating their clients to change;

• Don’t have the time to commit to consistently prioritize calves during herd health; • Bigger barriers, such as facilities and labour, can be challenging for the veterinarian to properly address for the farmer. While this doesn’t represent every veterinarian, it does provide some insight into the veterinarian perspective; • Would like to have a better understanding of their farmers’ priorities, such as asking their clients how they want calf health to factor into routine veterinary visits.

WHY LEVERAGE YOUR VETERINARIAN FOR CALF HEALTH? Whether it’s a formal calf health program, or just an informal discussion, there are several benefits to prioritizing calves during a visit with your vet. Simply put, disease costs you. Your vet can help protect your investment in each calf by supporting more proactive and timely interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality costs. They can also help improve growth rates to target an age at first calving that is optimal for lifetime milk production. Your veterinarian is another set of eyes that can employ their animal health expertise to help inform decision-making and foster continuous improvement based on your personal goals.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS? Do you have explicit calf health goals established? Are you focused on improving colostrum management? Growth performance?

Tracking and improving morbidity and mortality? Your vet can help establish and refine these goals. Once identified, they can help with data collection, too.

Is colostrum management your goal? Your vet and their technicians can support you by Continued on page 27 W W W.MILKPRODUCER.CA

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FARM MANAGEMENT

IMPROVING FEED FOR FRESH COWS IN AUTOMATIC MILKING SYSTEMS

By Luciana Prates

CONTRIBUTOR

D

airy producers are continually adapting to advances in technology to maximize yield and profit.

Automation in dairy farming has contributed to better herd management, milk production, feed distribution, environmental control and animal health and behaviour. The introduction of automatic milking systems (AMS) is one such technological advancement. This machine was first introduced in Europe where the majority of robots are currently located.

Despite this, Canada has about a nine per cent share of these units worldwide.

The AMS brought several benefits to dairy farming practices, such as increased milk production, improved cow comfort and cow health, more flexible lifestyle for producers, reduced milkling labour and fewer routine activities for producers. Moreover, an AMS enhances feeding precision by allowing a specific portion of a cow’s nutritional diet to be individually delivered during milking. The remaining diet, consisting of a partial mixed

ration (PMR), is supplied in the feed bunk.

Initially, the AMS was designed to offer a large amount of concentrate feed in the milking unit to attract cows to the robot. However, several recent studies have pointed out a lower feeding rate, usually around four to six kilograms per day, contributes to optimal feed efficiency by precisely meeting each individual cow’s nutrient requirements. It was also found feed presented as a hard pellet showed greater acceptability by cows as opposed to mesh feed.

Although an AMS contributes to refined diets for dairy cows, most of them are equipped with only one feed bin for the entire herd. In this case, the amount delivered per cow is determined only by days in milk (DIM) and milk yield. However, most of the time, pellets show a nutritional composition closer to a dairy total ration, which may contribute to better animal health and performance. It is possible, nutrient requirements for fresh cows are not fully supplied by the pellet delivered to them.

Some dairy farms, especially ones expanding their herd or building new facilities, have a pen available for fresh cows only. However, in many cases, there are barns without a fresh cows’ pen where the AMS provides a diet that more

accurately fulfils the fresh cows’ needs through the milking unit. On the other hand, some farms may opt for an AMS with two feeding lines and-or a liquid feed line.

Dairy cows face diverse challenges during the transition period. Precise nutritional management in this phase positively affects cow health, production and performance during and after lactation. After calving, cows reduce their dry matter intake (DMI) while their input for nutrients to support production increases. This imbalance between DMI and animal requirements results in a negative energy balance, which can compromise cow performance and peak lactation.

Overall, fresh cows’ diets are focused on increasing dietary energy density, the source of fermentable carbohydrates, and altering the availability of glucogenic nutrients. In this case, a simpler alternative for increasing energy density in the diet is to elevate starch content; however, rapidly increasing dietary starch poses a greater risk of sub-acute rumen acidosis (SARA) and milk fat depression syndrome. Another option is increasing fat content in fresh cows’ diets. Keep in mind, using dietary fat can lead to fibre digestion

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depression and can reduce DMI and milk fat depression. Given these factors, there are some clear limits and boundaries to navigate but there are also opportunities to improve diet formulation, which can be balanced for individual production.

ADDING LIQUID SUGAR When the AMS is equipped with a liquid feed line, farmers can feed liquid sugars, such as molasses and glycerol, to fresh cows. Sugars yield faster ruminal fermentation than starch or fiber without necessarily reducing rumen pH levels. Some studies have shown fresh cows fed low-starch, high-sugar diets presented greater DMI and milk fat yield than fresh cows fed high-starch, low-sugar diets. Although using sugar will contribute to increased energy density without increasing the risk of rumen acidosis, the low DMI during this period limits fresh cows from obtaining all their nutrients required from the PMR. A second bin for feed would help ensure proper nutrients during this critical stage. In this case, the addition of a second pellet for fresh cows could contribute to a higher energy density in the diet and increase nutrient density. Fresh cows could be given an extra feed containing more sugar, some rumen inert fat and effective rumen buffer ingredients, plus greater levels of rumen-protected amino acids, vitamins and yeast products. Although most dairy cow diets already contain some or all these ingredients, increasing their quantities for the whole herd makes the diet economically feasible.

In barns without a fresh cow pen and when top dressing the PMR is not an option, using a second pellet in the AMS will optimize DMI, energy and micro-nutrient intake. It will also help mitigate body fat mobilization and SARA to maximize lactation and reproductive performance for early lactation cows. Further, using a second pellet in the milking unit will allow your nutritionist to formulate a more refined diet and ensure feed is delivered to each fresh cow individually.

The AMS is a powerful tool that enables precision dairy nutrition and simultaneously enhances a dairy farm’s economic, social and environmental position.

Luciana Prates is a ruminant nutritionist at Proveta Nutrition Ltd.

Incorporating calf health into herd health, cont’d from page 24

The time is right and for many farms, improving calf health is both a need and an opportunity.

You already have a trusted relationship with an animal health expert. Next time your vet visits your farm for herd health, take a few minutes to chat about what opportunities might exist to start adding calf health into the mix—you’ll be glad you did.

For more information, visit www.calfcare.ca to access calf health information for producers and a veterinarian portal, which summarizes the science on calf health and welfare veterinarians can put into practice.

taking blood and colostrum samples, assessing equipment cleanliness and reviewing your calf feeding protocols. They can even support you in staff training.

Is growth performance your goal? By measuring average daily gain and making comparisons at key age intervals, such as birth to seven days, seven days to weaning, and weaning to breeding, your veterinarian can help you optimize performance. They can also help interpret data from calf feeders and troubleshoot other growth issues.

Is reducing morbidity and mortality your goal? Your vet can support you in routine calf health scoring for issues, such as diarrhea and pneumonia, or can do this for you. They can help you track and interpret data on calf health and strive for common calf health targets.

From routine monitoring to lab testing, assessing calf housing and benchmarking health and performance—your vet is there to help you. The key is to start the conversation about your herd’s need and the value of getting your vet involved. Stay focused and start with a few key activities and-or objectives, and then build from there.

This project was funded by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year federalprovincial-territorial initiative.

ACER Consulting specializes in animal health research and scientific education.

Calf Care Corner delivers the latest information and ideas to help you improve the way calves are raised on your farm. If you have any comments or questions about Calf Care Corner, send an email to info@calfcare.ca.

Follow Calf Care Corner on Facebook and Twitter @ CalfCareCorner, and sign up for monthly e-blasts at www. calfcare.ca.

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DAIRY RESEARCH DAIRY RESEARCH

[

FOCUSING ON FEED EFFICIENCY CAN BOOST FARM’S BOTTOM LINE

By Barry Potter CONTRIBUTOR

F

eed costs are the single biggest cost in dairy production, accounting for more than 50 per cent of variable costs. This year, feed costs have continued to rise along with rising grain prices in North America.

To mitigate the impact of high prices, cow efficiencies continue to be examined. One area that has seen increased research is feed efficiency.

SOME QUESTIONS BEING CONSIDERED ARE: • Can cows be more efficient at making use of the feed they consume?

• Which cows are more efficient?

Recently, the Canadian dairy industry introduced new estimated breeding values (EBVs) for feed efficiency (see Milk Producer’s May 2021 issue). Producers can now start selecting cows that are more feed efficient in their herd as part of an initiative through Lactanet.

Feed efficiency reflects how much milk a cow produces from the feed offered to her at the bunk. A feed-efficient cow can be defined as an animal that eats less without reducing production, or a cow that produces more while consuming the same amount of feed.

One method that has been used to evaluate feed efficiency is residual feed intake (RFI). RFI considers the difference or residual between what a cow is expected to eat based on body weight and production and actual intake. This variable is estimated using regression models.

The ability to incorporate genomics allows the predictors the Canadian industry has come up with. Making sure all factors are accounted for when the research is completed allows those predictors to be more accurate.

A recent Danish study looked at removing time as a factor in RFI calculations. Because feed efficiency data collection is expensive, sometimes there are point-in-time calculations.

For example, a recent U.S. study considered RFI evaluations from 50 days in milk to 200 days in milk. The Danish study looked at cows over the whole production cycle to remove any RFI bias.

Data was collected on more than 1,400 lactations. Cows were housed in a freestall and 28

DECEMBER 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

milked with automated milking equipment.

Milk production was averaged weekly from daily milk yields. Researchers analyzed fat, protein, rations and dry matter feed content weekly.

Each cow had dry matter intake recorded.

The cows were automatically weighed at each milking. Body condition scoring (BCS) was also evaluated every two weeks.

PHYSICAL OBSERVATIONS INCLUDED: • Cows that milk more in early lactation are heavier than average, having a higher intake capacity but are less persistent; • Cows that produce more milk always had a lower BCS than average, and more so in late lactation; • The correlation between weight and BCS remained consistent over time, showing cows with more condition were heavier at every point in lactation; • The correlation between dry matter intake (DMI) and BCS started around zero and slowly decreased over the lactation.

RFI calculations over the lactation period showed some cows were either efficient or inefficient during the whole lactation, while others were efficient in early lactation and inefficient at the end of lactation.

Feed costs are the single biggest cost in dairy production, accounting for more than 50 per cent of variable costs.

How does this help with selecting feedefficient cows? Efficient animals, on average, are more efficient in mid-lactation because this is the longest stable period of the lactation without dramatic changes.

However, efficient cows in mid-lactation are not necessarily the most efficient in early or late lactation. The transition period and first month of lactation are challenging to cows since they face a huge increase in milk production and use of body fat reserves. BCS is an important factor in influencing this transition.

This study was focused on the impact of time on RFI, evaluating milk production, BCS and cow weight compared with DMI (See figures 1 and 2).

With more and more precision farming technologies being adopted on the farm, access Continued on page 30

Figure 1: Time trends of the correlations between the animal effects (i.e. the animal differences from the average at any given time point, across the lactation of dairy cattle) of the corrected milk (cmilk), body weight, DMI and BCS. Figure 1: demonstrates RFI correlated most strongly with milk production, followed by weight and less so by BCS.

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Shifting TRACTOR SAFETY Up a Gear The fatality statistics related to tractors are a grim reminder of how dangerous their operation can be. According to an Ontario CAIR Report, 70% of fatalities in agriculture were machine related and of those 61% involved tractors.

Tasks including regular equipment checks must be sustained, especially when tractors are being used around the clock.

This includes monitoring tire pressure, lights and brakes. It’s important to make sure that implements being towed are also road-ready with hitches, pins and drawbars in good shape and secured properly.

Because modern tractors and equipment keep getting bigger, visibility of bystanders is a constant challenge. Operators not having a clear view, and bystanders who assume they are visible and walk directly between the drive wheels, are a dangerous combination.

Teach Tractor Safety to Children It is also crucial that children are taught from a young age to not assume that the operator of a tractor is looking out for them, despite their best intentions. Children need to understand that if they can’t see the operator, the operator cannot see them.

Along with riders on the fenders, people riding in training seats without using seatbelts still occurs. It just takes one good bump, a door not properly latched and that rider can be ejected and run over.

Slow Moving Vehicle signage is something else that can’t be taken for granted. It may be perfectly visible when tractors are being operated on their own but obscured by wagons they may be towing.

Be Alert and Ready Before You Start Distracted driving is not just about texting while driving. We can be mentally distracted by our own thoughts wandering to stressors we may be dealing with. Make sure you’re alert and ready to focus before setting out.

There are other aspects of tractor safety that are more technical, but just as important in preventing injuries and fatalities.

Modern equipment provides safety interlocks controlling the ignition/transmission function. Incidents can still occur if transmission system locks are not maintained.

Never Chase Moving Equipment Operators are known to chase after a load of hay or a tractor rolling away from them. Many farm injuries and fatalities have occurred from chasing moving equipment. If you stop and leave the cab, make it a habit to apply the brake.

Rollovers are a major cause of tractor fatalities. Having an understanding of a tractor’s center of gravity and its stability zone will guide you to safer operation, including the prevention of rollovers.

Finally, one key factor in tractor safety, that has nothing to do with their operation, is communication. Always be sure to inform others on the farm about your planned whereabouts and an estimate of how long you’ll be gone. Be sure cell numbers are exchanged.

COVID-19 & Workplace Safety: We Can Help The Governments of Canada and Ontario are providing financial support to help farmers and agri-food workplaces manage and identify transmission risks to protect their workforces from COVID-19.

Through Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS), farmers and agri-food businesses can access professional advice and consulting services to help them with their COVID-19 needs. Your workplace may be eligible for two days of services tailored to your needs (worth $2,000 – paid for by the federal and provincial governments). Available until February 28, 2022.

Please reach out to WSPS by:

For free online resources relating to tractor safety, visit:

engage.wsps.ca/tractor-safety-2021

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Call Customer Care to speak with a consultant.

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MILKPRODUCER | DECEMBER 2021

29

DAIRY RESEARCH Focusing on feed efficiency can boost farm’s bottom line, cont’d from page 28 Figure 2: Correlation between the averaged residual feed intake (RFI) over the whole lactation and RFI calculated at any given time point in the considered dairy herd.

Figure 2 shows RFI in the middle of lactation is a good predictor of the mean RFI over the whole lactation. If the objective is to identify animals that are, on average, the most efficient, then the costly measure of intake could be done only during a few weeks during mid-lactation (ideally between 115 and 175 DIM based on their results) with only a small loss of information, rather than during the entire lactation. However, efficient animals in mid lactation are not necessarily the ones that are the most efficient in early or late lactation.

Having RFI data for the whole lactation can provide more selection focus.

to multiple layers of data is now available.

A recent University of Wisconsin study considered the benefits of adding more data in selecting for feed efficiency. They developed a pyramid to represent the benefits of adding more data in decision making.

Reducing the biggest cost factor in your dairy operation by focusing on feed efficiency can help the overall profit picture, and see the industry select for cows that are more proficient in herds. Using the genetic selection feed efficiency EBVs some organizations, such as Lactanet, have recently introduced can benefit producers in the long run.

RESEARCH STUDY REVIEWED: A new method to estimate residual feed intake in dairy cattle using time series data.

P. Martina,V.Ducrocqa, D.G.M. Gordob, N.C. Frigge.

Animal, The International Journal of Animal Biosciences. Volume 15, Issue 2, February 2021.

Barry Potter

is an agriculture development advisor for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

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A NEW PIECE TO SOLVE AN OLD PUZZLE? Identifying which cows benefit most from rumen-protected B-vitamin supplementation

By Vicki Brisson CONTRIBUTOR

W

e know about the importance of a balanced ration, proper feed bunk management and total mixed ration particle size, but could we be missing an important part of the puzzle to further support dairy cow performance and health? It’s long been assumed cows didn’t need B-vitamin supplementation because of their rumen microbiota’s ability to synthesize these important nutrients. In addition to research conducted at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Duplessis et al., 2014), a meta-analysis by Evans et al. (2021) summarizing more than 50 studies done over the last 15 years, has started debunking this myth, and has clearly demonstrated the positive impacts of B-vitamin supplementation in milk production, health and reproductive performance.

vitamins in dairy cows can be affected by many things, including but not limited to: • lactation stage; • diet composition; • environment.

Though the benefits of rumen-protected, B-vitamin supplementation has been demonstrated, B vitamin needs in dairy cows have yet to be defined; therefore, a complete approach to supplementation may be best.

1. LACTATION STAGE: Much focus is often put on cows in the transition period, and indeed, it is a crucial time in the cow’s production cycle. To avoid frequent metabolic diseases, including ketosis (Evans et al., 2006) and fatty liver (Morrison et al., 2018), rumen-protected, B-vitamin supplementation has proven to be a successful solution. It’s Continued on page 32

WHY DO COWS NEED B VITAMINS? B vitamins are co-enzymes or ‘metabolic helpers’ required in various metabolic processes that affect lipid, carbohydrate and protein metabolism. B vitamins streamline the use of key nutrients from the diet to facilitate milk synthesis, support the needs of the immune system and ensure proper hormonal functions for fetal development. Cows are like high-performing athletes and need to be treated as such, which may mean having to dig deeper and consider the impact a sufficient B vitamin supply can have on their performance. When enough B vitamins are available, cows use the most energy-efficient, metabolic pathways instead of using alternative pathways that have larger energy requirements. The result is less energy required to support basic metabolic needs and more energy used for increased milk and reproductive performance.

HOW WILL COWS BENEFIT? Cows with limited supply of B vitamins will benefit most from supplementation. The challenge remains in the lack of clearly defined B vitamin needs for dairy cows based on past assumptions and limited research on the topic due to complexities associated to this study area. Over the past few decades, studies were able to determine the supply and needs of B WWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA

MILKPRODUCER | DECEMBER 2021

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DAIRY RESEARCH A new piece to solve an old puzzle, cont’d from page 31 equally important to make sure the cow’s needs continue to be met throughout her entire lactation so she can continue to contribute to the herd for many more lactations. Even when a cow starts off lactation on the right foot, one more hurdle still has to be overcome—making sure she gets pregnant.

2.DIET COMPOSITION: Feed management and ration balancing are fre-

quently discussed, and we already know they can have a major impact on lactation performance. To add to the intricacies of this conversation, it is also important to note dietary factors, such as forage particle length, forage family, starch and fiber content, can influence the amount of B vitamins available to your cows (Castagnino et al., 2016; Brisson et al., 2020).

While work is currently ongoing to account for this in ration balancing models, an alternative solution may be to include a rumen-protected, B-vitamin blend to your ration if it is likely to

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3. ENVIRONMENT: When cows are stressed, their dry matter intake decreases, production of free radicals increases and their immune system goes into overdrive.

To function properly, their immune system relies on B vitamins, as described in the review by McFadden et al. (2020). Cows under heat stress or with high somatic cell counts can also benefit from rumen-protected, B-vitamin supplementation since it helps boost their immune system and decreases the impact of these environmental stressors on their performance. Don’t forget about your dry cows either since stress during this period can affect their next lactation’s milk production (Tao et al., 2011) and their calf ’s future performance (Dahl et al., 2016).

TAKE-HOME MESSAGES

• Cows, at all stages of lactation, are high-performing athletes that are filling your bulk tank and ensuring the future of your herd. Rumen-protected B vitamins can help increase your herd’s production efficiency by supporting key metabolic processes, including but not limited to milk synthesis and hormonal regulation of immunity and reproduction; • Talk to your farm’s support team and veterinarian to determine what the best B-vitamin supplementation solution is for your herd.

References

®

16 DIFFERENT ENZYMES TO PREDIGEST FIBRE

lead to a low B vitamin ruminal supply.

Brisson, V. et al. 2020. Journal of Dairy Science. 103 (Suppl. 1):167.

Castagnino, D. S. et al. 2016. Journal of Dairy Science. 99: 6229-6236.

Duplessis, M. et al. 2014. Journal of Dairy Science.

97: 2346-2354.

Evans, E. et al. 2006.The Professional Animal Scientist. 22:158-163.

Evans, E. et al. 2021. Open Journal of Animal Sciences. 11: 580-590.

McFadden, J. W. et al. 2020. Journal of Dairy Science.

103: 5669-5683.

Morrison, E. I. et al. 2018. Journal of Dairy Science.

101: 9016-9027.

Tao, S. et al. 2011. Journal of Dairy Science. 94: 5976-5986.

Dahl, G. E. et al. 2016. Journal of Dairy Science. 99: 3193-3198.

Vicki Brisson, B.Sc., is an Agr.-Ruminant Technical Service Specialist with Jefo Nutrition Inc.

W W W.MILKPRODUCER.CA

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DAIRY RESEARCH

COW BRUSHES – A USEFUL TOOL How offering a range of brush types can benefit your growing heifers

By Marina von Keyserlingk and Dan Weary CONTRIBUTORS

B

rushes, both automated and fixed, are becoming more common on dairy farms. Along with providing comfort, they allow cows to express natural grooming behaviours. Previous work by University of British Columbia (UBC) researchers shows just how important these brushes are to cow health. Essentially, cows will use just enough force to access a brush as they would to access fresh feed. On some farms, calves and growing heifers are also provided access to brushes (typically fixed brushes as illustrated in Figure 1A). To date, the benefits of providing young stock with access to grooming devices is not as well studied.

STUDY EXAMINES COW BEHAVIOUR A recent study at UBC’s Dairy Education and Research Centre by members of the animal welfare program helps understand how weaned heifers use these brushes, providing a scientific basis for recommended best practices for dairy farmers. Researchers assessed heifer preferences for brush orientation, bristle stiffness and brush location within the pen. The changes in brush use over time was also measured, as was how the cows responded to the brush being removed for a short period of time and then later returned.

For the first phase of the study, 13 groups were formed, each consisting of four weaned Holstein heifers averaging 146 days of age and initially unfamiliar with brushes. They were housed in an open-bedded pen that provided access to four brushes attached to walls, with two brushes providing moderately stiff bristles and the other two with very stiff bristles.

For each bristle type, one brush was placed vertically and one horizontally. The time heifers spent interacting with the brushes was recorded over a one-week period.

For the second phase of the study, the heifers were moved in pairs to a freestall pen (shown in Figure 1B) with two treatments applied (13 pairs of heifers were tested for each treatment).

For the first five days of this second phase, a stiff brush was attached inside each freestall (the brush treatment as illustrated in Figure 1B) and no brushes were provided to the 34

DECEMBER 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

WALL-MOUNTED SCRUB brush (Figure 1A on left) and stall-mounted scrub brushes (Figure 1B) are provided to heifers. Brush dimensions: 25.4 by 6.0 centimetres, 3.8 cm long bristles. From Van Os et al. (2021). J. Dairy Sci. 104:12019-12029.

control treatment. After five days, a brush was added to stalls in the control pen to allow the researchers to assess the effect of a short period of brush deprivation.

Brush use was highest after heifers were first introduced to the brushes, with animals using the brushes for 46 minutes per day on average.

Brush use decreased but then remained relatively consistent throughout the first phase of the study. Heifers primarily used the brushes for grooming, 60 per cent of which mostly groomed their head. The remainder of the time the cows interacted with the brushes was spent licking, sucking and chewing the bristles and body. Heifers spent similar amounts of time interacting with the brushes regardless of brush orientation or bristle type.

In phase 2 of the study, when heifers were moved to freestall pens, brushes were primarily used for oral manipulation. Heifers in the brush treatment did not change the time spent interacting with the brushes over the six-day testing period. However, the control heifers that were deprived of the brushes for the first five days of the study showed more brush use, such as oral and grooming behaviour, on day six compared with the heifers who had continuous access to the brush. This rebound effect suggests brushes are important to dairy heifers.

IN CONCLUSION

can benefit from a range of brush types and installations.

The results described in this article are based on Van Os J.M.C, S.A. Goldstein, D.M. Weary, M.A.G von Keyserlingk. Stationary brush use in naïve dairy heifers. 2021. J. Dairy Sci. 104:12019-12029. General funding for the Animal Welfare Program during the time of this study was provided by the NSERC Industrial Research Chair program, with industry contributions from the Alberta Milk, British Columbia Dairy Association, Boehringer Ingelheim, Lactanet, BC Cattle Industry Development Fund, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Dairy Farmers of Manitoba, Intervet Canada Corporation, Saputo Inc., SaskMilk and Semex Alliance.

Reference: From Van Os et al. (2021). J. Dairy Sci. 104:12019-12029.

Marina von Keyserlingk is a professor in the animal welfare program in the faculty of land and food systems at the University of British Columbia and a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Chair in animal welfare.

Daniel Weary is a professor in the animal welfare program in the faculty of land and food systems at the University of British Columbia and a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Chair in animal welfare.

The results of this study indicate brushes are used by dairy heifers for both grooming and oral manipulation. Heifers in this study did not appear to discriminate between brush types or brush orientation, suggesting heifers W W W.MILKPRODUCER.CA

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ife is a balancing act and we, in the dairy industry, have to be mindful of our marketplace. Many purchasers of calf housing products prefer calves to be raised in an enhanced environment. Agri-Plastics has taken the lead in producing such a housing system. We have balanced costeffectiveness and growth efficiency using a companionship platform.

Some producers have tried pairing calves by putting two smaller hutches side by side, and joining them with one large fence and a removable center fence panel. The problem with this method is both calves end up using only one hutch, and it isn’t large enough for both calves. The other hutch goes empty since the calves prefer to be near each other.

The new Dual XL hutch addresses this problem. It has a larger inside growing area to achieve this efficiency and comfort. Agri-Plastics Dual XL Hutch supplies the space that allows calves to co-mingle at a young age. Buddying two calves in one hutch promotes companionship and competitiveness, which research has proven to help achieve optimal growth.

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BENEFITS OF PAIRED CALF HOUSING • Having two calves in one hutch, or the buddy system, has many advantages.

Benefits include reduced weaning distress, faster weight gain, promotion of solid feed intake, increased socialization and minimized cross-suckling; • This newer size works well for farms that want to use the buddy system but want a more affordable and space-efficient housing option. Initial studies have shown calves raised together stay together even into adulthood; • Because the two calves learn from each other, they learn to eat, get stronger

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37

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WESTGEN DONATES TO B.C. FARMERS

By Kevin Graham, WestGen

CONTRIBUTOR

T

hrust into the middle of the unprecedented floods in British Columbia, WestGen has felt first-

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hand the devastation, but also benefitted from the surrounding farming community’s heroic efforts to assist it in evacuating animals from its barn. As a result of that assistance, WestGen was in a position to return that support to other farmers in need. “It has been a humbling, emotional and yet inspirational week,” Chris Parry, WestGen Group’s chief executive officer summed up at the time of publication. “For many, there is a long road ahead to recovery, but the farming community and WestGen will be there to do what we can.”

B.C.’s Sumas Prairie represents a small geographical piece of the total WestGen territory.

Still, farmers right across the four-province region WestGen services are donating and offering assistance to their peers. It is in that spirit of giving that WestGen is donating $100,000 to the BC Dairy Association’s disaster relief fund.

“The need is great. As a farmer-owned, farmerdirected company, this is a donation on behalf of all farmers in Western Canada,” says Richard Boonstoppel, WestGen president. “We are proud to be part of Western Canada’s farming community.”

2021-03-29 2:19:57 PM

Are you ready for winter?

Dairy Farmers of Ontario is reminding producers to clear their laneways of ice and snow.

Why is this important?

• creates a safe environment for milk transporters; • ensures timely milk pickup; • reduces DFO’s winter transportation costs; • mandated through DFO’s Farm Yards and Lanes Policy.

Yards and laneways that bulk tank milk graders travel on must be cleared of snow and clearly marked with poles and reflecting markers. Ice buildup should be salted and-or sanded.

38

DECEMBER 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

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W W W.MILKPRODUCER.CA 2020-10-29 1:26:42 PM

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