April 2021 by MilkProducer

APRIL 2021

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Vol. 97 No. 4

CONTENTS PUBLISHED BY DAIRY FARMERS OF ONTARIO 6780 Campobello Rd., Mississauga, Ont., L5N 2L8 EDITOR Jennifer Nevans jennifer.nevans@milk.org

Editorial Editor’s column

Board column

Provincial Perspectives

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

Dairy Research

CONTRIBUTOR Allison Williams allison.williams@milk.org

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 managing 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.

Dairy News DFO SPC coverage

U of G Research

Applied Science

UBC Research

Ruminations 44

DFC Highlights

Lactanet announcement

New N Noted

Farmland values

Featured products

Alberta livestock emergency 18 Processor Profile

Markets Market demand

Milk Producer welcomes letters to the editor about magazine content. Websites: www.milkproducer.ca www.milk.org Facebook: /OntarioDairy Twitter: @OntarioDairy Instagram: @ontariodairy

Farm Management

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Calving

Mental Health

Calf management

Calf Care Corner

36 MILKPRODUCER | APRIL 2021

EDITORIAL

[ SPRINGTIME HAS ARRIVED By Jennifer Nevans

EDITOR

s we wrap up this month’s issue of Milk Producer magazine, we also wrapped up this year’s annual spring policy conference (SPC) at Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO)—or as DFO’s board chair Murray Sherk calls it, our spring update since this year’s conference looked a little different. This time last year was the last time we all came together under the same roof. At the time, we never thought that remote work and virtual meetings would become the norm for the next year. Around 250 guests joined us at this year’s virtual SPC—more than in previous years thanks to the ease of technology. We heard our board chair talk about the

work that’s being done at the national level, including lobbying for full and fair compensation for concessions made through recent trade deals, the establishment of the P10 pool and initiatives to address milk allocation issues. We also heard from DFO’s chief executive officer Cheryl Smith, who provided an organizational update, as well as chief marketing officer Rosa Checchia, who highlighted DFO’s marketing efforts in response to changing consumer behaviours during the pandemic. You can read more about DFO’s virtual SPC starting on page 8. Speaking of virtual events, the arrival of spring marks the start of trade show season. One of those shows includes the Canadian Dairy XPO, which, by the time you read this, would have likely passed. Once again, Milk Producer was proud to be a media sponsor of CDX, where we had a virtual booth in the exhibition hall. Attendees who stopped by were able to watch DFO’s marketing videos and access resources, including the magazine media kit and new website. Look out for event coverage in the May magazine.

SUBSCRIPTION DRIVE As we head into spring, I’m excited to announce Milk Producer is embarking on a subscription drive to expand its subscriber base across Canada. Milk Producer aims to share positive news about the industry and educate and inform dairy producers and industry partners. With this in mind, we want to make the magazine accessible to anyone who wants to receive it. If your subscription is up for renewal, you will receive a renewal postcard with this month’s issue, where they can fill out and return the form or visit bit.ly/mp-mag to renew. If you did not receive a renewal postcard in the mail, your subscription is not up for renewal and you’ll continue receiving the magazine. And if you haven’t already, I encourage you to check out the magazine e-reader, available on our new website at www.milkproducer.ca. Our hope is to expand our audience across Canada, so we can continue sharing informative news stories with more readers.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2021 AND BEYOND By Nick Thurler

DFO VICE-CHAIR

s most of us are preparing for the next generation on our farms and thinking about our industry’s future, it’s important we continue to be agile to meet changing market demands and needs. The rapidly changing environment presents us with challenges we can convert to opportunities. More than ever, we need to keep this industry moving forward. Effective quota management is a critical cornerstone to our success in growing the industry. Coming out of one of the most uncertain years we have ever had has again demonstrated we have the best dairy system in the world. It only took a couple weeks to get production in line with the swift and sudden shifts in demand during the onset of pandemic. Following those early days, we were able to adjust and manage our supply to meet market needs, bringing stability in a fluctuating environment. Producers did their part on the farm 4

APRIL 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

and collectively, with our system’s policy tools, we were able to successfully adjust. This was supply management working at its best. The P5 quota committee met diligently to make necessary adjustments to meet the needs. Understandably, with the unexpected and sudden drop in demand, production signals had to be given on short notice. While we managed extremely well under the circumstances, it was an opportunity to think about our quota policies and ways to improve them for the future. Changes in demand with consumers today is inevitable. Most recently, we are seeing shifts in consumer behaviours with cooking at home and buying local, and we need to find ways to seize these opportunities. Having policies to allow us to more accurately predict production would be beneficial. The P5 quota committee has also been discussing ways to improve our quota issuance and allocation. It’s understandable producers prefer earlier production signals to optimally run their farm operations. While the P5 quota committee knows this, it’s not always easy to accomplish. When you have five provinces, each with their own provincial quota policies, authorities and producer needs, it’s challenging to come to a harmonized agreement that is ideal for everyone. Then you need to come to a col-

lective conclusion on what the actual demand is. The P5 looks at forecasts for projected demand from the Canadian Dairy Commission, provincial assessments of anticipated production, butter and cheese stocks and import impacts. Philosophical alignment and good judgement are critical when determining what is needed. There are varying perspectives—some are cautious, while others believe you need more milk in the system to assess true demand. Decisions are usually made somewhere in the middle. Discussing these considerations explains why P5 quota committee meetings are never quick. The P5 pooling environment has benefitted us tremendously, and we are always stronger together. Take, for example, the pandemic—an individual producer did not suffer losses more than another. Collectively, we share in the costs as we do the benefits. The P5 recognizes the new realities and the need to evolve. Do we have opportunities to improve? When don’t we? We need to keep evaluating our provincial quota policies to ensure they best serve producers today and in the long term. Adaptability and vision are important to a progressive industry. We need to move forward and keep our eyes on the future—it’s our job to leave a dynamic and profitable Canadian dairy industry for future generations. WWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA

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EDITORIAL

MANITOBA CONTINUES TO LOOK AT WAYS TO PRODUCE HIGH-QUALITY MILK By David Wiens

OPINION

here’s never a dull moment in the Canadian dairy industry. Challenges that are faced in one region of the country inevitably will impact the rest of us. One of the biggest challenges we faced over the past year was the impact of the pandemic. We experienced the volatility early on but then market dynamics stabilized over the summer— and in the fall, there was stronger demand for most dairy products. We have been fortunate to be spared any major outbreaks of COVID-19 on our farms for the most part. During this challenging time, it has been rewarding to experience the generosity of dairy farmers, transporters and processors to increase our donations to food banks in our province and beyond. Farmers recognized although we had our challenges as an industry, we were spared the full brutal impact of the pandemic many Canadians experienced.

Another challenge we have been facing is the implementation of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). We haven’t experienced the full impact yet, so it creates some uncertainty among farmers. The announcement of the remaining compensation payments for the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) over three years was a major relief for farmers. According to responses received from our farmers, it will most certainly create a surge of investments on the farm that might otherwise not have happened as soon. It will be important for the government to make a solid commitment to honour their word of compensating dairy farmers for damage done to the dairy industry in Canada as a result of CUSMA. Dairy Farmers of Manitoba (DFM) continues to look at ways to produce the highest quality milk to ensure the best dairy products for consumers. In our pursuit of excellence,

we continue to review and update our provincial milk quality policies. In addition, the Western Milk Pool is working toward a milk quality policy that will ensure a common standard of excellence. Several years ago, after we eliminated electoral districts, DFM also created an advisory committee of up to 14 members to provide input to DFM’s board for strategic planning and policy development. This has become an integral part of our strategic planning process, and their input has been extremely valuable considering the never-ending challenges that face our industry. Their input also sheds light on opportunities we need to consider as we move forward. DFM provides governance and leadership training for advisory committee members. Although it is not mandatory, the last four of our newly elected board members had served on this committee. David Wiens is chair of Dairy Farmers of Manitoba.

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DAIRY NEWS

[

Editor’s note: Dairy Farmers of Ontario recently held its virtual annual spring policy conference in March. Jennifer Nevans, editor of Milk Producer, filed these reports based on the discussion papers and interviews conducted after the conference.

FUTURE SUCCESS DEPENDS ON INDUSTRY’S ABILITY TO BE AGILE By Jennifer Nevans

EDITOR

“T

or Cheryl Smith, Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s (DFO) chief executive officer (CEO), taking the right action now and in the coming year is a priority for DFO’s executive and board. During DFO’s virtual spring policy conference in March, Smith provided an organizational update to dairy producer committees (DPCs). “The last year gave us a chance to look at our budgets, re-prioritize what we’re doing and make sure we’re taking responsible steps as custodians of your resources,” Smith says. One of the areas DFO focused on this past year was pivoting its marketing and business development division to adapt and respond to the pandemic. Over the last year, DFO has made steady progress in strengthening milk perceptions with consumers. The Marketing team established an overarching marketing strategy, defined a brand house and hierarchy, created partnerships and decided on tactics. The purpose of this work is to keep Canadian dairy top of mind with consumers and continue to drive consumption during and after the pandemic. “We want DFO to be well positioned as Ontario and Canada start the economic recovery that’s needed,” Smith says. Smith also noted other recent organization-

APRIL 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

NATIONAL WORK CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC

CHERYL SMITH is Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s chief executive officer.

al developments, including proAction validations that will be conducted by Lactanet Canada starting in June 2021, the launch of DFO’s new industry website and Milk Management System in February 2021, the creation of the sustainability subcommittee and the training and development subcommittee, and government relations lobbying efforts, among other organizational updates. “As CEO, my hope is the hard work we do now, in the face of economic recovery and as an industry that’s evolving at such a rapid pace, will create a legacy of success,” Smith says. “If the past year has taught us anything, it’s that our future success depends on our ability to identify risk and be agile in adapting to manage it, while constantly thinking about how to improve efficiency.”

he Canadian dairy industry is incredibly complex and there’s still a lot of work to do to improve efficiencies,” says Murray Sherk, DFO’s board chair, who provided DPCs with an update on national issues affecting the Canadian dairy industry. This includes impacts from the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), which was entered into force on July 1, 2020, and included a 3.9 per cent market access, export limitations and the elimination of Class 7. “The federal government promised us many times for full and fair compensation to producers,” he says, adding DFO and Dairy Farmers of Canada continue to lobby the government to announce compensation for CUSMA. This would look similar to the compensation granted through the Dairy Direct Payment Program for concessions made through the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Along with trade negotiations, Sherk also discussed the history of pooling in Canada, the reasons why pools were established and the creation of the P10 pool. Continued on page 10 W W W.MILK PRODUCER.CA

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DAIRY NEWS

National work continues throughout the pandemic, cont’d from page 8 Pooling acts as a form of risk management for dairy producers, allowing the industry to meet milk requirements from processors, as well as better absorb the impacts of trade concessions and other disruptions to the industry, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. “Pooling became a necessary reality in the industry,” he says.

Sherk also addressed milk allocation and skimming and talked about the Dairy Innovation West Alberta facility, which will receive raw milk from the Western Milk Pool and processes it into concentrated whole milk, concentrated skim milk, cream, ultrafiltered milk and milk permeate. “I’m very interested in this approach and we have some opportunities in Eastern Canada where we could look at this as well,” he says, adding this type of facility could address milk

allocation issues. Sherk says significant work at the P5 and national level continues—even during the pandemic. Specifically, the P10 pool is a great achievement, he says, but a lot of work is still needed to be done to make it a true national pool. “I certainly like to acknowledge the work of many people at the national level during the pandemic—this has been a tremendous challenge,” Sherk says.

RESONATING WITH CONSUMERS IS KEY TO SUCCESSFUL MARKETING INITIATIVES

onsuming healthy foods, supporting local food production and preparing home-cooked meals are three key issues on the top of consumers’ minds during the pandemic. “In order for our marketing efforts to continue to work, we need to evolve our key messages and talk to consumers with information that resonates with them,” says Rosa Checchia, DFO’s chief marketing officer, adding this will help drive consumption over the next year. To do this, DFO will focus on existing trends and capitalize on future trends to keep dairy top of mind for consumers. This includes positioning dairy as one of nature’s complete nutritional products. “We’re amplifying our nutritional milk messaging to ensure it’s seen across Ontario,” she says. This started with the ‘What Can’t Milk Do?’ TV campaign, which highlighted milk’s nutrients in a fun and relatable way, and then continued with digital advertisements and social media content. “We also found consumers who are thinking about nutrition are also working from home, and with gyms closed, we’ve seen an increase in workouts at home,” she says. “We created contextual Spotify audio ads that expand on our nutrition message and resonate with consumers’ changing habits and new realities.” To target consumers who indicated supporting local food will be a key issue post-pandemic, Checchia says DFO will continue to amplify its farmer equity messaging and show how dairy farmers care about producing high-quality dairy and supporting the community through local grassroots initiatives. “This will be extremely key post-pandem-

APRIL 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

ROSA CHECCHIA is Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s chief marketing officer.

ic,” she says, adding 83 per cent of consumers indicated they want to support local in some way—through food, through the economy or through experiences. “We have an opportunity to build our equity by showing how our Ontario dairy farmers embody local values.” This included the ‘Milk & Cookies’ campaign and the donations from dairy farmers to local children’s hospitals. Following that was the ‘Letters’ campaign, which ran in early 2021 and highlighted farmers’ hard work and passion for producing quality milk. “Ontario dairy farmers make dairy the way it’s meant to be made—directly here in Ontario—and we know this message resonates with consumers,” Checchia says. “Our consumer research supports this message and therefore, we’ll be back in the summer and fall with more

equity messaging.” To continue inspiring people to consume dairy while supporting the reopening of the economy, DFO will rely on its Savour Ontario platform to carry the milk messaging. During the onset of the pandemic, DFO embarked on a ‘Savour Ontario at Home’ campaign, which successfully resonated with consumers as their daily routines suddenly changed. Savour Ontario continued to deliver a variety of programming throughout the rest of the year. As the economy reopens and restaurants get ready to welcome diners this year, DFO will pivot its Savour Ontario program to help drive consumers to support local restaurants. “We will be taking Savour Ontario out of the home and into Spring,” Checchia says. “Despite a year of the pandemic, the warmer weather will bring people outdoors to seek safe and local experiences. As restaurants look to reopen, encouraging safe tourism will be part of the recovery for consumers, local businesses and communities.” Further to the integration of food and local experiences, DFO also aims to support youth and local communities through its MilkUP platform—DFO’s youth lifestyle brand that promotes the goodness of milk. Due to COVID-19, DFO wasn’t able to activate its full grassroots program, but “we do see a light at the end of the tunnel with vaccines and the reopening of the economy,” Checchia says. DFO will be relaunching the MilkUP program in mid-summer, targeting the social media feeds of youth and partnering with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment and Ottawa Senators, as well as minor sports leagues. W W W.MILK PRODUCER.CA

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DAIRY NEWS

PIERRE LAMPRON NAMED ONE OF THE TOP 50 IN CANADIAN AGRICULTURE

ierre Lampron, president of Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC), was named one of the Top 50 in Canadian Agriculture by Canadian Western Agribition in their designated hitters category. This prestigious award recognizes Lampron as a “go-to” leader and champion of the Canadian dairy industry. “I am extremely honored to be part of such a prestigious group,” Lampron says. “My commitment to promoting Canadian agriculture is largely inspired by the passion and hard work of our producers to feed the nation.” As a staunch advocate for the dairy industry and a true motivator, Lampron epitomizes the qualities of the designated hitter award category. Lampron is a known consensus builder who believes in the power of speaking with one voice. A mobilizer, he was instrumental in securing $1.75 billion in compensation for dairy market concessions made under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). He has also worked to bring producers and processors closer together, integrating processors as part of DFC’s strategic planning while forging closer ties with retail and food service and guiding the expansion of national marketing efforts.

PIERRE LAMPRON is Dairy Farmers of Canada’s president.

“Understanding languages and embracing uniqueness builds bridges. It is the fastest way to bring the world closer together and to the truth. Through understanding his fellow producers, Pierre sees their similarities before their differences,” says Gerald Schipper, Holstein Canada’s chair. “His dedication and work advocating on their behalf will have lasting impacts on the industry’s approach to achieving our common goal of supporting the families who feed the nation.” Above all, Lampron is a mentor for young farmers, inspiring them to continue this proud

agricultural tradition. His family has been producing dairy for seven generations, embracing tradition while adopting the latest technologies. His son now co-owns the family farm alongside Lampron and his brothers. Lampron was first elected to Les Producteurs de lait du Québec’s board of directors in 2000 and became president of DFC in 2017, where he works tirelessly to secure the sector’s future. He has also participated in numerous committees, namely proAction’s animal care committee and DFC’s promotion and research committees. In addition, he has served on many boards, including the National Farm Animal Health and Welfare Council and the executive committee of the Canadian Animal Health Coalition. He currently sits on the Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s board and Lactanet Canada’s board. The Top 50 in Agriculture Award will be presented at the 50th edition of the Canadian Western Agribition show in November 2021. 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.

APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED FOR SPECIES AT RISK PROGRAM

he Species at Risk Farm Incentive Program (SARFIP) supports Ontario producers who are enhancing on-farm habitats for species at risk across the province. The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA), with support from the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), is continuing to offer this program. Ontario farms can access cost-share dollars for on-farm projects that implement a variety of best management practices (BMPs). With streamlined funding and up to $20,000 available per farm business, producers can find benefits for their farms and for species as risk. “OSCIA is excited to offer SARFIP again this year,” says Chad Anderson, OSCIA’s president. “SARFIP has a great legacy through its cost-share funding that supports on-farm activities that benefit farmers and species at risk.” With a diversity of project opportunities, eligi-

APRIL 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

ble BMPs encompass activities around croplands, grasslands, shorelines, stream banks, wetlands and woodlands. Many opportunities are available to support critical habitat through SARFIP, including cross fencing for rotational grazing, watering systems for livestock, native tree planting, improved stream crossings, native grassland plantings and invasive species removal, among others. SARFIP is open to all agricultural landowners in the province. Projects that provide indirect benefits to species at risk are eligible for 45 per cent cost-share, and projects that directly benefit species at risk are eligible for 60 per cent. An additional bonus of 15 per cent cost-share is available for direct benefit projects to producers interested in enrolling in SAR-Watch, a monitoring program that measures the impact of SARFIP projects on the ground for species at risk. “With more than 230 species identified as at risk in Ontario, farmers have an opportunity

to implement farm management practices that benefit these species while also addressing their farm’s stewardship needs,” says Angela Straathof, OSCIA’s program director. “At OSCIA, we recognize the value programs like SARFIP have in building a more sustainable and efficient farming environment, and we’re thrilled MECP recognizes this as well.” To be eligible to participate in SARFIP, Ontario farms must complete a fourth edition environmental farm plan (EFP) workbook and verified action plan. Funding will be provided to eligible projects until fully allocated. Projects initiated on or after April 1, 2021 may be eligible. For more information on eligibility criteria, application process and program deadlines, or to sign up to an upcoming EFP workshop, visit https:// bit.ly/39b0Og0, or contact OSCIA directly at 519-826-3035 or SARFIP@ontariosoilcrop.org. W W W.MILK PRODUCER.CA

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DAIRY NEWS

LACTANET OFFERS TOOLS, RESOURCES FOR BETTER HERD MANAGEMENT

actanet Canada has announced three initiatives coming to the dairy community in the near future to take herd management to the next level. “While servicing more than 8,000 dairy producers across Canada, it’s our goal to provide tools and resources in convenient, accessible online formats,” says Neil Petreny, Lactanet’s chief executive officer. “Technology evolves quickly, and we want dairy farmers to have information at their fingertips so their decision-making process can be faster, simpler and more effective— to ultimately improve their bottom line.” “Modern day technology and herd management solutions have to serve us in different ways since we each run our dairy operation a little differently,” says Barbara Paquet, dairy farmer and chair of Lactanet’s board of direc-

tors. “This trio of technical add-ons is sure to assist. It seems unimaginable to manage a herd without the quality of information we receive today.”

THREE LACTANET INITIATIVES 1. The launch of a unified new website featuring the best in herd management products, services, genetics, knowledge and expertise. Designed to connect dairy farmers with innovative herd solutions, Lactanet.ca is modern, user-friendly, bilingual and mobile responsive. It’s a one-stop shop to herd management. 2. The release of MySite, dairy producer online accounts across all provinces. Producers across the country can expect many enhancements to their online account in this new plat-

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVESTS $1.4M TO ENHANCE FARM SAFETY

“S

afety is really important at the farm level because it’s not just a workplace for us—it’s where a lot of us live, and we also see our workers as family members as well,” says David Newcombe, dairy farmer and owner of Cornwallis Farms in Nova Scotia, at a press conference held during Canadian Agriculture Safety Week in March. Kicking off safety week, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau announced an investment of up to $1.4 million over two years to allow the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) to provide valuable farm safety tools and advice to Canada’s agriculture industry. “With this $1.4 million investment from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, CASA can continue to support initiatives and work with our partners to equip producers, their families and workers with the information and tools needed to make farms a safe place to live, work and play,” says Carolyn Van Den Heuvel, CASA’s chair. Through the AgriCompetitiveness program, this funding will facilitate a series of initiatives 14

APRIL 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

that promote farm safety, including raising awareness, engaging with the community and developing and maintaining safety resources and tools to address existing and emerging safety needs at the provincial and national level. In addition to outreach and awareness activities, CASA will continue to provide farm safety learning opportunities to rural emergency responders and firefighters, as well as provide online health and safety training courses to farm workers. “Agricultural producers work in an environment that presents many safety risks,” Bibeau says. “Through various training and resources, including programs designed for children, CASA provides life-saving tools.” CASA is a national non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and safety of farmers, their families and agricultural workers. In an average year, agricultural fatalities account for more than 100 deaths of adults and children in Canada. This funding is in addition to the $1.9 million provided to CASA through AgriCompetitiveness at the outset of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

form, and herd information will continue to be conveniently tucked in one secure place. 3. The introduction of a Dynamic Dashboard, exclusive to Lactanet customers. Available through MySite, producers will be able to watch their herd data come alive through graphs and at-a-glance insight.

TOP MANAGED HERDS OF 2020 ANNOUNCED

actanet Canada has unveiled Canada’s top 25 dairy herds based on the 2020 herd management score results. Producers from across the country attended a virtual event to discover which farm made the prestigious list. “We are proud to recognize the remarkable work of dairy farmers in terms of herd management,” says Barbara Paquet, Lactanet’s chair. “It was important for us to underline their exceptional dedication, especially this year with all the challenges brought by the pandemic.” The herd performance index is based on six criteria—milk value, age at first calving, herd efficiency, longevity, udder health and calving intervals. A score is given to each of these criteria according to the herd’s performance against 7,000 others. “This list is published every year, so it’s a very good tool for monitoring the progress of a herd over time,” Paquet says. “It’s also interesting to compare the performance of different production systems.” To view the top 25 dairy herds in Canada, visit https://bit.ly/2P3UHTh. WWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA

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DAIRY NEWS

FARM CREDIT CANADA: FARMLAND MARKET REMAINS STRONG, STABLE

anada’s farmland market remained strong and stable during a year marked by economic turbulence caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the latest Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Farmland Values Report. The average value of Canadian farmland increased by 5.4 per cent in 2020, slightly more than the 5.2 per cent increase reported in 2019. The report, which describes changes in Canada’s farmland values from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2020, covers almost an entire year of disruptions caused by the pandemic. For Canadian agriculture, disruptions included temporary food processing plant closures, some displaced exports, sector-specific labour shortages and significantly altered consumer buying habits. “Since land is the most valuable asset on any farm operation, the agriculture land market is a good barometer for measuring the strength of Canadian agriculture,” says J.P. Gervais, FCC’s chief economist. “Despite having gone through a uniquely volatile year, farm income generally improved, and overall demand for farmland remained strong throughout 2020.”

APRIL 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

Despite important supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic, commodity prices climbed in the last half of 2020 for many crops, and interest rates were close to historic lows. Domestic demand for food remained strong, and global supply chains continued to have an appetite for Canadian food and commodity exports, Gervais notes. “Producer investments in farmland are a reflection of their confidence and optimism,” he says. “Agriculture presents opportunities as producers seek to expand, diversify or transfer their operations to the next generation.” The highest average provincial increase for farmland in 2020 was in British Columbia and Quebec, with averages of eight and 7.3 per cent, respectively. Alberta followed with a six per cent increase, and Saskatchewan mirrored the national average increase of 5.4 per cent. Ontario and Manitoba both reported increases that were lower than the national average at 4.7 and 3.6 per cent, respectively. Farmland values across the Prairies were mainly influenced by tenants purchasing land from landlords, neighbour-to-neighbour sales,

producers buying or selling land to gain operational efficiencies and family farm purchases to support succession plans. Atlantic provinces saw the smallest average farmland value increases in 2020. Prince Edward Island reported an increase of 2.3 per cent, Nova Scotia’s increase was 1.6 per cent, and New Brunswick had a 1.3 per cent increase. This follows more significant increases in 2019. Weather played a significant factor in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, as well as other parts of the Atlantic provinces in 2020. The region experienced the worst drought in decades during the critical growing season, which significantly diminished the value of cash crops, as well as created hay and forage shortages. There was an insufficient number of publicly reported sales in Newfoundland and Labrador to fully assess farmland values in that province. Increases in farmland values reported across the country are as wide and varied as the factors that may have influenced them. Average farmland values have increased every year since 1993. However, increases were more pronounced from 2011 to 2015 in many regions. Since then, Canada has seen more moderate single-digit increases in average farmland values. Gervais says producers should have a risk management plan that considers possible economic changes, ensuring their budgets have room to flex if commodity prices, yields or interest rates shift. They also need to exercise caution, especially in regions where the growth rate of farmland values exceeded that of farm income in recent years. “The pandemic has underscored the value of having a comprehensive risk management plan that covers all risk areas—production, marketing, financial, legal and human resources,” he says. “Farm operators need to have the financial ability to protect their operations from the potential impact of risks that may not be on their radar. Fluctuations in commodity prices and interest rates and-or unforeseen variations in production can diminish the ability to safeguard and build equity in the operation and successfully meet cash flow requirements.” Given the uncertain economic environment, Gervais recommends farmers, ranchers and food processors continue to thoroughly evaluate their investments. To download FCC’s full Farmland Values Report, visit https://bit.ly/3cfn0aw. WWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA

THE REAL DIRT ON FARMING IN THE CLASSROOM

successful partnership between Farm & Food Care (FFC) and Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C) has led to the completion of a national classroom resource designed to give students and teachers across Canada the opportunity to dig deeper into the latest edition of The Real Dirt on Farming (RDOF). The Real Dirt on Farming in the Classroom was produced by AITC-C in collaboration with FFC. With the help of AITC-C’s provincial agriculture in the classroom organizations, the new educator guide will be distributed digitally, along with the RDOF booklet, to class-

rooms across Canada. It was released in February in celebration of Canada’s Agriculture Day. “Working with AITC-C to create this curriculum-based document will extend the reach of our flagship publication even further,” says Bonnie den Haan, dairy farmer and chair of Farm & Food Care Ontario. “We’re excited to see this partnership taking The Real Dirt on Farming into classrooms from coast to coast.” Lesson plans in the 36-page document enable students to engage with the RDOF while examining its key topics—animal welfare, crops and plants, sustainability, agriculture policy, current issues in our food system and more.

The Real Dirt on Farming in the Classroom accompanies the fifth edition of the RDOF booklet, which was released in November 2020. To date, 4.5 million copies of prior editions of RDOF have been distributed across Canada to libraries, doctors’ offices, registered dietitians, political leaders, educators and through inserts in national publications. The original publication, as well as the new educator guide, is currently available online on a newly developed website at www.RealDirtonFarming.ca and www.aitc-canada.ca. Hard copies of the classroom resource will be available later in the year.

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Based on Lallemand North American lactating dairy cow trials, reports on file - LCNAE036. BioPower SC is approved by CFIA and, when fed as directed, can increase milk production in lactating dairy cows (registration numbers 982800, 982801, 982802, 982803 and 983776). Not all products are available in all markets nor all claims allowed in all regions. BioPower is a registered trademark of Lallemand Specialties, Inc.

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MILKPRODUCER | APRIL 2021

DAIRY NEWS

RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR ALBERTA LIVESTOCK EMERGENCIES By Dr. Melissa Moggy

CONTRIBUTOR

lberta has traditional emergency resources, such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), that other provinces have. However, Alberta is also fortunate to have the ALERT Line and emergency livestock handling equipment trailers because of the size of the livestock sector in the province. Alberta Farm Animal Care (AFAC) created the ALERT Line in 1995 as an anonymous 24-7 farmers-helping-farmers line to respond to the industry’s desire to have a proactive support line. The ALERT Line does not have any regulatory capacity, but it works directly with those that do, such as the Alberta SPCA and the RCMP.

ALBERTA ALERT LINE People are encouraged to call the ALERT Line at 1-800-506-2273 if: • They are concerned livestock may be neglected or mishandled; • They have questions about livestock care; • They see livestock in an emergency; • They need support caring for their livestock; • They need an emergency livestock handling equipment trailer. The ALERT Line relies heavily on volunteers who are trained to assess animals and their environment. When a call is received, a series of

W? DID YOUfarmKerNs O claim are eligible to

res Ontario dairy arch expenditu credits on rese In ). FO research tax ntario (D Farmers of O made by Dairy Ontario dairy d le ai , DFO m February 2021 g the amount ation regardin farmers inform Experimental esearch and le for of Scientific R edits applicab (SRED) tax cr ber em ec Development D ending rm for the year of py each dairy fa co a cess ers can also ac 2020. Produc ’s new Milk FO D to in logging their letter by site at https:// System (MMS) d Management Statements an rg and clicking ontario.milk.o left navigation. Letters in the 18

APRIL 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

events occur to determine if there is an issue and what steps must be taken to ensure appropriate animal care. These can be simple steps, such as recommending a different feeding protocol or other handling methods. It can also be a serious situation that requires enforcement. If anyone is interested in volunteering with the ALERT Line, contact afac@afac.ab.ca.

EMERGENCY LIVESTOCK HANDLING EQUIPMENT TRAILERS Another resource that supports Alberta’s livestock industry is emergency livestock handling equipment trailers. These trailers are outfitted with essential equipment needed to contain or restrain animals in the event of a livestock emergency, such as barn fires, trailer rollovers or barn collapses. Trailers are dispatched through 911 or the ALERT Line. The first two trailers were created by Red Deer County and Ponoka County. AFAC sup-

ported the creation of five additional trailers through a grant in 2012. Since then, 12 trailers have been added for a total of 19 trailers. The newest trailer became functional this year in the County of Grande Prairie. Trailer operators receive training through Lakeland College’s technical large animal emergency rescue training, or other livestock emergency training courses. AFAC has taken on an administration role and supports the creation of new trailers and continual training, as well as helps raise awareness of these trailers. The ALERT Line and emergency livestock handling equipment trailers have been successful and valuable additions to Alberta. For more information on these resources and on-farm emergency preparedness, visit https://bit.ly/2NMbV7t. Dr. Melissa Moggy is an extension co-ordinator at Alberta Farm Animal Care.

PILOT PROJECT AIMS TO DEMONSTRATE GRASSLANDS’ CARBON-STORING POWER

he Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) will be taking the lead on a new pilot project to help conserve native grasslands—one of the most endangered ecosystems in Canada—as they remain under pressure from development. Launched on March 16, the Retaining Canada’s Grasslands Using Carbon Offset Markets is a two-year pilot that will allow landowners to generate carbon offsets for carbon stored in conserved grasslands in Canada. The pilot will enable qualifying landowners who sign a land conservation agreement that protects grasslands to generate additional revenue through carbon offsets. Grasslands are a resilient and often overlooked opportunity for carbon sequestration, but they could play a critical role in Canada. The pilot project aims to test and refine a carbon offset methodology, or protocol, to assess its feasibility and better understand the challenges and opportu-

nities associated with an avoided conversion of grasslands program. Carbon offset protocols exist already in some jurisdictions to recognize the climate benefits associated with avoiding soil tillage or changing livestock feed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced through digestion. This project will build on the Climate Action Reserve’s avoided conversion of grasslands protocol for Canada. The pilot project will help identify eligibility requirements, value propositions and land conservation agreement models for landowners. Lower cost, remote-sensing tools will be tested to streamline monitoring and verification requirements. Funding for this project has been provided through the AgriAssurance Program under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative, with industry funding from Shell Canada. For more information visit www.canadianfga. ca/canada-grassland-protocol. WWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA

All calcium boluses are not created equal

Calcium Bolus Fistula Study

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At Solvet, we create solutions for the challenges of veterinarians and producers. So, we got to work when we were asked to create a bolus that provided rapid availability of calcium for cows to address the challenging demands for calcium after calving. The result was a bolus with three key differences: Cal-Boost is a rapid absorption bolus that increases calcium blood levels during the critical period after calving. Studies indicate that two Cal-Boost boluses are a convenient and effective way to supplement blood calcium levels post-calving.

CAL-BOOST™ 201 g

RUMILIFE 24® 207 g

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Cal-Boost features a coating so precise that we hired a chocolatiere to oversee its manufacture, resulting in a protective coating that makes the bolus easily administered and rapidly broken down in the rumen. Ask your veterinarian about Cal-Boost, The Unequal Advantage.

CAL-BOOST™ 0g

RUMILIFE 24® 255 g*

90 minutes after administering Cal-Boost, all that remains in the rumen is its protective coating * Weight includes rumen fluid absorbed by the bolus 1 - Data on file

Solvet continues to conduct ongoing research in Canada. For our latest research findings, please contact your veterinarian. * Weight includes rumen fluid absorbed by the bolus. 1-Data is available on file. 2-Dairy Research and Extension Consortium of Alberta, October 2020. Solvet is a subsidiary of Alberta Veterinary Laboratories Ltd.

Solvet.ca

DAIRY NEWS

ALBERTA FAMILY-OPERATED CHEESE FACTORY GROWING IN INNOVATIVE WAYS By Trudy Kelly Forsythe

CONTRIBUTOR

hen Evert and Jannie Beyer immigrated to Canada from Holland in 1994, they tried their hand at hog farming before shifting to dairy in 2000. Their farm in Coalhurst, Alta., grew from a small herd of 25 cows—at first filling contracts for excess milk, then leasing quota from a nearby farmer who was retiring—to a herd of more than 100 cows. When the opportunity to purchase Crystal Springs Cheese factory arose in 2005, the couple, with no cheesemaking experience, took the plunge and they haven’t looked back. At first, they focused on the wholesale side of the business, selling mostly feta cheese. Eventually, they added Gouda, Havarti and cheddar to their product line and began selling at farmers markets. The cheese factory itself grew to meet the growing demand, doubling its original facility of 7,000 square feet to 14,000 sq. ft. in 2014. In 2018, the owners of Bles-Wold Yogurts approached them about selling their operation. The Beyers agreed and, in March 2019, added yogurt to their line. It was good timing for the new products since they had recently ventured into retail with cheese curds and opened an on-farm store—650 sq. ft. that includes retail space and a café.

THE BEYERS use their own milk to produce their yogurts and hard cheeses to maintain its consistency. 20

APRIL 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

DAIRY FARMERS Evert and Jannie Beyer’s on-farm store includes retail space and a café with three large windows looking into the factory.

“There are three large windows looking into the factory with a bar where people can sit and watch us make cheese,” says Jacco Beyer, Evert and Jannie’s son who operates the cheese factory with his brother Harvey. “We’re almost at the end of our second year, and it’s been worthwhile to have the store running. I’m amazed at how many people are willing to come out of their way on a gravel road to get cheese from a local farmer.” A new cheese vat that recently arrived from Holland is expected to be another game changer since it will allow them to increase their artisan cheese line production and visibility. The vat will produce four times as much cheese in one batch. They plan to market some of this cheese under the Bles-Wold brand. “This will help us make artisan cheese in a more efficient way,” Jacco says, adding they hope to have artisan cheeses ready for retail launch in early 2021. “We want to get production going and get some cheese into retail. We’ve mostly been selling on-farm and here and there, and now, we want to establish a noticeable Alberta dairy brand.” The Beyers use their own milk for their yogurts and hard cheeses to maintain its consistency. They purchase additional milk from local farmers to make their wholesale cheeses, such as feta. Currently, their herd is made up of more than 60 per cent A2 cows, and they plan

to be fully A2 over the next year. They have a separate bulk milk tank in their barn to collect the A2 milk. “We were the first ones in Western Canada making yogurt with A2 milk, and we are now making cheese with it,” Jacco says. He explains the goal is to fully utilize all the A2 milk for yogurt and artisan cheese. They’ve also recently added cheese curds as a retail product for local grocery stores. “We make them fresh every week with fresh milk and have them packed and in the stores by the next day,” Jacco says. They produce plain curds, as well as curds in five flavours made with their own spice mixtures and ensure there are no additives. Jacco and Harvey are not Evert and Jannie’s only children involved in the family business. Their brother Theo runs the dairy farm, and their sister Jocelyn got the retail store up and running in 2018. The remaining dozen employees at the dairy and cheese factory are mostly relatives and family friends. Trudy Kelly Forsythe is an award-winning contributor to many publications in Canada and beyond, specializing in business and technology issues in the sectors of agriculture, food, manufacturing and more.

WWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA

U OF G OFFERS NEW ONLINE CHEESEMAKING CERTIFICATE

he department of food science at the University of Guelph has launched a new Cheesemaker Certificate for professional cheesemakers. The online certificate includes six courses on topics, such as fermentation, quality assurance, ripening, grading and composition and yield control. “The courses are technical in their nature, so they are a great way for professional cheesemakers to upgrade their knowledge and learn about new technologies,” says professor Art Hill, an international cheesemaking expert and faculty adviser for the program. “The certificate includes the perfect set of courses for those who want to start their own cheese business or advance their career in food science or inspection.” All courses will take place over three weeks with 28 hours of instruction, including live and recorded lectures, videos, home labs, reading materials and assignments. Students will also complete six months of work placement in practical areas in the cheese industry as a cheese manufacture, grader, inspector, cheesemonger, cheese buyer or other practical experience approved by the instructors. “The digital certificate is an evolution of our popular Cheesemaking Technology Short Course that has been offered by the department since 1893,” Hill says. “All courses are currently planned for distance learning, making the certificate a great option for Canadian and international learners.” With COVID-19 restrictions continuing to limit in-person instruction, this new format opens access to more learners. Some courses may also be offered on-site in the department of food science pilot plants, pending COVID-19 restrictions being lifted. The development of this certificate was supported by the Canadian Dairy Commission. For more information or to register, visit uoguelph. ca/foodscience/cheese-maker-certificate.

WWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA

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MARKETS

[ MILK STATEMENT CHANGES DUE TO NEW PAYMENT POLICY

ue to the recent payment policy change effective Feb. 1, 2021, Ontario producers have seen some changes in their monthly milk statement, starting with the March statement.

Table 1: Example of how the new policy will impact prices

SNF POLICY RECAP P5 provinces agreed to modify the on-farm component payment policy to better reflect market revenue and ensure better equity between producers in an environment of solids non-fat (SNF) structural surplus. These changes do not affect plant billing, but rather the method of distributing revenue among producers. In other words, the same money will be directed to producers but distributed in a way that takes into account individual contributions to SNF surpluses and ensures greater value for components that generate yields during processing for butterfat (BF) and protein. The main change to the new policy is the inclusion of an additional SNF/BF ratio. Under the previous policy, producers who have an SNF ratio lower than 2.3 are all paid the same revenue and are not paid for SNF when the ratio exceeds 2.3—this revenue is redistributed on the basis of the BF of producers who have an SNF/BF ratio lower than 2.3.

SNF/BF ratio

Butterfat price ($/kg)

Protein price ($/kg)

Lactose and other solids price ($/kg)

Previous policy

10.70

8.27

1.52

<= 2

11.04

9.63

0.90

> 2 <= 2.3

11.04

Class 4a ($2.11/kg)

8.8%

> 2.3

11.04

0.7%

% of Ontario SNF

90.5%

Note: These prices are for information purposes only and are based on averages in 2020.

With the new policy, two SNF/BF ratios will be used to establish the payment parameters for SNF.

PAYMENTS FOR SNF The portion of produced SNF with an SNF/BF ratio less than or equal to 2: • Protein: paid at the within-quota price based on SNF sold into greater valued markets; • Lactose and other solids: paid at a set rate of $0.90 per kilogram; • Who will receive these payments? All producers will receive these payments for the portion of their SNF that is lower than 2. The portion of produced SNF with an SNF/BF ra-

Table 2: Total revenue variation in $/kg BF, according to the 2020 Ontario data SNF/BF ratio

% of producers

Under previous policy $/kg

New policy revenue $/kg

% Change in annual revenue

18.55

19.08

2.83

2.01 – 2.1

18.93

19.22

1.51

2.11 – 2.2

29%

19.23

19.34

0.56

2.21 – 2.3

46%

19.46

19.45

(0.04)

> 2.3

16%

19.55

19.51

(0.24)

tio greater than 2 and less than or equal to 2.3: • Protein and lactose and other solids: Class 4a; • Who will receive these payments? Producers who have a ratio higher than two will receive this price for the portion of their SNF between two and 2.3. The portion of produced SNF with an SNF/BF ratio higher than 2.3: • Protein and lactose and other solids: No payments will be made for these components, as was the case starting in January 2020. There will be no more BF premium, but this portion of the total revenue will be included in the within-quota price of BF and PT paid for SNF below two.

PAYMENTS FOR BUTTERFAT All butterfat produced on a within-quota basis will be paid at the same within-quota price (Table 1). A high proportion of producers will be marginally affected by the new policy. Nevertheless, this policy creates greater equity between producers. In fact, payments received by producers who have a high SNF/BF ratio, meaning they contribute more to surplus SNF, will be lower. Conversely, payments received by producers who have a low SNF/ BF ratio, meaning they contribute less to surplus SNF, will be higher than they are now (Table 2).

REMINDER: OVERPRODUCTION AND UNDERPRODUCTION CREDITS PERMITTED Editor’s note: This message was previously announced in the October 2019 and August 2020 issues of Milk Producer.

atching P5 milk production with variable markets has been an increasing challenge in recent years. Some producers are accumulating underproduction credits, which create milk shortages, and then use those credits when there is already enough milk in the system. This explains, in part, quota increases and decreases, as well as the credit limitation policy observed in recent years. As such, farm underproduction 22

APRIL 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

credits have become a significant issue when trying to fill provincial or P5 markets. P5 boards reviewed the overproduction and underproduction credits permitted and approved an adjustment, which will take effect by Aug. 1, 2022. Currently, all P5 producers are permitted to borrow a maximum of 10 overproduction credit days (10 x daily quota) and can accumulate a maximum of 30 underproduction credit days (30 x daily quota). This policy is in place to help producers manage their quota during milk production variations, while providing enough milk to meet yearly P5 demand. Current overproduction and underproduction credits permitted have been

harmonized across P5 provinces since 2009. • As of Aug. 1, 2022, the maximum number of underproduction credits permitted will change from -30 days to -15 days; • Overproduction credits permitted will remain at +10 days, for 25 total credit days instead of 40. Producers are reminded of the changes and are free to adjust their credit day position at their own pace, as long as they are within the revised underproduction credit limit by the effective date. Any underproduction credits below the revised limit by the effective date of Aug. 1, 2022, will be lost.

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GET YOUR $40 PREPAID VISA® GIFT CARD*! VISIT bovikalc.ca TO LEARN MORE * Purchase through a Canadian veterinary clinic between March 1, 2021 – April 30, 2021. The deadline for proof of purchase submissions is May 31, 2021. Up to 10 redemptions per farm. Bovikalc® is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH, used under license. ©2021 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Canada Inc. All Rights Reserved. VISA® is a registered trademark of Visa International Service Association and used under license.

MARKETS

P5 BOARDS ISSUE ONE PER CENT QUOTA By Jennifer Nevans

EDITOR

fter analyzing anticipated market requirements for the remainder of 2021, P5 boards have agreed to increase the saleable quota issued to P5 producers by one per cent. “P5 demand remains positive even with the economy being partially locked down and an increase in actual imports,” says Patrice Dubé, Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s (DFO) chief economics and policy development officer. “However, those elements still make it hard for the industry to forecast market demand.” P5 producers can expect to see modest quota issuances over the coming year compared with the last five years because of the COVID-19 pandemic and increase in import levels, Dubé says. Despite the pandemic and import levels, the Canadian dairy industry continued to grow in the 2020 calendar year, with a 0.5 per cent increase

compared with a 3.9 per cent increase in 2019. Dubé says the measures the industry has taken in the early months of COVID-19 have been helpful in balancing supply with demand. This includes the credit day limitation, incentive day issuance, cheese and butter buy-back and storage programs and cheese exports. National dairy product sales at the retail level remain strong. For the 52-weeks ending Feb. 27, 2021, sales for fluid milk, fluid cream, yogurt, ice cream, cheese and butter increased by 6.9, 14.5, 2.5, 13.6, 13 and 15.1 per cent, respectively, compared with the previous 52-weeks. “We’re seeing very strong numbers for all categories compared with the previous year,” he says. “However, we need to remember strong demand at the retail level doesn’t translate directly to the issuance of production signals because of the impacts to the food service industry.” As the economy gradually returns to the “new normal,” and assuming cheese and butter stocks, farm production credits and imports remain at the right level, production signal issuance could increase by up to two per cent per year.

% Butterfat

P10 UTILIZATION BY CLASS* For January 2021 (kg of butterfat/kg of solids non-fat)

1a1 1b 2a 2b4 2b5 3a1 3a2 3b2 3c1 3c2 3c4 3c6 3d 4a 4d 5a 5b 5c 5d

11.78%

% Revenue

*27.24%

25.14%

*6.48% *4.45%

5.89% 3.31% 0.71% 1.95% 0.12% 0.82% 0.88% 3.15% 4.48%

*1.96% *0.99% *0.92% *3.95% 17.87% 16.71%

*17.46% *0.66%

7.22%

*3.11% *9.19%

10.98%

0.30% 0.29% 2.11% 3.10%

*0.27% *2.12% 17.00%

1.35%

22.91%

*14.85% *2.14%

4.49% 1.72% 1.96% 7.61% 1.48% 1.05% 0.48% 0.00% 0.00%

0% 24

11.24%

2.23% 2.36%

0.64% 0.88% 2.61% 3.17%

% Solids non-fat

10%

APRIL 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

*1.68% *2.12% *0.39% *0.00%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Total national butterfat requirements for January 2021 reached 1.09 million kilograms per day—a 14.1 per cent increase from January 2020. Meanwhile, total P10 milk production in January 2021 reached 1.11 million kg per day—a 3.60 per cent increase from January 2020. Total butter stocks in February 2021 reached 28,700 tonnes—3,100 tonnes more than January 2021, and total cheese stocks in February 2021 reached 106,000 tonnes—900 tonnes more than January 2021. “Right now, the Canadian Dairy Commission is projecting butter stocks to reach our targeted level of 35,000 tonnes by July 2021, but that’s if we have the right production signals, which is why P5 boards have approved a one per cent quota issuance increase,” he says. P5 boards’ primary objective is to continuously monitor the milk market situation and meet demand in the most optimal way. Given these uncertain times, P5 boards will continue to adapt production signals to address market changes 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 Class 5d Planned exports WWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA

MONTHLY QUOTA PRICES ($/kg) MARCH PRICES

PROVINCE

PRICE/kg

AMOUNT WANTED/kg

AMOUNT FOR SALE/kg

AMOUNT PURCHASED/kg

$47,727.50 $41,000 $36,500 $35,259

421.50 161.00 2,330.68 273.16

113.97 13.00 125.46 369.46

85.97 13.00 125.46 134.54

Ontario

$24,000

20,916.23

305.81

305.45

Quebec New Brunswick Nova Scotia Prince Edward Island

$24,000 $24,000

20,833.06 231.15 644.40 1.70 Exchange cancelled No clearing price established

231.06 1.70

Alberta Saskatchewan British Columbia Manitoba

*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.

Within quota

Overquota

$85

DFO administration DFO research CanWest DHI Transportation Market expansion

$0.625 $0.050 $0.060 $2.750 $1.400

$80

Total deductions Average total net

$4.885 $74.422

$4.885 -$4.885

$75

WWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA

Feb 2021

Jan 2021

Dec 2020

Nov 2020

Oct 2020

Sept 2020

Aug 2020

July 2020

June 2020

P5 AND WESTERN MILK POOL BLEND PRICES* The graph below shows the 12-month blend price for the P5 provinces and Western Milk Pool (WMP).

82 *There is a three-month lag reporting these figures. 80

P5 blend price WMP blend price

78 76 74

WMP $79.07

Jan 2021

Dec 2020

Nov 2020

Oct 2020

Sept 2020

Aug 2020

July 2020

June 2020

Apr 2020

May 2020

72 Mar 2020

Source: USDA

A total 3,340 producers sold milk to DFO in February compared with 3,385 a year earlier.

Blend price in $/hL

The February 2021 Class III Price, US$15.75 per hundredweight, is equivalent to C$45.23 per hectolitre. This equivalent is based on the exchange rate US$1 = C$1.26505, 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.

May 2020

Mar 2020

*These figures are based on Ontario’s average composition for February 2021 of 4.22 kg butterfat, 3.25 kg protein and 5.95 kg other solids, rounded to the nearest cent.

U.S. CLASS PRICES

$79.31

$70 Apr 2020

For February 2021

ONTARIO MONTHLY PRODUCER AVERAGE GROSS BLEND PRICE

Feb 2020

ONTARIO DEDUCTIONS, PER HL

P5 $77.00

MILKPRODUCER | APRIL 2021

COVER STORY

better for their diets, as well as trained them on how to keep farm records. “They milk cows, grow maize and sell milk. Record-keeping lets them see where their money is coming from so they can decide what’s making more money than something else.”

HELP FOR DAIRY FARMERS

EMPOWERING

women in agriculture Farmers Helping Farmers works with women farmers in Kenya By Trudy Kelly Forsythe

CONTRIBUTOR

not-for-profit organization in Prince Edward Island is helping empower women farmers in Kenya. Founded in 1980, Farmers Helping Farmers currently works with eight women’s groups, three dairies and five schools in an area in Kenya’s Meru County as part of a project funded by Global Affairs Canada called More Food Better Food: Empowering Kenyan Women Farmers. One of the first actions Farmers Helping Farmers did through this program was give 400 women a 5,000-litre water tank that allows them to collect rainwater. “When they have water on hand, they have time to do things other than fetch water,” says Teresa Mellish, co-ordinator at Farmers Helping Farmers. “They have the energy and time to do more productive things, such as look af26

APRIL 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

ter their children, grow vegetables and do farm work and other tasks on their farms.” The organization also helped replace the three-stone open fire they use to cook, a practice that filled their homes with smoke. “Smoke inside is bad for their eyes and lungs and causes health problems,” Teresa says. “We gave them a little stove with a chimney so they can cook food without inhaling a lot of smoke, putting them in a healthier situation when cooking food for their family.” Farmers Helping Farmers has also helped them grow more vegetables. They supplied seeds and set them up with grow bags—a 4’ by 4’ mesh bag full of soil, manure and other nutrients where they can plant seedlings around all sides and the top. “This lets them grow kale and spinach and have vegetables right at home,” Teresa says, adding they provided them with improved seed varieties of potatoes, including an orange-flesh sweet potato variety that is high in iron and

Farmers Helping Farmers is also having an impact on the lives of women dairy farmers in Kenya. Teresa’s husband, Ken, is chair of the organization’s project committee. He works closely with the women dairy farmers who tend the small dairy herds of typically one to three cows, practicing zero grazing and keeping their cows in small freestalls. “We have been working with them to put forage up as silage so they have a continuous supply of good forage for the cows,” Ken says, adding they bought them portable forage choppers. They have been quite successful showing them how to grow alfalfa, which grows quite well there once established and is used as feed for the cows. “They were having difficulties getting it established, getting the seed bed right and getting a source of seed,” Ken says, adding they purchased small seeders from the local dairy stores. “They now get 10 cuts a year and are seeing improvement with milk production. It’s not unusual to see them getting two to three times as much milk as before feeding alfalfa.” Teresa and Ken say this assistance empowers the women by giving them the tools they need to make decisions. “Empowerment is about putting people in a position where they can make decisions about what they want to do rather than what they are told to do and to make money to educate their children,” Ken says. “They can now pay their school fees and have some improvement in their diets.” They say this work is very rewarding. “When we go there and talk to these women farmers who have made these changes, they are so pleased with what we’ve done and are so pleased with themselves,” Ken says. For more information on Farmers Helping Farmers, visit www.farmershelpingfarmers.ca.

Sisters grow artisanal cheesemaking business on family homestead

estled at the base of the Golden Ears Mountain Range from which it gets its name, Golden Ears Cheesecrafters began with a mother’s dream for her daughters to operate a cheese factory on the family homestead. At first, Emma and Jenna Davison, then in their early 20s and with very different personalities, said no. Emma was studying nursing while Jenna was working in horticulture, consulting with farmers. But after some thought and long discussions, Emma returned home to study marketing and sales while Jenna learned the art of cheesemaking from expert cheesemaker Debra Emrein-Boyes. The sisters incorporated Golden Ears Cheesecrafters in 2010. They began making cheese with high-fat Jersey milk from their uncle’s nearby dairy and opened their doors for business in 2011, becoming the fifth generation to work on the family’s land.

SOLVING A PROBLEM The sisters wanted the business to be about more than making money—they wanted to be passionate about it, they needed to work toward solving a problem. Emma and Jenna both have a strong connection with food and one problem they recognized was how much misinformation there was about products on grocery store shelves and the challenge producers have in communicating about their products with the public. “Seeing that disconnect really bothered Jenna and me,” Emma says. explaining their goal is to have a store that is a local food hub. “We have other vendors in the store who we have developed a relationship with, so customers feel connected to that vendor—we have that information and access to that vendor.” They also wanted to help bridge the gap between producer and consumer. As a result, they are very transparent in their business, and the information they share is based on knowledge and education.

Continued on page 28

SISTERS JENNA AND EMMA DAVISON are the owners of Golden Ears Cheesecrafters in British Columbia.

COVER STORY

Sisters grow artisanal cheesemaking business on family homestead, cont’d from page 27 “We want our customers to feel confident they can trust us with the product they are buying,” Emma says. “Whether they are buying from a farmers market, our store, another retailer or in a restaurant, we want them to be able to talk about the information we’re putting forward.” As for transparency, their facility has a large window looking into the production area, allowing customers to see exactly what they do. Their staff—which maxes out at 25 during the busy summer season across all sales divisions in the business—are very knowledgeable. Customers can come in and ask questions, knowing staff will answer with confidence or, if they don’t know, will find the right answer.

MORE THAN CHEESE PRODUCTION Fulfilling their mother’s dream, Jenna and Emma now operate a 7,000-square-foot facility, processing between 3,000 and 6,000 litres of high-fat Jersey cows’ milk

per week, with every 10 L producing one kilogram of cheese. They also make salted and unsalted Jersey cow cultured butter and process the cheeses that don’t work out or are overstock to prepare readymade meals, such as packaged soups and macaroni and cheese, that people can buy on their way home from work. The Country Kitchen is open six days a week, allowing patrons to sit in front of the large window to enjoy menu items, such as cheesy tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich, while watching the action in the production area. Jenna is the production manager and lead cheesemaker, running the production facility, as well as creating and modifying recipes with the company’s other cheesemakers based on what’s happening in market. Emma takes over in the packaging room, working with the chefs to ensure the correct information is on packaging and menus. She also does demonstrations and, before COVID-19, cooking classes, tours, nutrition seminars and other events to share information about their products and the importance of dairy and milk in people’s diets.

We want our customers to feel confident they can trust us with the product they are buying. —Emma Davison 28

APRIL 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

Sisters carry on tra

atie and Lesley Woodfinden grew up on Carl-Lou Farms, a Holstein dairy farm started by their grandparents, Carl and Lucy Bryson, in Watford, Ont., in 1959. The sisters purchased the farm from their grandmother five years ago after their grandfather passed away, just four years after Katie began working with him after she graduated from university with a bachelor of education degree. “When I came back, there were no jobs for teaching,” she says. “Grandpa had injured himself and said, ‘Since there’s no jobs for teaching, why not work on the farm?’” So, she did. Eventually, Lesley began helping on weekends and her sons were fascinated by everything on the farm, especially the farm equipment. When their grandmother decided to sell, they made the decision to purchase the family farm that had begun with her grandfather milking 20 Holstein cows in a tiestall. Their grandfather upgraded to a single four parlour in the late 1940s—the first in Lambton County—because their great grandfather, who had polio, didn’t want to stop milking. Last summer, Katie and Lesley upgraded again when they had a robotic milker installed. “We had to figure something out because we were starting to have some issues with our 40-year-old parlour and we couldn’t get parts,” Katie says. “We needed a way of top dressing our fresh cows and when we looked at the options, we went with the robot because it could give us better quality for the cows’ health and milk production.” WWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA

PICTURED ARE Lesley and Katie Woodfinden, along with Lesley’s kids, Alex, Caleb and Peyton, and Katie’s twins, Ken and Alan.

adition of operating family dairy farm The robot has been a game changer for them. It’s meant having the cows’ milk production peak at optimum times because the feed ration, which is set to the average of the herd, tops up the daily ration for the lactating cows to better meet their needs. Katie says where their fresh heifers used to peak at 20 days in milk, on average their highest peak day is 30 and they now average 65 to 68 kilograms, up from 45 kg. “We would like it to be higher, but we’re not burning out our cows, so we’re doing it slower to keep our cows healthy,” she adds. How they milk isn’t the only change the sisters made. Their herd is now made up of Holsteins and Jerseys. They added the Jerseys because they are strong, compact animals that fit in well with their barn design, require less feed intake and produce high butter fat. They also changed their calf program, working with the Kirkton Veterinary Clinic on new procedures that reduced mortality rates significantly and increased everyday health. This includes putting the calves in their own hutches as soon as they are born, treating them with their first rounds of immunizations, doing their naval dip, rubbing

Trudy Kelly Forsythe is an award-winning contributor to many publications in Canada and beyond, specializing in business and technology issues in the sectors of agriculture, food, manufacturing and more.

WWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA

them down with a dry cloth and tubing them right away to get four litres of colostrum into each calf every four to six hours. Once they’re drinking from the bottle, each calf is given milk replacement in their own bottle with their own nipple, which are thrown out to avoid cross contamination of bacteria between calves when they are weaned. Another change was moving away from silos and investing in an ag bagger to preserve the corn, haylage and odd oatlage they produce on the 200-acre self-sufficient farm. Not only has this meant improved quality but also better time management. “We don’t have a nine-to-five job, but we can really do what we want throughout the day,” Katie says. “We have the freedom of being able to watch and learn and everything is different. You never know what you’re getting when you open the barn door.”

We have the freedom of being able to watch and learn. You never know what you’re getting when you open the barn door. —Katie Woodfinden MILKPRODUCER | APRIL 2021

FARM MANAGEMENT

[

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REDUCE PAIN AFTER CALVING? By Dave Renaud and Steven Roche

CONTRIBUTORS

o cows experience pain during calving? This might sound like a obvious question—especially for those who have experienced childbirth—but because cows are pain tolerant, it can be difficult to know when they’re in pain. Research suggests cows show subtle behavioural signs—raised tail, tail swishing or tail wagging—when they’re in pain. These behaviours are most often seen when the calf is entering the birth canal and is particularly evident in cows that experience dystocia, or difficult or prolonged calving. Dystocia is common in the dairy industry, and estimates suggest 10 to 40 per cent of cows experience dystocia. Of all calving events, cows that experience dystocia likely experience the highest amount of acute pain due to the longer duration of calving and need for intervention. Specific behaviours have been identified in cows that experience dystocia, including decreased feed consumption, increased restlessness, having their tail raised for longer and laying on their side with their head rested for longer. These animals also show an increase in inflammatory markers and hormones associated with stress and pain.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF PAIN AT CALVING? Inflammation due to dystocia can result in several long-term post-calving issues, including: 30

APRIL 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

• Decreased milk, fat and protein yields; • Increased risk of retained placenta, displaced abomasum, metritis and mortality; • Increased number of days between calving and conception, also known as number of days open, as well as increased number of services required. Since dystocia can be painful, focus needs to be placed on prevention to optimize health outcomes and production for the cow.

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF DYSTOCIA? There are several factors associated with an increased risk of dystocia. Most are related to decreasing the risk of feto-maternal disproportion. This is when the pelvic diameter of the cow is not large enough to allow the calf to easily pass through.

SPECIFIC FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE DYSTOCIA • Calf birth weight – One of the most important predictors, where the higher the weight, the greater the risk. This is influenced by genetics and nutrition provided to the cow in the last trimester; • Body condition score at calving – Cows with a body condition score more than 3.5 around the time of calving will have an increased risk. This is due to the buildup of fat in the birth canal, reducing its diameter and giving the calf a smaller space to pass through; • Parity – First-calf heifers are at the highest

risk of dystocia. Weight at service (55 per cent of mature body weight) and weight and condition at first calving (85 per cent of mature body weight) are important to evaluate in order for heifers to be bred and calved at the right size. Breeding decisions should be made on heifer size—not age alone. Fortunately, all these factors can be modified to some extent to reduce the prevalence of dystocia, and they should be explored to reduce the pain experienced during calving.

WHEN IS IT TIME TO INTERVENE? Even if all preventative measures are in place, dystocia may still occur for some cows. This could be a result of the position of the calf— for example, if it is backward or a forelimb is out of place. This is where calving management practices and protocols need to be in place to ensure the right intervention is provided at the right time. Ideally, at the first signs of calving, the cow should be examined to ensure everything is presenting normally. Intervention should be applied immediately if the amniotic fluid is brown, red or Dave Renaud is an associate consultant with ACER Consulting Ltd. and a veterinary epidemiologist in the department of population medicine at the University of Guelph.

Steven Roche is the director and principal consultant at ACER Consulting.

W W W.MILK PRODUCER.CA

foul-smelling, the calf ’s tongue, head or feet are swollen or cold, the calf is in an abnormal position, or poor reflexes are identified. Otherwise, producers should regularly monitor the situation to ensure there is progress every 15 to 30 minutes, and if no progress is made, it’s time to intervene. Work with a veterinarian to develop a comprehensive calving management protocol to ensure calving interventions are applied appropriately and in a timely fashion to ensure best outcomes.

HOW DO PRODUCERS TREAT THE PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH CALVING? Calving is a painful process, which is why pain control measures may be necessary through the provision of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Research shows the timing of NSAID administration is key for success. Below are research results related to timing: • NSAIDs given before calving – Found to improve milk production after calving; • NSAIDs given at calving or less than 12 hours after – Found to increase milk yields, especially in early lactation, and decrease the risk of culling;

• NSAIDs given 24 hours after calving – Cows that required assistance during calving received meloxicam and had increased feed bunk visits, but no other differences were found. Although the physiology for the improvement in milk production prior to or after calving is not well understood, there is mounting evidence the use of meloxicam could lead to improved production. It should be noted studies have reported the use of flunixin meglumine—a different type of NSAID—at calving increased the risk of retained placenta and is not recommended for controlling pain at calving.

WHERE DO PRODUCERS GO FROM HERE? Calving is painful, especially when dystocia occurs. Producers should focus on reducing the risk of complications and managing the cow at calving. There is growing evidence pain control could lead to improved production in cows. Work with a veterinarian to determine what strategies could be employed to better manage pain during calving. To read more about how to assist cows with calving, turn to page 41.

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FARM MANAGEMENT

LOOKING FORWARD: STRATEGIES FOR DEALING WITH STRESS By Workplace Safety & Prevention Services

CONTRIBUTOR

n early spring 2020, as many of us were assessing this new virus and looking forward to moving beyond it by the end of June, we never thought we would be where we are today. But here we are—still standing. When you think about it, who better to survive adversity than a group of individuals who know a thing or two about it? While most segments of our society deal with catastrophic events once in a decade, such as hurricanes or stock market crashes, farmers have far more experience facing a wide range of hardships—sometimes on an annual basis. Situations, such as droughts and floods, threaten to change the course of our livelihoods and our lives. Ultimately, we know we’ll get through them. We always do one way or another. This resilience is something to be

MILKING SOLUTIONS

proud of and to gain strength from.

MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL STRAINS OF THE PANDEMIC That said, we now find ourselves facing the daunting prospect of living with COVID-19 for much longer than we had hoped for. While we can regroup and figure out how to adapt to keep our operations going, it’s not quite that simple dealing with the mental and emotional aspects of this pandemic. It’s also not as easy to recognize if someone we know is going through a personal crisis. There was a time not long ago when there would be telltale signs something was amiss. They would not show up for consecutive service club meetings. Their absence at hockey games or other community interactions would be noticeable. They may have been unusually quiet at family Sunday dinners. Because of social distancing, these oncepredictable gatherings are no longer at hand. We need to dig deeper to identify whether the

people we care about are at risk. The fact is mental health issues are on the rise in Ontario, and this includes an increase in suicides in some rural areas of the province.

STRATEGIES FOR DEALING WITH STRESS There are a few strategies we can follow to alleviate stress. 1. Take a break – Take as little as two minutes out of your workday to take a break, but make it a real break. If someone brings you a coffee, don’t just take sips with the combine engine running while surveying what needs to be done next. Turn the engine off, hop out and acknowledge the beauty of your surroundings. Take pride in what you’ve built; 2. Keep things in perspective – This includes keeping a positive attitude. If a piece of equipment breaks down at the worst time, give yourself a moment to express your frustration, but then focus your energy on a plan to move forward. Ask yourself what you need to do to get it up and running and take action; 3. Create a support network or social connections – While in-person gatherings may not be available during the pandemic, there are more and more opportunities to make connections. This could be one-on-one via Facetime, as well as group get-togethers on Zoom or other virtual options. There are online groups of like-minded people to join to build new connections using social media platforms, such as Instagram, which also present the opportunity to share in the experiences of others without any pressure to participate. For resources related to COVID-19 and mental health, visit https://covid19.wsps.ca/ and https://bit.ly/3vm6iOf.

This article was provided by Workplace Safety & Prevention Services. For more information, visit www.wsps.ca.

APRIL 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

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FARM MANAGEMENT

CALF PNEUMONIA: STEALING OPPORTUNITY AWAY FROM BACTERIA AND VIRUSES Figure 1: Factors that lead to pneumonia and calf scours

By Amanda Kerr

CONTRIBUTOR

ovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a precipitous cascade in calves, with Ontario-based studies reporting a range of 17 to 43 per cent of calves experiencing respiratory disease pre-weaning. Economic and animal welfare impacts of BRD is a serious concern, with lasting effects seen in decreased first lactation milk yield. Developing systems to detect early signs of disease is important to steal opportunity away from bacteria and viruses that cause BRD. Relying solely on the appearance of BRD symptoms, including nasal and eye discharge, droopy ears, head tilt, cough, lethargy, and-or fever, may result in many calves missing diagnoses of respiratory disease. Reduction in milk intake and reduced feeder visits with milk consumed are two automatic milk feeder metrics to look for daily as an early indicator of illness. However,

if feeding by hand, this is harder to see, and if the volume of milk fed is low, hunger may

override the feeling of unwell and reduced milk intake not seen.

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Aside from feed consumption, producers can observe for other early behavioural indicators, such as increased time standing in the milk feeder or milk feeding area, increased and longer bouts of laying down, decreased self-grooming, decreased social interaction with pen-mates and-or less interest in a novel object or human. These behavioural observations were reported to appear one to two days prior to the onset of clinical symptoms. Pathogens that cause BRD may be present in low amounts in a calf without causing disease until pressure is applied, weakening the immune system. Viruses and bacteria are champions at seizing opportunity. Ensuring the calf is born in a clean calving pen, eating plenty of good quality, clean colostrum (more than 22 per cent Brix or more than 50 grams of Immunoglobulin G per litre) and maintaining clean milk feeding equipment to avoid contamination of milk fed will reduce the chance of developing scours. Calf scours represent an opportunity for bacteria and viruses that cause BRD to take hold due to immune challenge and loss of body reserves. Moreover, providing clean, dry, deep bedding and removing dirty bedAmanda Kerr is a senior nutritionist at Grober Nutrition Inc. This article is provided by Grober Nutrition.

ding every two to three days will improve air quality by reducing the levels of ammonia, airborne bacteria and other organisms, which can irritate the respiratory tract, and lower the risk of BRD. Other environmental factors to control include determining the right ventilation strategy for the calf barn and adjusting air turnover according to season. If producers are raising calves in groups, maintain group sizes of eight to 10 calves with 3.3 square metres of bedded lying space and isolating calves away from shared airspace with older heifers and cows. Lastly, feeding a consistent and high level of nutrition (more than six L per day of milk) to calves will support strong growth and enhance immune function. A recent study has shown a high plane of nutrition pre-weaning had positive lasting effects post-weaning when given a respiratory immune stimulation challenge. By limiting milk intake, the immune system is provided with less energy to mount a defense. Feeding milk with less than 10 per cent solids has been shown to be associated with an increased risk to developing respiratory disease. Moreover, failure to wean may exacerbate respiratory illness, in addition to coupling stressful events, such as dehorning and social group change. As a multifactorial disease, BRD has multifactorial control points to reduce prevalence with precise attention to detail and high value placed on calf care.

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FARM MANAGEMENT

HOW BIOMARKERS CAN BE USED TO IMPROVE MALE DAIRY CALF HEALTH By Dave Renaud

CONTRIBUTOR

iomarkers are biological cues that can be measured to better understand calf health and disease. Finding biomarkers for calf health requires collecting blood samples for analysis to identify calves at high risk for disease. Several studies have been performed recently in Ontario to evaluate if blood samples collected when calves arrive at a veal facility are associated with future risk of disease development. One study collected blood samples from 992 calves arriving at a grain-fed veal facility, and a separate study collected blood samples from 405 calves at a milk-fed veal facility. These studies found several interesting biomarkers useful in identifying calves at high risk of disease, including markers of colostrum intake, inflammation and energy status.

IMMUNOGLOBULIN G: A MARKER OF COLOSTRUM INTAKE High levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the blood stream of calves has been consistently shown to improve growth levels and reduce the risk of disease and death. Specifically, for every gram per litre increase in IgG, the risk of mortality decreases by three per cent. While this is not a new finding, it shows how critical it is for calves to receive excellent colostrum at birth.

To maximize IgG, calves need to be provided with an ample quantity of colostrum (three to four litres at first feeding), that is high quality (greater than 50 g/L for IgG or greater than 22 per cent on a Brix refractometer, which can be used to measure colostrum quality), clean (low bacterial contamination) and fed promptly after birth (ideally within four hours). Following this protocol will protect calves against disease. Unfortunately, it’s still very common for male calves arriving at veal and dairy-beef facilities to have low levels of IgG. This means changes are necessary to provide male dairy calves with improved resistance against disease.

HAPTOGLOBIN: A MARKER OF INFLAMMATION Haptoglobin is a protein that is released in response to tissue damage and is higher in calves with bacterial or viral disease. Haptoglobin levels should be low in healthy calves. It’s not surprising calves that arrive at veal facilities with high levels of this protein in their blood have a greater risk of being treated for disease. Haptoglobin levels at arrival to veal facilities are likely related to the condition of calves entering the facility—those with an umbilical infection or diarrhea would have the highest levels. Haptoglobin will also be high due to stress, such as the stress experienced during transportation. Ensuring calves are in the best condition possible when they leave the farm and are transported can

help reduce the burden of disease.

CHOLESTEROL: A MARKER OF ENERGY STATUS One of the most interesting findings in both studies is calves arriving with high concentrations of cholesterol in their bloodstream had an increased average daily gain and reduced risk of mortality. This could be for several reasons. As cholesterol plays a critical role in energy mobilization, low levels may be related to when they had their last meal and the duration of transport. Low levels could also be related to age since higher levels are found in older calves, or it could be related to colostrum intake since colostrum has high levels of cholesterol. It could also be related to a genetic defect in Holsteins called cholesterol haplotype deficiency. This genetic defect causes calves to not gain weight and leads to higher levels of diarrhea and mortality.

WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN? Many of these factors relate to how calves are managed in early life. Ensuring calves receive excellent colostrum and nutritional management, as well as preventing the marketing of calves with disease, can go a long way toward reducing the burden of disease and risk of death at veal facilities. This project was funded by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year federalprovincial-territorial initiative. Dave Renaud is an associate consultant with ACER Consulting Ltd. and a veterinary epidemiologist in the department of population medicine at the University of Guelph.

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DAIRY RESEARCH DAIRY RESEARCH

My goal is to integrate knowledge across the value chain, from production to consumer health, providing a systems-based approach to high-quality dairy products. —Dr. Gisèle LaPointe

RESEARCHER PROFILE:

DR. GISÈLE LAPOINTE U of G food microbiologist improves dairy product sustainability and value as NSERC chair

By Dianne Priamo CONTRIBUTOR

hen it comes to the interaction between microbes and the food consumers eat—specifically, dairy products— University of Guelph (U of G) professor Dr. Gisèle LaPointe is an expert. She uses her extensive food microbiology knowledge to help the dairy industry, benefiting producers, processors and consumers. In 2015, LaPointe joined U of G as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)/Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) industrial research chair in dairy microbiology with more than 20 years of experience in the field of dairy science—and she’s been making big strides ever since. Her ambitious research goals lie at the intersection of dairy production, processing and health, with an emphasis on sustainability. “My aim is to add value to dairy products while improving processing efficiency and reducing environmental impacts,” she says. LaPointe is a results-driven individual, and her research platform is built on innovating with students to obtain results that can be used to solve real problems. This is evident in her accomplishments over the past five years, working with 11 post-graduate students to publish four chapters, 28 articles and 24 posters. Of these students, 10 have also gone on to work in the dairy industry, government or academia to further improve food quality and safety. “The most exhilarating aspects of my work are collaborating with students to come up with fresh new ideas, getting exciting and 38

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unexpected results and applying our work to make improvements to dairy products,” LaPointe says. Currently, LaPointe is working with 15 postgraduate students. Her research focuses on four themes—dairy ecosystems during production, dairy spoilage, sustainability and human gut microbiota. “My goal is to integrate knowledge across the value chain—from production to consumer health—providing a systems-based approach to high-quality dairy products,” LaPointe says. On the production end, LaPointe’s research is improving silage and milk quality by identifying the origin and biodiversity of microorganisms that cause spoilage. Her team is currently collecting on-farm data to trace microbes during dairy production that could lead to product spoilage and has also developed molecular tools for tracking and identifying spoilage agents. Addressing these sources of bacteria through adaptive production and processing practices will be of economic value to Ontario dairy producers and processors. Regarding sustainability, LaPointe strives to add value to dairy by incorporating co-products. Her research has looked at the fermentation of whey permeate as a source of bioactive peptides that could shut down virulence gene expression in foodborne pathogens, such as Salmonella. Best of all, this is a clean label ingredient, making it more consumer friendly. In the realm of human health, LaPointe’s research has contributed to supporting the function of probiotics in the management of gut microbiota using the first ProDigest SHIME gastrointestinal model in Canada.

Her team has explored how specific prebiotic ingredients in dairy can promote probiotic survival, as well as influence the composition and activity of the gut microbiota. As for next steps, LaPointe believes there’s still much to be explored regarding milk quality, sustainability, gut ecology and health. Developing tools to reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance, improving silage quality and reducing the survival and virulence of pathogens during digestion are just a few of the many avenues to be pursued. “By renewing the NSERC/DFO dairy microbiology research chair, we can continue to address national research priorities to enhance dairy farm efficiency and sustainability, milk quality and safety and milk products as they pertain to human health,” she says. LaPointe’s research program was funded by Dairy Farmers of Ontario, the NSERC Industry Research Chair grant, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation Leaders Fund (CFI-JELF), the U of G department of food science, the NSERC Discovery and Research Tools and Instruments grants, the NSERC Collaborative Research Grant (CRD) with Lallemand Animal Nutrition, Dairy Farmers of Canada’s Dairy Research Cluster 3, Genome Canada and Ontario Genomics through the Genomic Applications Partnership Program with Lactalis Canada. Dianne Priamo is a student writer for the University of Guelph’s office of research. This series highlights dairy research at the University of Guelph.

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DECADES OF RESEARCH BACKS ONGOING IMPROVEMENTS IN ANIMAL CARE PRACTICES By Shelley Crabtree CONTRIBUTOR

team of experts at the University of British Columbia has been producing dairy cattle welfare research results for almost 25 years, building the foundations for best practices in animal care and welfare in the Canadian dairy sector and worldwide. David Fraser, Dan Weary and Marina von Keyserlingk have been the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council’s industrial research co-chairs (NSERC-IRC) in dairy cattle welfare for decades. Evidence published by the team of researchers and their students led to the development of science-based recommendations to improve dairy cattle health, welfare and productivity. The scientific outcomes supported farmers in their efforts to continuously improve their practices, established standards for the evaluation of proAction’s animal care module and supported revisions to the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Dairy Cattle (2009).

From a behavioural perspective, the benefits observed of housing calves with a partner included better socialization and learning and reduced distress response at weaning. For instance, calves in paired housing adapted sooner to new feed, were calmer when moved to new environments and did better when subjected to cognitive tasks. 2. Heifers benefited from having a social role model for adaptation to situations, such as a new housing environment. Studies found heifers reared in open pens showed reduced lying and feeding times when first introduced to freestall housing, but when a role model, such as an experienced cow, was with heifers, the heifers adapted to stall use more quickly. Researchers concluded grouping heifers with experienced older animals positively affected their behaviour and adaptation to pasture and new housing systems. 3. Transition period is a critical time for cows, and a number of studies were completed to help improve transition cows’ health and care. Continued on page 40

HIGHLIGHTS OF RECENT RESEARCH RESULTS 1. Calves fed high volumes of milk and raised in pairs or groups experienced benefits to their health, welfare and behaviour through social adaptation. Building on work started early in the chair’s history where research showed tremendous weight gain benefits to feeding calves more milk— up to 12 litres per day—via a nipple accompanied by reductions in cross sucking, the research team moved to explore social housing. Studies of calves paired or housed in groups showed calves ate more starter and gained more weight compared with calves housed individually. Pair housing also improved starter intake at three to 10 weeks old, improving daily weight gain by an average of a 130 grams per day more compared with individually housed calves.

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DAIRY RESEARCH Decades of research backs ongoing improvements in animal care practices, cont’d from page 39 • A study concluded an unpredictable and competitive social environment before calving causes changes in feeding and social behaviour, leading to changes in health status and increases the risk of uterine disease in multiparous cows after calving; • Reducing lameness during the dry period and avoiding over-conditioning at dry-off likely promotes improved transition health. Researchers found lameness at dry-off was associated with metritis and transitional diseases, but not with subclinical ketosis. An association between lameness and transitional diseases is partially mediated through reduced feeding time; • A high incidence of lameness during dairy cows’ dry period was observed. Hoof trimming before the dry period reduced the risk of lameness for primiparous cows but not for multiparous cows; • Low body condition at dry-off and non-infectious hoof lesions in the weeks before dry-off were associated with chronic lameness during the dry period; • Changes in feeding, social and lying behaviours can help identify cows at risk of metritis. Cows ate less, were replaced at the feed bunk more often and spent less time lying compared with healthy cows during a two-week period before calving and at three days before a clinical diagnosis of metritis. 4. Cows’ motivation to access the outdoors varies with time of day and season, and providing a mechanical brush in the barn can be an important resource for the animals. Researchers studied freestall housed cows’ motiva-

tion to access pasture. They gauged the cows’ motivation by having them push on a weighted gate to access fresh feed compared with a weighted gate used to access pasture. Weights on the gates were gradually increased over time by the same amount to test the animals’ motivation. They found cows will work as hard to access pasture as they will to access fresh feed. Cows also worked hardest for outdoor access in the evening. When given the choice, cows housed in freestalls spent 25 per cent of their time on an outdoor pack in summer and primarily at night. In winter, they spent two per cent of their time outside. On an outdoor pack, cows spent 54 per cent of the time lying down during the summer and five per cent of the time lying during the winter. Similarly, researchers tested cows’ motivation to access a mechanical brush using a weighted gate system. Cows were trained to push a weighted gate to access fresh feed, a mechanical brush or the same space without a brush. They observed cows are highly motivated to access a mechanical brush for grooming, suggesting this is an important resource for these animals. 5. Improvements for animal care at calving. Studies found cows that were calving preferred sand or concrete flooring, suggesting these types of flooring may provide better traction for bouts of lying and standing when calving. They also demonstrated cows that were calving preferred visual isolation from others, and if provided the option, they will hide behind a barrier. Researchers recommend providing a plywood barrier for cows when they are calving is a simple and low-cost method

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of meeting a cow’s need for isolation when calving. 6. Benchmarking practices for improved dairy cattle welfare on commercial farms. Researchers tested farmers’ use of benchmarking reports to measure dairy cattle growth rates and immunity transfer from colostrum in dairy calves. The use of reports resulted in most farms making at least one management change in consultation with their veterinarian to improve their results. They concluded benchmarking specific outcomes associated with calf rearing can motivate producer engagement in calf care, leading to improved outcomes for calves on farms that apply relevant management changes.

WHAT’S NEXT? In 2019, funding for the chair was renewed for an additional five-year period by NSERC and industry partners. Co-chairs Weary and von Keyserlingk will combine practical studies on commercial farms with a series of experimental studies conducted at the UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre. Following industry partner consultations, the objectives for the new program are focused on calf and heifer rearing, cow health and lameness, housing facilities and management and pain management procedures. References: https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S00220302(16)00140-5/abstract https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/ S0022030215004944 https://open.library.ubc.ca/cIRcle/collections/ubctheses/24/items/1.0365779 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/ S002203021500781X https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30077452 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337051971_The_relationship_between_transition_period_diseases_and_lameness_feeding_time_ and_body_condition_during_the_dry_period https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/ S0022030219308501 https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S00220302(19)30850-1/fulltext https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/ S0022030218301425 https://www.researchgate. net/publication/315590760_Dairy_cows_value_access_to_pasture_as_highly_as_fresh_feed https://www.researchgate.net/publicaShelley Crabtree is the communications and knowledge transfer specialist for the Dairy Research Cluster

1-877-488-4699 or email CLIENTS@ATLANTICJOBS.NET 40

APRIL 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

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CHAIR IN DAIRY CATTLE WELFARE OVERVIEW • Investment partners: Alberta Milk, B.C. Cattle Industry Development Fund, B.C. Dairy Association, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, Cattle Industry Development Council, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Dairy Farmers of Manitoba, Intervet Canada Corporation, Lactanet Canada, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Novus International Inc., Saputo Inc., SaskMilk, Semex Alliance, WestGen and Zoetis. • Budget 2014-19: $1.9 million • From 2014-19: The team published 102 scientific papers, trained 57 undergraduates, MSc, PhD and postdoctoral fellows and hosted numerous visiting scientists from around the world. tion/329927045_Dairy_cow_preference_for_access_ to_an_outdoor_pack_in_summer_and_winter https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/ rsbl.2018.0303 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24359828 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260807240_Dairy_cows_seek_isolation_at_ calving_and_when_ill https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/ S0022030217301601.

WHEN TO ASSIST CALVING AND HOW IT IMPACTS METRITIS By Janet Bauer, Tracy Burnett, Augusto Madureira and Ronaldo Cerri CONTRIBUTORS

round the time of calving, dairy cows are susceptible to calving difficulties and illness, such as uterine infections. About 75 per cent of diseases in dairy cows typically occur within the

first three weeks postpartum. Often, calving difficulties result in the need for human assistance and increased risk of uterine infections. Proactive management practices during the transition period are necessary to reduce the risk and mitigate the effect of transition diseases, such as dystocia and uterine diseases, in dairy cows. Continued on page 42

CORRECTION The article entitled “Seven facts about antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance in the Canadian dairy sector,” published on page 49 of March 2021 issue incorrectly stated that all milk is tested for antibiotic residues at the time it is picked up from a farm and again when it reaches the processing plant to guarantee it is antibiotic-free. While milk is tested before being unloaded at the processing plant and some farmers do test every shipment before offering the milk for sale, milk is not tested at the time it is picked up from the farm. Milk Producer regrets the error. WWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA

MILKPRODUCER | APRIL 2021

DAIRY RESEARCH When to assist calving and how it impacts metritis, cont’d from page 41

Figure 1: Effect of duration of labour in cows assisted and unassisted at calving on the predicted probability of metritis

Increased risk of dystocia, or difficulty calving, occurs due to cows producing relatively larger than normal calves compared with their dams, along with other complications, such as young primiparous cows and twinning. The negative economic consequences of dystocia are closely related to welfare and productivity. Uterine disease, such as metritis, can result in reduced milk production, reproductive performance and life expectancy due to an increased risk of culling during lactation. It’s estimated the annual cost of uterine disease in the United States dairy industry is $650 million. However, the annual costs in Canada are unknown, but likely proportional to the issue observed in the U.S. Further understanding of the calving process and how it impacts uterine health can improve calving management practices to prevent the development of uterine disease. A recent study from the University of British Columbia (UBC) investigated the association between factors around the time of calving, duration of labour and the development of uterine diseases in dairy cattle. In addition, researchers aimed to estimate a reference time used as a guideline for providing calving assistance based on the health outcome of metritis. A total of 567 Holsteins from the UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre were followed from three weeks before calving until three weeks after. Cameras were used to record calving time and duration, as well as calving assistance. Metritis was diagnosed based on vaginal

discharge and body temperature measured at six and 12 days in milk (DIM). Duration of labour was estimated as time from the appearance of the amniotic sac until the calf was expelled. There was a relationship between metritis and duration of labour for assisted cows, where the probability of metritis was greatest at the shortest and longest durations of labour, while the lowest probability of metritis (28.2 per cent) was found when assistance occurred after about 130 minutes (Figure 1). There was no association of duration of labour with metritis for cows that did not require assistance, but on average, cows that did not require assistance had shorter durations of labour (57.5 ± 2.4 versus 118.6 ± 5.5 min).

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Interestingly, no subclinical endometritis at 35 DIM nor retained placenta was associated with the duration of labour, although cows calving larger calves were found to be in labour longer. Providing assistance too early during the second stage of labour may result in an increased risk of metritis. Researchers estimate 130 minutes after the appearance of the amniotic sac could be used as a reference point for providing calving assistance to reduce the risk of metritis. Although duration of the second stage of labour and calving score did not have a direct impact on subclinical endometritis, it may be indirectly impacted by timely intervention through the action of metritis since subclinical endometritis was found to be increased in cows diagnosed with metritis. Further research is required to determine how progression of labour and timing of intervention impacts the development of uterine diseases. Janet Bauer is a master’s student in the reproductive research team in the faculty of land and food systems at the University of British Columbia.

Tracy Burnett is a postdoctoral fellow in the reproductive research team in the faculty of land and food systems at the University of British Columbia.

Augusto Madureira is a PhD student in the reproductive research team in the faculty of land and food systems at the University of British Columbia.

Ronaldo Cerri

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DAIRY RESEARCH

MANAGING SEEDING RATE TO REDUCE THE RISK OF SORGHUM SPECIES AFFECTING OTHER CROPS By Christine O’Reilly CONTRIBUTOR

orghum species—including forage sorghum, sudangrass and especially their hybrid sorghum-sudangrass—are gaining popularity in Ontario as forage crops. To increase palatability and digestibility in sorghum species, many producers have been increasing the seeding rates they use. A decade ago, sorghum species for forage use were commonly sown at 20 to 25 pounds per acre. More recently, seeding rates have climbed, and sorghum species are frequently seeded at 30 to 40 lb/acre. Higher plant population decreases stem diameters and lignin content. While pro-

ducers knowingly accept the increased risk of lodging, it also increases the risk of allelopathy. Any mention of sorghum species and allelopathy in extension resources usually indicate it is not an issue unless seeding rates are increased above what is normally used for forage. But the publishing dates on those articles show they were written before seeding rates started to climb. Awareness of allelopathy will help producers avoid issues from sorghum species in their forage production systems.

WHAT IS ALLELOPATHY? When a plant is described as “allelopathic,” it means the plant has an impact on the germination and-or growth of other plants. The most familiar allelopathic crop to dairy producers is

KEY POINTS FOR SORGHUM ALLELOPATHY • Allelopathy is not a deal-breaker for forage production—it just requires awareness and good management; • Seed size of sorghum species and varieties varies hugely; • To avoid excessive plant populations and allelopathy issues, calculate the appropriate seed rate rather than using lb/acre (kg/ha); • Avoid planting the next crop in the old sorghum rows.

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alfalfa. Autotoxicity is a specific type of allelopathy where the chemicals released by the crop only affect other plants of the same species. As experience with alfalfa shows, allelopathy is not a deal-breaker for forage production—it just requires awareness and good management. Research on sorghum species and allelopathy has found negative effects on wheat, corn and alfalfa. Small-seeded weeds seem to be particularly susceptible to sorghum allelopathy (Weston et al., 2013). In addition, grain and forage sorghums seem to release the greatest concentrations of allelopathic compounds. Researchers have reported significant differences between varieties within a species in terms of their ability to affect weeds and crops (Tibugari et al., 2020).

WHY DO SORGHUM SPECIES AFFECT OTHER PLANTS? Sorghum species exude several allelopathic compounds from their roots. Dhurrin is the best known because it’s also present in the leaves of these plants and breaks down into prussic acid. The other water-soluble compounds sorghums produce are phenolic acids. Much of the allelopathy research being done on sorghum involves extracting the water-soluble allelochemicals and using them as an organic weed suppressant spray. The most significant allelopathic chemical produced by sorghum species is called sorgoleone. Sorgoleone is not water-soluble and persists longer in the soil than the other compounds. It interferes with seedlings’ photosynthesis. Sorgoleone production is linked to sorghum root hair development. Maximum secretions occur at temperatures between 25 to 35 degrees Celsius, especially with high humidity and plenty of available oxygen.

HOW TO AVOID ALLELOPATHY FROM SORGHUM SPECIES? Seeding rate is likely to have the biggest effect on risk of allelopathy. The seed size of sorghum species varies hugely, from 11,000 to 45,000 seeds per pound. Even varieties or hybrids within a species lack consistency in seed size. A seeding rate based only on weight can result in very inconsistent plant populations. Continued on page 46

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DAIRY RESEARCH Managing seeding rate to reduce the risk of sorghum species affecting other crops cont’d from page 44 As populations climb, so does the risk of accumulating allelopathic compounds to levels that might affect the next crop. Most sources suggest a population of 80,000 to 100,000 plants per acre for forage sorghum. Although seed rates for sudangrass and sorghum-sudangrass are typically higher than forage sorghum, there is a lack of consensus as to an appropriate plant population. More research is needed in this area since much of the ongoing sorghum allelopathy work is focused on weed suppression rather than forage crop rotations. To avoid an excessive plant population, producers can calculate the appropriate seeding rate. Seeds per kilogram (or seeds per pound) should be stated on the seed tag or bag, along with the percent germination. The seeding rate can be determined using the formula in Table 1. Research suggests tillage can increase the rate at which allelopathic compounds degrade in the soil. Roth et al., 2020, found incorporating sorghum residue delayed wheat emergence but had no impact on grain yields, while wheat

Table 1: To avoid an excessive plant population, producers can calculate the appropriate seeding rate using this formula. Seeding rate (kg/ha) =

seeds/ha

____100____

seeds/kg Seeding rate (lbs/acre) =

% germination

seeds/acre x ____100____ seeds/lb

seeded into no-till sorghum residue emerged normally but had reduced yield. Light-textured soils seem to increase the risk of allelopathy. Forage harvest removes above-ground residue, which removes one source of allelopathic chemicals. Avoid planting the next crop in the sorghum rows since the highest concentrations of allelopathic compounds are often found there. Rather than increasing seeding rates, other strategies exist to help producers maximize quality. Timely harvest is critical to prevent the crop from becoming overmature. Sudangrass has finer stems and more leaves than forage sorghum or sorghum-sudangrass, which may increase palatability to livestock. Brown mid-rib (BMR) varieties of sorghum species are available, which reduces the amount of lignin the plant produces. Unlike corn, the BMR trait in sorghum species does not seem to significantly decrease yield compared with conventional varieties. Allelopathy is a complicated subject. Managing seeding rate to reduce the risk of sorghum species affecting other crops in rotation is important as acreage increases in Ontario.

% germination

References Roth, C.M., J.P. Shroyer, and G.M. Paulsen. 2020. Allelopathy of sorghum on wheat under several tillage systems. Agron J. 92:855-860. Tibugari, H., C. Chiduza, and A.B. Mashingaidze. 2020. Farmer knowledge, attitude and practices on sorghum allelopathy in five sorghum producing districts of Zimbabwe. South African Journal of Plant and Soil. 37(2):152-159. Weston, L.A., I.S. Alsaadawi, and S.R. Baerson. 2013. Sorghum allelopathy – from ecosystem to molecule. J Chem Ecol. 39:142-153. Christine O’Reilly is the forage and grazing specialist at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

This article is prepared by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs livestock technology specialists to provide information producers can use on their farm.

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All Research, Development and Production are done in Canada for the Canadian Cattle Industry. 1. Mosher, R. A., Coetzee, J. F., Cull, C. A., Gehring, R., KuKanich, B. (2011) Pharmacokinetics of oral meloxicam in ruminant and preruminant calves. J. Vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 35, 373–381. 2. K. A. Allen, J. F. Coetzee,L. N. Edwards-Callaway, H. Glynn, J. Dockweiler,B. KuKanich, H. Lin,C. Wang, E. Fraccaro, M. Jones and L. Bergamasco. (2013) The effect of timing of oral meloxicam administration on physiological responses in calves after cautery dehorning with local anesthesia J. Dairy Sci. 96 :5194–5205 http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2012-6251. 3. Olson et al. Efficacy of oral meloxicam suspension for prevention of pain and inflammation following band and surgical castration in calves BMC Veterinary Research (2016) 12:102 Oral Meloxicam provided Pain control (behavioral and physiological) for band or knife castration for 72 hours. 4. Daniel Shock, Steven Roche and Merle Olson (2019) Comparative Pharmacokinetic Analysis of Oral and Subcutaneous Meloxicam Administered to Postpartum Dairy Cows Vet. Sci. 2019, 6, 73; doi:10.3390/vetsci6030073. 5. Shock, D., Roche, S., Nagel, D. and Olson, M. (2020) The Effect of Delivery Method on the Pharmacokinetic Properties of Meloxicam in Pre-Weaned Dairy Calves with Diarrhea. Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 10, 27-38. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojvm.2020.103003. 6. Coetzee, J.F., KuKanich, S.B., Mosher, R.A. & Allen, P.S. (2009) Pharmacokinetics of intravenous and oral meloxicam in ruminant cattle. Veterinary Therapeutics, 10, E1–E8. 7. Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH 55216 Ingelheim/Rhein. Germany http://www.zds-bonn.de/services/files/tierschutz/anx_72555_en.pdf ANNEX I SUMMARY OF PRODUCT

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were announced on March 17, 2021, and include: • Heeg Sytse from Heeg Dairy Inc., New Hamburg, Ont.; • Jason Gould from Gouldhaven Farms, Foresters Falls, Ont.; • Justin Crowley from Crovalley Holsteins, Hastings, Ont.; • Josh Boersen from Bradi Farms, Sebringville, Ont. New to the Ontario market, the PrevTech solution is an innovative electrical monitoring and detection solution designed for farms. Installed at the main electrical service, the solution monitors for electrical and thermal anomalies and faults on a farm’s network 24-7. Farmers have access to the continuous surveillance of a farm’s entire system on their mobile phone, complete with real-time temperature monitoring of electrical panels. PrevTech’s innovative technology also comes with a detection warning notification and situation diagnosis. “We offer a complete technology and service package, designed to monitor and detect any electrical interruption on a farm, or the worstcase scenario, a farm fire,” explains Pierre-An-

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dvances in nutritional science to meet current and future challenges faced by the animal feed industry will take centre stage at the fifth annual Animal Nutrition Conference of Canada (ANCC) from May 10 to 14, 2021. Delivered within a new interactive platform, the conference will provide unique opportunities for all participants to learn, share and network in a dynamic digital environment that closely mirrors the traditional in-person event. To accommodate all participants, simultaneous presentations will be offered in English and French. Under the theme Feeding the future: Precision nutrition for tomorrow’s animal, it is hosted by the Animal Nutrition Association of Canada (ANAC), the national trade association for Canada’s feed industry. “We are very excited to offer participants a robust and interactive ANCC 2021,” says Melissa Dumont, executive director of ANAC. Moving the conference to a virtual platform has been important for ANAC to ensure that despite restrictions, ANCC continues to deliver educational and networking opportunities for the industry. “We look forward to learning and sharing with colleagues across the industry in this truly national forum,” she says. “ANCC has become a ‘must attend’ event for anyone wishing to keep up with the latest animal nutrition developments and meet with colleagues from across the country.” ANCC features highly respected speakers from across Canada and around the world, discussing topics shaping the future of the feed in-

dustry. “There is a surge of new optimism and energy across our industry as we move past the challenges of the past year and look forward,” says Holly McGill from Wallenstein Feed & Supply and ANCC’s program chair. “Presentations will share the latest science-based knowledge on nutritional models and technologies that will not only improve animal health, welfare and production, but better prepare the industry for the demands of tomorrow.” “ANCC offers a unique, multi-species, industry-driven conference that brings together colleagues from diverse areas of expertise,” says Mark Cameron of More Than Just Feed Inc., ANAC board representative. “There is something here for everyone involved in animal nutrition. It’s a one-stop event that allows participants to learn what’s coming down the pipeline across all species groups and areas of progress.” In addition to a diverse program featuring a balance of big-picture and species-specific technical topics, ANCC will also showcase industry partners and graduate student research from across Canada. “Generous support from sponsors makes the breadth and depth of the event possible,” says Bertrand Medina from Probiotech and ANCC’s sponsorship chair. “We continue to be very fortunate to have tremendous support from our industry partners, who see the value in this event and have really stepped up to make sure the 2021 conference continues to meet the high expectations of participants.” Active student participation remains a key element of the conference, including the graduate student research poster competition, student-oriented online learning opportunities and new this year, a career networking event. “The role of ANCC in supporting students

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he first virtual Progressive Dairy Operators’ Youth Business Management Workshop series sponsored by Alltech was successful. Sixteen young dairy producers from across Ontario participated in the new seven-session course, which took place virtually from January to March 2021. Over the seven sessions, the group heard from industry experts discussing financial statements, debt and capital utilization, business structures and insurance, and legal and general contractor considerations around construction. In addition, four producers presented to the group on topics related to succession planning, benchmarking and debt servicing and how they have applied these topics to their own operations. The final session included a guest presentation by Dr. Jeffrey Bewley from Holstein Association USA about lean management. The Progressive Dairy Operators thanks the Ontario Dairy Youth Trust Fund for supporting the program.

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DES CHANGEMENTS DANS LE RELEVÉ MENSUEL DU LAIT LIÉS AUX CHANGEMENTS DE LA POLITIQUE DE PAIEMENT

n commençant par le relevé mensuel du lait de mars, les producteurs verront des changements liés aux changements récents de la politique de paiement à compter du 1er février 2021.

Tableau 1 : Exemple d’impact sur les prix de la nouvelle politique

RÉCAPITULATION : Les provinces de P5 ont convenu de moderniser la politique de paiement des composants à la ferme pour mieux refléter le revenu du marché et pour assurer une meilleure équité entre les producteurs, dans un contexte de surplus structurels de solides non gras (SNG) sur le marché. Ces changements ne touchent pas la facturation aux usines, mais le mode de répartition des revenus entre les producteurs. Ainsi, ce sont les mêmes masses monétaires qui seront dirigées aux producteurs, mais avec une répartition qui met l’emphase sur la contribution individuelle aux surplus de solides non gras et qui assure une meilleure valorisation des composants générant les rendements lors de la transformation, soit la matière grasse et la protéine. Le principal changement de la nouvelle politique est l’inclusion d’un palier additionnel de ratio de SNG/MG. Sous la politique précédente les SNG des producteurs ayant un ratio inférieur à 2,3 sont tous rémunérés au même revenu. Les producteurs au-delà de 2,3 ne sont pas rémunérés pour les SNG qui surpassent le ratio de 2,3 (ce revenu est redistribué sur la matière grasse des producteurs ayant un ratio SNG/

Ratio SNG/G

Prix de la matière grasse ($/kg)

Prix de la protéine ($/kg)

Prix du LAS + AS ($/kg)

Politique précédente

10,70

8,27

1,52

<= 2

11,04

9,63

0,90

> 2 <= 2,3

11,04

Classe 4a (2,11$/kg)

8,8 %

> 2,3

11,04

0,7 %

90,5 %

Note : ces prix basés sur l’année 2020 sont donnés à titre indicatif. MG mensuel inférieur à 2,3). Avec la nouvelle politique, deux paliers de ratios SNG/G serviront à établir les paramètres de paiement des SNG.

RÉMUNÉRATION DES SNG : La portion produite de SNG sous un ratio SNG/G inférieur ou égal à 2 : • Protéine : rémunération au prix intérieur-quota basé sur le SNG vendu aux marchés de plus grande valeur • Lactose et autres solides : rémunération fixe à 0,90$/kg • Qui va obtenir cette rémunération ? Tous les producteurs vont obtenir cette rémunération pour leurs SNG sous le ratio de 2. La portion produite de SNG supérieur à 2 et

Tableau 2 : Variation du revenu total rapporté en $/kg MG selon les données en Ontario 2020 Ratio SNG/MG

% des entreprises

Revenu $/kg MG politique précédente

Revenu $/kg MG nouvelle politique

% de variation du revenu annuel

18,55 $

19,08 $

2,83

2,01 à 2,1

18,93 $

19,22 $

1,51

2,11 à 2,2

29 %

19,23 $

19,34 $

0,56

2,21 à 2,3

46 %

19,46 $

19,45 $

(0,04)

> 2,3

16 %

19,55%

19,51 $

(0,24)

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% SNG Ontario

inférieur ou égal à 2,3 : • Protéine et lactose et autres solides : prix de la classe 4a • Qui va obtenir cette rémunération ? Les producteurs qui ont un ratio supérieur à 2 vont obtenir ce prix pour la portion de leurs SNG compris entre 2 et 2,3. La portion produite de SNG supérieure au ratio de 2,30 • Protéine et lactose et autres solides : ces composants à la ferme ne seront pas rémunérés, comme en fut le cas à partir de janvier 2020. Il n’y aura plus de prime MG mais cette partie du revenu total sera distribué dans le prix intérieur-quota de MG et protéine payé pour SNG inférieur à 2.

RÉMUNÉRATION DE LA MATIÈRE GRASSE : L’ensemble de la matière grasse produite intra-quota sera rémunéré au même taux intérieur-quota (Tableau 1). Pour la plupart des producteurs, la nouvelle politique aura un effet marginal. Cette politique introduit davantage d’équité entre les producteurs. Pour les producteurs qui ont un ratio SNG/G élevé et qui ainsi contribuent davantage au surplus de SNG sur le marché, la rémunération pour les SNG excédentaires sera inférieure. Pour les producteurs qui ont un ratio SNG/G bas et qui ainsi contribuent moins au surplus de SNG sur le marché, la rémunération sera plus élevée qu’actuellement (Tableau 2). MILKPRODUCER | APRIL 2021

MARCHÉS

LES OFFICES DU P5 APPROUVENT UNE AUGMENTATION DE QUOTA D’UN POUR CENT Selon M. Dubé, les mesures prises par l’industrie au cours des premiers mois de la COVID-19 ont été utiles pour équilibrer l’offre et la demande. Il s’agit notamment de la restriction du nombre de jours de crédit, de l’émission de jours incitatifs, des programmes de rachat et de stockage de fromage et de beurre et des exportations de fromage. Les ventes, à l’échelle nationale, de produits laitiers au détail restent fortes. Pour la période de 52 semaines se terminant le 27 février 2021, les ventes de lait de consommation, de crème de consommation, de yogourt, de crème glacée, de fromage et de beurre ont augmenté respectivement de 6,9, 14,5, 2,5, 13,6, 13 et 15,1 pour cent par rapport aux 52 semaines précédentes. « Nous enregistrons des chiffres très solides dans toutes les catégories par rapport à l’année précédente, poursuit-il. Il faut cependant se rappeler qu’une forte demande au niveau du commerce de détail ne se traduit pas directement par l’émission de signaux de production en raison de l’incidence sur l’industrie de la restauration. » À mesure que l’économie retrouve progressivement une « nouvelle normalité », et en supposant que les stocks de fromage et de beurre, les crédits de production à la ferme et les importations restent au bon niveau, l’émission de signaux de production

Par Jennifer Nevans

RÉDACTRICE

près l’analyse des besoins anticipés du marché pour le reste de l’année 2021, les offices du P5 ont convenu d’augmenter d’un pour cent le quota vendable délivré aux producteurs du P5. « La demande du P5 reste positive, même avec la paralysie partielle de l’économie et une augmentation des importations réelles, explique Patrice Dubé, directeur en chef de l’économie et du développement de politiques de Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO). Malgré cela, il est toujours difficile pour l’industrie de prévoir la demande du marché. » Les producteurs du P5 peuvent s’attendre à l’émission de quotas modestes au cours de l’année à venir par rapport aux cinq dernières années en raison de la pandémie de COVID-19 et de l’augmentation des niveaux d’importation, dit M. Dubé. Malgré la pandémie et les niveaux d’importation, l’industrie laitière canadienne a continué de croître au cours de l’année 2020, avec une augmentation de 0,5 % par rapport à une augmentation de 3,9 % en 2019.

PRIX PONDÉRÉS DU P5 ET DU POOL DE L’OUEST* Le graphique ci-dessous montre le prix pondéré de 12 mois pour les provinces du P5 et le pool de lait de l’Ouest (PLO). *Ces chiffres sont fournis avec un décalage de trois mois

PROPORTION DE MATIÈRE SÈCHE DÉGRAISSÉE À LA MATIÈRE GRASSE (M.S.D.-M.G.) Ce graphique montre la proportion de M.S.D.-M.G. en Ontario pour les 12 derniers mois par rapport à sa proportion ciblée de 2,1722. Proportion de M.S.D.-M.G. en Ontario Proportion ciblée de M.S.D.-M.G. en Ontario

Prix pondéré du P5 Prix pondéré du PLO 82

2,45

APRIL 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

fév. 2021

déc. 2020

janv. 2021

oct. 2020

nov. 2020

août 2020

sept. 2020

2,15

juin 2020

2,2 juil. 2020

déc. 2020

janv. 2021

oct. 2020

nov. 2020

sept. 2020

juil. 2020

août 2020

juin 2020

mai 2020

avril 2020

fév. 2020

2,25

mai 2020

2,1814

2,3

avril 2020

P5 77,00 $

2,35

mars 2020

Prix pondéré à l’hectolitre F2

PLO 79,07 $

Proportion de M.S.D.-M.G.

2,4

pourrait augmenter jusqu’à deux pour cent par an. Les besoins nationaux totaux en matière grasse pour janvier 2021 ont atteint 1,09 million de kilogrammes par jour, soit une augmentation de 14,1 % par rapport à janvier 2020. Parallèlement, la production totale de lait du P10 en janvier 2021 a atteint 1,11 million de kg par jour, soit une augmentation de 3,60 % par rapport à janvier 2020. Les stocks totaux de beurre en février 2021 ont atteint 28 700 tonnes, soit 3 100 tonnes de plus qu’en janvier 2021, et les stocks totaux de fromage en février 2021 ont atteint 106 000 tonnes, soit 900 tonnes de plus qu’en janvier 2021. « À l’heure actuelle, la Commission canadienne du lait prévoit que les stocks de beurre atteindront le niveau ciblé de 35 000 tonnes d’ici juillet 2021, mais seulement si les signaux de production sont bons, ce qui explique pourquoi les offices du P5 ont approuvé une augmentation de 1 % des quotas », conclut-il. L’objectif principal des offices du P5 est de surveiller en permanence la situation du marché du lait et de répondre de la manière la plus optimale à la demande. En cette période d’incertitude, les offices du P5 continueront à adapter les signaux de production pour répondre aux changements du marché, selon les besoins.

WWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA

CRÉDITS DE SURPRODUCTION ET DE SOUS-PRODUCTION AUTORISÉS – RAPPEL Note de l’éditeur: Ce message avait déjà été annoncé dans les numéros d’octobre 2019 et d’août 2020 de Milk Producer.

armoniser la production de lait du P5 avec les marchés variables s’est avéré de plus en plus difficile au cours des dernières années. Certains producteurs accumulent des crédits de sous-production, ce qui entraîne des pénuries de lait, puis utilisent ces crédits lorsqu’il y a déjà suffisamment de lait dans le système. Cela explique en partie les augmentations et baisses de quotas, ainsi que la politique de limite des crédits observées ces dernières années. Ainsi, les crédits de sous-production des fermes sont

devenus un problème important pour remplir les marchés provinciaux/du P5. Les conseils du P5 ont examiné les crédits de surproduction et de sous-production autorisés, et ont approuvé un ajustement qui est effet d’ici le 1er août 2022. Actuellement, tous les producteurs du P5 sont autorisés à emprunter au maximum 10 jours de crédit de surproduction (10 x quota journalier) et à accumuler au maximum 30 jours de crédit de sous-production (30 x quota journalier). La politique a été mise en place pour aider les producteurs à gérer leurs quotas lors de variations de la production de lait, tout en permettant une offre de lait suffisante pour répondre à la demande annuelle du P5. Les crédits actuels de surproduction et

de sous-production autorisés sont harmonisés dans les provinces du P5 depuis 2009. • À compter du 1er août 2022, le nombre maximal de crédits de sous-production autorisés sera modifié pour passer de -30 jours à -15 jours; • Les crédits de surproduction autorisés demeureront à +10 jours, pour un total de 25 jours de crédit au lieu de 40. On rappellera le changement aux producteurs, et ils pourront ajuster leur position de jours de crédits à leur rythme, tant qu’ils respectent la limite de crédit de sous-production révisée à la date indiquée. Tout crédit de sous-production en-dessous de la limite révisée en vigueur du 1 août 2022 sera perdu.

PRIX DU QUOTA QUOTIDIEN ($/kg) PROVINCE

Prix/kg

Montant voulait/kg

Quantité à vendre/kg

Quantité achetée/kg

47 727,50

421,50

113,97

85,97

Saskatchewan

41 000

161,00

13,00

Colombie-Britannique

36 500

2330,68

125,46

Manitoba Ontario

35 259

273,16

369,46

134,54

24 000

20 916,23

305,81

305,45

Québec

24 000

20 833,06

231,15

231,06

Nouveau-Brunswick

24 000

644,40

1,70

MARS PRIX

Alberta

Échange annulé

Nouvelle-Écosse Île-du-Prince-Édouard

Il n’y a pas de prix d’équilibre d’échange établi

*Terre-Neuve n’utilise pas d’échange mensuel de quotas **Plafond de 24 000 $ en vigueur en Île-du-Prince-Édouard Nouveau-Brunswick Ontario Nouvelle-Écosse et le Québec

WWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA

MILKPRODUCER | APRIL 2021

AVRIL

REVENU BRUT MOYEN EN ONTARIO

Retenues en Ontario

Retenues brutes moyennes par hL, basé sur la composition mensuelle provinciale kg-par-hL.

Pour février 2021

Prix intérieur-quota Excédent de quota

M.G. par kg

Protéin par kg

A.M.S par kg

REVENU par kg de M.G.

REVENU *par hL

10,99 $

9,45 $

0,90 $

18,81 $

79,31 $

0,00 $

En février, 3340 producteurs ont livré du lait au DFO comparativement à 3385 l’an dernier.

*Utilisation par classe dans le P10

% M.G.

Pour janvier 2021 (kg de M.G./kg d’extrait sec dégraissé)

% Extrait sec degrasse

*6,48 % *1,96 % *0,99 % *0,92 % *3,95 % 17,87 % 16,71 %

*17,46 % *0,66 %

7,22 %

*3,11 % *9,19 %

10,98 %

0,30 % 0,29 % 2,11 % 3,10 %

*0,27 % *2,12 % 17,00 %

1,35 %

22,91 %

*14,85 % *2,14 %

4,49 % 1,72 % 1,96 % 7,61 % 1,48 % 1,05 % 0,48 % 0,00 % 0,00 %

0% F4

*27,24 %

25,14 %

*4,45 %

5,89 % 3,31 % 0,71 % 1,95 % 0,12 % 0,82 % 0,88 % 3,15 % 4,48 % 0,64 % 0,88 % 2,61 % 3,17 %

% Revenu

11,24 %

2,23 % 2,36 %

10 %

APRIL 2021 | MILKPRODUCER

*1,68 % *2,12 % *0,39 % *0,00 %

15 %

20 %

fév. 2021

Pour février 2021

Le prix réel du transport pour février 2021 était de 2,750 $ l’hectolitre.

11,78 %

janv. 2021

PRIX BRUT ACCORDÉS

*Ces équivalents par hl sont calculés d’après la composition moyenne ontarienne pour février 2021 de 4,22 pour la M.G., de 3,25 pour la protéine et de 5,95 pour les A.M.S., et arrondis au centième près.

1a1 1b 2a 2b4 2b5 3a1 3a2 3b2 3c1 3c2 3c4 3c6 3d 4a 4d 5a 5b 5c 5d

déc. 2020

4,885 $ -4,885 $

$70 nov. 2020

4,885 $ 74,442 $

79,31 $ oct. 2020

Total de retenues Total net moyen

$75 sept. 2020

0,625 $ 0,050 $ 0,060 $ 2,750 $ 1,400 $

août 2020

0,625 $ 0,050 $ 0,060 $ 2,750 $ 1,400 $

juil. 2020

Administration DFO Recherche DFO CanWest DHI Transport Expansion de marché

$80

juin 2020

*par hL

mai 2020

*par hL

$85

avril 2020

Excédent de quota

mars 2020

Intérieur quota

25 %

30 %

35 %

40 %

45 %

Classe 1a1 (comprend les classes 1a2, 1a3, 1c et 1d pour des raisons de confidentialité) Lait et boissons Classe 1b Crèmes liquides Classe 2a Yogourt, boissons à base de yogourt, kéfir et lassi Classe 2b4 (comprend les classes 2b1, 2b2 et 2b3 pour des raisons de confidentialité) Desserts laitiers frais, crème sure, milk shakes, et boissons nutritionnelles pour sportifs Classe 2b5 Crème glacée et yogourt glacé Classe 3a1 Fromages de spécialité Classe 3a2 Fromages en grains et fromages frais Classe 3b2 (comprend la classe 3b1 pour des raisons de confidentialité) Cheddar et cheddar vieilli Classe 3c1 Feta Classe 3c2 Asiago, gouda, havarti, parmesan et suisse Classe 3c4 (comprend les classes 3c3 et 3c5 pour des raisons de confidentialité) Brick, Colby, fermier, jack, Monterey jack, munster, fromage pour pizza, mozzarella pour pizza, et autres mozzarellas non couvertes dans la classe 3d. Classe 3c6 Panir Classe 3d Mozzarella utilisée strictement sur les pizzas fraîches par les établissements enregistrés auprès de la Commission canadienne du lait Classe 4a Beurre et poudres Classe 4d (comprend les classes 4b1, 4b2, 4c et 4m pour des raisons de confidentialité) Lait concentré pour la vente au détail, les pertes et l’alimentation animale Classe 5a Fromages destinés à la transformation Classe 5b Produits non fromagers destinés à la transformation Classe 5c Produits de confiserie Classe 5d Exportations prévues