HOOF TRIMMING AND CARE COURSE

An integrated approach to HOOF TRIMMING AND CARE using the Recommended Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Dairy Cattle \ Breed assessments \ with CQM and proAction.

www.vicshooftrimming.course.ca

519-274-0878

Consider adjusting lights in the dairy barn to increase milk production

• Change to a milk pre-cooler system to cool the milk before it enters the bulk milk tank

• Use variable speed drives (VSD) on vacuum and milk pumps on milking equipment

• Install a heat reclaimer

• Investigate availability of water recycling equipment

• Insulate hot water lines

• Avoid irrigating on hot, sunny or windy days

• Use a timer on the water heater so the water is the right temperature only when needed

• Flush the sediment from the hot water tank regularly

• Maximize natural ventilation in livestock barns wherever possible

• Clean ventilation fans

• Apply only the amount of irrigation water required for crop growth

• Consider an on-farm energy audit

Source: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)

We’re stewards of the land and the environment and it’s our responsibility to protect it and improve it for future generations.

To me, this is much bigger than our own neighbourhoods and communities – this is for the betterment of all. On our farm we recycle plastics, plant cover crops and practice no-till of the land. It’s provided great benefits in terms of soil structure but also in terms of yield. We have invested in technologies, such as robots in the barn and tech in our tractors, and the efficiencies make it affordable. It’s incredible how much more efficient you can be. There has to be a bottom-line net return for these initiatives but the actions also don’t have to be large. If every producer takes one small step, the overall effect is huge.

Read more from Mark on p. 29