Jackson family farm gains success shifting herd to grassfed program with help of their nutritionist
PUBLISHED BY
DAIRY FARMERS OF ONTARIO
6780 Campobello Road Mississauga, ON L5N 2L8
MANAGER, COMMUNICATIONS
Sharon Laidlaw sharon.laidlaw@milk.org
ADVERTISING
Pat Logan pat.logan@milk.org 519-788-1559
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Katrina Teimo
CONTRIBUTORS
ACER Consulting, Essi Evans, Animal Nutrition Association of Canada, Rachel Budd, Steve Roche, Maria Kalergis, Jeanine Moyer, Karen Daynard, Jean-Philippe Laroche, Veal Farmers of Ontario, Chris McCullough
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, ON L5N 2L8
Phone: (905) 821-8970
Fax: (905) 821-3160
Email: milkproducer@milk.org
Opinions expressed herein are those of the author and/or editor and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or policies of Dairy Farmers of Ontario. Publication of advertisements does not constitute endorsement or approval by Milk Producer or Dairy Farmers of Ontario of products or services advertised.
Milk Producer welcomes letters to the editor about magazine content.
*All marks owned by Dairy Farmers of Ontario.
WEBSITES & SOCIAL MEDIA
www.milkproducer.ca www.milk.org
Facebook: /OntarioDairy
X: @OntarioDairy
Instagram: @OntarioDairy
LinkedIn: dairy-farmers-of-ontario
ANIMAL NUTRITION
Jackson family farm gains success shifting herd to grassfed program with help of their nutritionist
improve cull cows’ fitness for
Dairy industry contributes to betterment of our farms and overall health
By Don Gordon, Board Member, Region 5, City of Kawartha Lakes, Durham Region, Peterborough, and York. Don is Second Vice-Chair of DFO’s Board, and also serves as Chair on the Marketing and Promotions Committee and is on the Research and Development Committee.
Dairy foods are recognized for their inherent nutrient richness and healthy dairy products start with highquality milk. Animal nutrition is just as important as human nutrition and ensuring the raw milk we supply to processors is of the highest quality should always be our aim.
On our farm, we pay close attention to feed and its composition. Like most dairy farmers, we have a TMR mixer and add ingredients we know will contribute to optimal herd health. We work with our nutritionist to use the best ingredients we can source so we can keep a happy and healthy herd. Like humans, cows need a balanced diet that contains all the necessary nutrients and vitamins necessary for growth and reproduction and to develop strong immunity. After all, a healthy cow produces healthy milk, which bodes well for human health.
In fact, there is much discussion
taking place on a global scale regarding dairy’s benefits to human health. Researchers continue to study how cows’ milk may positively affect our bones, heart health and blood pressure, as well as improve disease resistance.
A report released last year by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations showed incorporating milk products into a healthy diet can play a significant role in meeting nutrient requirements, which is important to promote optimal growth, development and health.
Researchers around the world continue to discover correlations on the benefits of dairy and human nutrition. In fact, new research shows milk and dairy products are not only nutrient-dense foods, but they supply much needed energy and high-quality protein with a range of essential micronutrients that benefit human health
in many ways.
It’s true we are what we eat, and it’s important we consume a healthy, balanced diet to ensure we get all the vitamins and nutrients we need to perform well. That is the message behind our marketing efforts on nutrition—to communicate about milk’s health benefits to consumers using sources they value and trust. It is one reason DFO launched its health care professionals (HCP) nutrition program last year to focus on providing credible information on nutrition and health practices to practitioners so they can inform their patients. The program has been very successful and a way to extend our reach beyond our usual ad campaigns.
From animal care to human health, I encourage you to read through this issue to learn how research in dairy nutrition is making a positive impact on our farms, our environment and our overall health and wellness.
Increase profits, not headaches
From ever-evolving regulations to dietary trends and global producers penetrating Canada’s dairy market, you face a myriad of challenges. Let MNP help you capitalize on new opportunities, streamline operations, and improve your bottom line.
Don Gordon
Stay Connected Stay Supported
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• Leukosis
• GestaLab
• Genetics
QA &
SHIPPING MILK
Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s (DFO) Field Services Representatives (FSRs) are not only milk inspectors, they are also your support for everything from milk quality troubleshooting to quota questions and paperwork, questions about policies and regulation, and anything else related to DFO and how it applies to your farm. Our 13 FSRs have seen and heard a lot. This column was created to use their collective expertise to share answers to some of the most common questions received.
Why is it important to ship milk on the last day of the month?
As a dairy producer, managing your milk shipments isn’t just about logistics—it’s about strategy. One key aspect often overlooked is the importance of shipping milk on the last pick up of the month. Here’s why this seemingly small detail can make a big difference in how your quota days are calculated and how you handle overproduction.
Quota days are used to calculate your monthly milk quota, which affects how much milk you can produce without facing penalties or reductions. If you don’t ship milk on the last pick up of the month, you will have fewer quota days.
If you’re not shipping milk on the last pickup of the month, you risk:
• Reduced quota days: your quota is calculated based on the number of days you shipped milk. By not shipping on the last day, you effectively reduce your quota days.
Managing overproduction
If you find yourself over quota, it’s better to manage the excess milk throughout the month rather than dumping a large quantity at the end of the month. Regular adjustments to your daily production can help you stay within your quota limits and avoid the need for large-scale dumping. This also helps keep shipments consistent and trucks full, to be delivered to the plant.
• Ship at least the minimum volume milk on the last pickup: even if you’re slightly over quota, it’s beneficial to ship at least a portion of your milk on the last pickup day. This small action can help you maintain better quota management and reduce the financial impact of dumping.
To optimize your milk shipping strategy, consider these tips:
• Monitor your quota daily: keep a close eye on your production and quota levels throughout the month. Regular monitoring helps you make informed decisions about when to ship and when to manage excess milk.
• Plan ahead: if you anticipate overproduction, adjust your daily milk production schedule accordingly to avoid large dumps at the end of the month.
• Utilize technology: use dairy management software to track your production and quota usage. These tools can provide valuable insights and help you make strategic decisions.
In conclusion
Shipping milk on the last pick up of the month might seem like a minor detail, but it plays a significant role in quota management and overall profitability. By understanding the impact of your shipping schedule and managing overproduction effectively, you can maintain better control over your quota days and avoid unnecessary penalties.
Remember, in dairy farming, every decision counts. Make sure the last pickup of the month is a part of your strategy, not just an afterthought. By doing so, you’ll be better positioned to maximize your quota days and keep your operation running smoothly.
Future article to come:
How do I calculate my quota days for the month?
SAFEGUARDING MILK’S QUALITY
Highlighting the importance of the Director of Regulatory Compliance’s role to administer the raw milk quality program in Ontario
By Alex Hamilton, Executive Director, Regulatory Compliance and Quality Assurance, Dairy Farmers of Ontario
ONE OF DAIRY FARMERS OF ONTARIO’S (DFO) key roles is to ensure the safety of milk produced on farms. To do this, DFO administers the raw milk quality (RMQ) program in Ontario, which includes inspecting dairy farms, testing milk and overseeing bulk tank milk graders (BTMGs).
Why does DFO do this and how is it carried out?
To understand why DFO administers the RMQ program, it is important to understand how it begun. In 1998, the then Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) designated DFO as a designated authority to implement Regulation 761. This provided DFO’s board the authority to implement the requirements under the regulations. A comprehensive administrative agreement was established through legislation between DFO and OMAFRA to manage the program. The agreement also states DFO’s board has the authority to appoint a Director of Regulatory Compliance (DRC) to implement the requirements of the regulations.
As DFO has authority over the administration of raw milk quality in Ontario, the DRC has a critical role to play in administrating the RMQ program, with the goal of improving and protecting milk quality
Authority and responsibilities of the DRC
When it comes to the overarching role and responsibilities of the DRC, DFO, under the RMQ, is accountable to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) for applying requirements under Ontario Regulation 761: Milk and Milk Products, which outlines the requirements producers must meet to sell raw milk to DFO. It also states DFO has authority for conducting farm inspections, raw milk and water quality testing and truck-tank inspections, administering penalty applications, as well as managing BTMG certification, recertification and monitoring.
It’s important to note, the DRC is appointed by DFO to oversee the administration of the RMQ program. Additionally, the DRC has the right to call a hearing if a producer or BTMG does not meet regulatory requirements.
How the DRC responds to on-farm disease concerns
With the authority and responsibility to ensure safe milk production and farm practices, DFO actively takes steps to identify, mitigate and control on-farm diseases to protect our cows, our producers, our food system and, by extension, our consumers. A serious animal disease outbreak can have significant impacts across the livestock industry.
It is DFO’s duty to report any reportable disease to OMAFA. As well, if any federal and/or provincial testing takes place, DFO has a responsibility to provide OMAFA with additional information when requested. This is an important point and one in which DFO is committed to following.
Conclusion
It is not by chance Ontario maintains some of the highest milk quality in the world. This is no doubt due to dairy farmers’ diligent efforts employed on their farms everyday and the high production standards enforced across the province. It is DFO’s and, by extension, the DRC’s goal to ensure on-farm practices continue to meet all quality specifications and regulations and ensure the health and vitality of Ontario’s dairy industry.
Should cows have extra protein in early lactation?
Studies show milk production, health and reproduction can benefit from higher protein concentration in early lactation
By Essi Evans, Ph.D., E&E Technical Advisory Services
RECENT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN PROVIDING COWS IN EARLY LACTATION WITH MORE PROTEIN, or protein that is better balanced to meet the demands of lactation, experienced improved lactation performance.
Early lactation is a period when cows produce the most milk, but often the production is at the expense of body tissue. Cows simply cannot eat enough to meet lactation demands. It is well known cows mobilize fat to meet energy needs, but they also mobilize some tissue protein, which is vital for gut tissue development and functioning of the immune system.
Several recent feeding trials have demonstrated both milk production, health and reproduction benefits are garnered when cows in early lactation are given diets with higher protein concentration. However, on farm it is often difficult to provide additional protein to select cows, particularly if a one-group total mixed ration is being used. Providing higher protein diets to all cows is an added expense. The answer may be to improve the quality of the protein.
An early lactation feeding trial conducted in Minnesota showed the quality of the protein may be as important or more important than providing extra protein.
An early lactation feeding trial conducted in Minnesota showed the quality of the protein may be as important or more important than providing extra protein. The researchers formulated a 15 per cent and 18 per cent protein diet where the main protein source was based on soybean protein, or a mixture of proteins that provided an amino acid profile that mimicked milk. As Table 1 shows, the lower protein, high quality diet provided results that were as good as the unbalanced, higher protein diet.
Canola meal is known to have an amino acid profile that is like that of casein. Researchers in Wisconsin demonstrated the balanced, lower protein canola meal diet allowed cows to produce more milk than the high-protein alternative.
Higher protein may result in improved milk yield in early lactation. However, amino acid balance may support production as well or better than adding more protein.
Table 1. Evaluation of protein levels and protein quality for early lactation cows.
Table 2. Evaluation of two protein sources for early lactation.
References
McCabe, C.J. and Boerman, J.P., 2020. Invited Review: Quantifying protein mobilization in dairy cows during the transition period. Applied Animal Science, 36(3), pp.389-396.
Table 1.
Bach, A., Huntington, G.B., Calsamiglia, S. and Stern, M.D., 2000. Nitrogen metabolism of early lactation cows fed diets with two different levels of protein and different amino acid profiles. Journal of Dairy Science, 83(11), pp.2585-2595.
Table 2.
Moore, S.A.E. and Kalscheur, K.F., 2020. Canola meal for cows in early lactation. Proceedings, 4-State Nutrition Conference, pp.145-147.
Canola meal Soybean
Taking It To The Next Level
Right Stuff’s dam lactation value is extreme – $17,532 making her the 2nd highest cow in the large herd and she does it living and competing with them daily!
Congratulations to his breeders Stanton’s for their foresight to develop a bull so easy to use that has all the “RIGHT STUFF”.
A modern sire with all the RIGHT STUFF
High LPI & Pro$
High Components
Faultless Conformation
Deep pedigree from proven high-ranking cows
Ideal Milk caseins
No horns ever
Long-awaited legislative change
The modernized feeds regulations have been published – what does this mean for dairy producers?
By Melissa Dumont, Executive Director, Animal Nutrition Association of Canada
THE LONG-AWAITED FEEDS REGULATIONS, 2024 were published on July 3, 2024, marking the most significant legislative change for the livestock feed sector in 40 years. Industry and government stakeholders worked collaboratively on modernizing the feeds regulations for over a decade to better align them with scientific advancements in animal nutrition, as well as farmers’ needs.
The scope of those who must comply with the feeds regulations is determined by the Feeds Act, which hasn’t changed with the recent regulatory update. Many livestock producers who grow, manufacture or mix feed on-farm for their own animals continue to be exempt from these regulatory requirements, which largely impact the commercial feed industry (e.g. feed mills, ingredient suppliers, consultants and retail outlets).
However, there are requirements some producers might need to implement depending on their on-farm feed activities.
As has always been the case, producers who make feed on farm must continue to ensure they do not use ingredients that are prohibited for use in feed in Canada (e.g. poultry manure) or ingredients that present a risk of harm to human health, animal health or the environment.
Do you sell or distribute feed, whether you manufacture it or not?
Under the Feeds Act, any person or business, including a dairy producer, who sells or distributes feed to another person is not exempt from the act and must therefore comply with the feeds regulations. The regulations include an array of requirements, such as:
• labelling standards
• hazard analysis and preventive control plans*
• traceability and recall procedures*
Industry and government stakeholders worked collaboratively on modernizing feeds regulations for over a decade to better align them with scientific advancements in animal nutrition, as well as farmers’ needs.
• record-keeping
• compositional and safety standards
• feed registration, if applicable
• licensing, if applicable**
Do you manufacture or mix feeds for your own livestock that contain medications?
The Feeds Act also stipulates producers who manufacture or mix feeds on farm for their own livestock that contain medications (including common medicating ingredients, such as Monensin and Rumensin) are not exempt from the act and therefore must comply with parts of the regulations, such as:
• hazard analysis and preventive control plans*
• record-keeping
• compositional and safety standards
• feed registration, if applicable
Not sure if your activities with medications and feed fall into this category? The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has offered some guidance1 on this subject, including the following examples of scenarios where the regulations would apply:
• You purchase a medicated feed and then use it to further manufacture a feed (e.g. mixing it with forages and silage in a TMR)
• You purchase a non-medicated feed and then you use it to further manufacture a feed that contains a medicating ingredient
• You purchase a medication (with or without a veterinary prescription) and then you use it to further make a medicated feed
Benefits of the Feeds Regulations, 2024 for all producers
Even if the regulatory requirements do not apply to you, the Feeds Regulations, 2024 can have a positive impact on your operation. These new regulations are expected to help bring innovative products to the Canadian market quicker, allow the addition of veterinary Health Products (VHPs) to feed, and provide flexible legislative instruments that enable compositional and safety standards for feeds to evolve with science.
References
*These requirements come into force on June 17, 2025
**These requirements come into force on Dec. 17, 2025
It’s a rare thing when a product that’s capable of delivering a real edge to dairy operations comes along. Enter Enogen. Designed for maximum yield potential, enhanced silage quality, and optimal starch digestibility1, Enogen silage corn has the right traits and genetics for your dairy farm.
To learn more, visit: syngenta.ca/enogen
New herd health options for dairy producers
MOST DAIRY FARMS FOLLOW A REGULAR HERD HEALTH SCHEDULE with a veterinarian, commonly using ultrasound every two weeks (or weekly for the largest herds) to diagnose pregnant cows. This long-standing practice is rarely questioned. However, with the introduction of more accessible and affordable reproductive technologies, it may be time to reconsider these assumptions.
The
economics of herd health
Exploring the economics of herd health for your farm is an important first step. The frequency of herd health checks is crucial. While it's great when all animals are pregnant, the main goal of herd health is to identify open cows.
$273 to $817, and a one per cent increase in pregnancy rate translates to CDN $48 to $89 per cow per year. Reducing days open and breeding cows sooner is vital.
You can estimate the value of identifying and rebreeding open cows by considering current and target pregnancy rates and cost of days open, which depends on herd health frequency. Farms with checks every two to four weeks can reduce days open by checking more frequently. For example, if 10 cows are found open biweekly, five would be found weekly, saving seven extra days open for those five cows in a two-week cycle. Knowing the opportunity costs of the current model allows you to evaluate other available options.
By Rachel Budd, DVM, Metzger Veterinary Services
Dr. John Fetrow from the University of Minnesota has developed models showing the impact of increased pregnancy rates on dairy farms. Each extra day open costs CDN $2.73 to $8.17, when considering milk production, days dry and calves born. The average pregnancy is valued between CDN
Traditional veterinary ultrasound
Traditional veterinary ultrasound is reliable and accurate. Factoring in call fees and hourly rates helps calculate the costs of vet checks versus alternative methods. Considering increased call fees and shorter,
Rolling Pen shown with Group Hutch
more frequent professional time charges can indicate if a weekly schedule is feasible.
Blood pregnancy testing
Blood pregnancy testing is another accessible option, detecting "pregnancyassociated proteins" produced by the fetus. Blood samples can be collected by farmers or veterinary technicians, with results available within 24 hours. Blood collection, done via the tail vein, requires minimal equipment. The main challenge is the lack of instant diagnosis, which can be managed by planning sampling around reproductive synch programs. There are no call fees or hourly rates, making it ideal for smaller herds or short preg check lists. Rapid tests are also available but are costlier.
If purchasing an ultrasound is not feasible, renting one is a good option. Rentals can be set up on a weekly, biweekly or as-needed basis. This is a good step for those who want to trial a machine before investing in a system.
Consider all options for your pregnancy checks. You are not locked into one model forever. Explore and find the best fit for your farm’s long-term success.
NEW PARTNERSHIP ENHANCES ACCESSIBILITY
In a move to make hands-on education and equipment more accessible, ViiSona-Ultrasounds and Education and Metzger's Veterinary Services have initiated a cooperative effort. This partnership offers specialized education for dairy producers in Canada and equipment rentals in Ontario, including follow-up herd health visits after training to ensure successful use of ultrasound for herd health.
On-farm ultrasound
Learning to use an ultrasound is not as difficult as it might seem. ViiSona offers RACE-approved dairy ultrasound courses in Canada that cover equipment basics, early pregnancy detection, ovarian interpretation and pregnancy staging. These two-day courses enable farmers to confidently detect 28- to 35-day pregnancies, twins, fetal demise, anomalies, ovarian cysts and CLs. With regular practice after training, most become proficient within a few weeks to a few months.
AMPLIFYING DAIRY
Using the dairy matrix to increase milk’s nutritional relevance in consumers’ minds
By Sharon Laidlaw, Communications Manager, Bita Farhang, Senior Advisor, Science and Sustainable Nutrition, Kimberly Romany, Director, Marketing, Dairy Farmers of Ontario
DEMONSTRATING MILK IS A WHOLESOME, nutritious, nutrientdense food that should be incorporated into our daily diets is a message consumers have come to know well thanks to Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s (DFO) marketing efforts.
With one of DFO’s goals to increase milk and dairy’s relevance in consumers’ minds, DFO’s marketing has been focused on reminding Ontarians of their love of milk by telling our story: that local, highquality, delicious and nutritious milk is for everybody.
But getting that message across the right way takes more than just promoting a good ad campaign. Communicating about milk’s health benefits requires a two-pronged approach: collaborating with partners who can help promote and amplify our nutrition messages, and using the latest dairy research to back our claims on how milk contributes to human health.
Leveraging correlations in dairy and human health benefits
Milk has long been touted as being a highly nutritious food, but that needs to be proven to the discerning consumer who is looking for both taste and function from the foods they eat. Researchers around the world continue to discover correlations on the benefits of dairy and human nutrition. In fact, research shows milk and dairy products are not only nutrient-dense foods, but they supply much needed energy and high-quality protein with a range of essential micronutrients that benefit human health in many ways.
Today, nutrition research focuses on the holistic impact of foods on health, rather than on individual nutrients. This means recognizing a food’s impact is shaped by the interaction of its components and structure, going beyond the sum of its individual nutrients (i.e., food matrix effect). Shifting the focus from nutrient-based recommendations to a more comprehensive dietary pattern-based approach may be more beneficial for health and may in turn encourage consumers to make the right food-based dietary choices.
The International Dairy Federation (IDF) recently published a series of fact sheets on the “dairy matrix,” where it explains the concept of the “dairy matrix health effect” with milk, cheese and yogurt.
The factsheet series delves into the emerging body of research explaining the health effect of milk, yogurt and cheese matrices. For instance, scientific evidence shows a decreased risk of colorectal cancer with increased milk consumption, which is attributed to factors like improved calcium absorption. Regarding the effects of milk consumption on bone health, experts believe the milk matrix exerts a positive effect on bones that goes beyond calcium intake. And in the case of cheese, studies shows either neutral or beneficial associations between cheese and cardiovascular and metabolic health outcomes, despite its saturated fat and sodium content. The fact sheets explore why fat in dairy foods behaves differently and has “neutral to beneficial links” to reducing risks of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure.
A new publication showcasing the global collaboration led by the IDF, 'The Dairy Matrix: Its Importance, Definition, and Current Application in the Context of Nutrition and Health,' was recently published as part of the special Nutrients issue on 'The Contribution of Dairy Foods to Human Health and Wellness.' Further research on the dairy matrix is also available in this publication, which is available at this link: https:// www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/17/2908.
Trusted sources help share messages about dairy’s goodness
But how best to get these messages across to consumers? One method DFO has found success with is by tapping into a trusted source—health care professionals (HCPs). Consumers trust their HCP to give them credible information on nutrition and health practices that benefit their health.
DFO launched its HCP nutrition program to focus on mining information from industry experts to inform the development and
distribution of credible, science-based resources that support the role of milk and dairy as vital components of a healthy lifestyle. The targeted program connects with Ontario HCP networks using established organizations and clinical platforms.
DFO uses the program to communicate the extensive nutritional benefits of milk derived from the dairy matrix mentioned above by proving the effects of food are more complex than single nutrients. Benefits derived from the dairy matrix, specifically milk’s 15 essential nutrients, have been developed into evidence-based resources and strategically delivered to the Ontario health-care community. Topics include:
• Heart Health Benefits of Milk
• Milk’s Role in Managing Hypertension
• Reducing Risk of Colorectal Cancer
• Reducing Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
• Milk’s Nutrients for Sport Nutrition
• Importance of Milk for Feeding Children
DFO partners with more than 550 health clinics across the province, delivering research packages for HCPs that provide practical advice for patients. In 2024, DFO extended its reach to specialty clinics for pediatric medicine. DFO resources are developed in collaboration with Ontario Registered Dietitian.
DFO also partners with Ontario Pharmacists Association and Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario for research development, professional webinars and digital communications. These networks are playing an increasingly critical role in the treatment and medical counsel of Ontario patients.
“Consumers know the importance of health, and this is just one way of reminding them. By keeping HCPs up to date on the latest
says Rosa Checchia, DFO’s chief marketing and communications officer.
DFO also reminded Ontarians just how nutritious milk is through an integrated nutrition campaign featuring its “Milk Glass” TV commercial. It leveraged the opportunity to reach consumers during a pivotal season where health and wellness messages are highly relevant, which enabled consumers to recognize the important nutritional role milk plays in their lives. Nutritional messaging was extended through social media (Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest), digital ads on health and wellness apps (example, MyFitnessPal), digital out-of-home via GymTVs and Union Station, public relations and influencers. To further amplify this campaign, which ran in January and February, a pop-up event was launched at Altea Active fitness facility in Toronto, Ont., offering limitededition smoothies packed with 15 essential nutrients found in milk, including nine grams of protein. This initiative emphasized the vital role milk plays in health and wellness routines.
Driving the message home
Continuously reminding consumers of the health benefits of milk has already paid off in meaningful and measurable ways but there’s still much work to be done to drive the message home, Checchia says, adding DFO values the partnerships it has established with key stakeholders and remains committed to delivering important science-
In a landmark decision in early 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the first ever qualified health claim for yogurt, which recognizes the potential link between regular consumption and a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.
A PROMISING STEP FORWARD
New Canadian research supports a health claim for dairy in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes
By Steve Roche, MSc, PhD, ACER Consulting, and Maria Kalergis, PhD, RD, CDE, Dairy Farmers of Canada
TYPE 2 DIABETES IS A CHRONIC DISEASE affecting roughly 11 per cent of Canadian adults (roughly three million people) and is a major (and costly) public health concern, with an estimated annual cost of nearly CDN $20 billion.
A large and strong body of scientific evidence has shown dairy products, especially yogurt and cheese, may reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. However, data derived from the Canadian population is limited. Previous research conducted under Dairy Research Cluster 2, led by Dr. Anthony Hanley from the University of Toronto, showed certain fatty acids, considered as biomarkers of dairy intake, were associated with reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. Three new research projects, as described below, will build on and extend this research and will be able to provide the level of evidence needed toward substantiation of a health claim submission related to dairy and prevention of type 2 diabetes.
Integrating yogurt into recommendations
In a landmark decision in early 2024, the U.S. Food and Dr.ug Administration (FDA) announced the first ever qualified health claim for yogurt, which recognizes the potential link between regular consumption and a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. The claim states “eating yogurt regularly, at least two cups (three servings) per week” may reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.” This
A large and strong body of scientific evidence has shown dairy products, especially yogurt and cheese, may reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
announcement is in response to a petition, led by Danone North America, that prompted the FDA to review data from more than 300,000 individuals on the linkages between yogurt consumption and the occurrence of type 2 diabetes. The result will be an integration of yogurt into recommendations that type 2 diabetes can often be managed through lifestyle changes, including increased physical activity and eating nutrient-rich foods.
This precedent may help pave the way for similar developments in Canada. In fact, this is a particular focus for Canadian researchers in three newly funded research projects by Dairy Farmers of Canada with international partners contributing ~$700,000 in additional funds for two of the projects. Collectively, these projects aim to increase the strength of the evidence available to support the approval of similar claims by Health Canada.
Research led by Dr. Anthony Hanley, at the University of Toronto, involves conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of the scientific evidence regarding the benefits of dairy consumption in reducing diabetes onset. They will also work with a unique cohort of roughly 700 adults to determine how total dairy/cheese/yogurt consumption relates to the risk of type 2 diabetes. This work is expected to lead to the submission of a health claim to Health Canada for yogurt and possibly cheese in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
A second study led Dr. Harvey Anderson at the University of Toronto will include both short- and long-term trials with the goal of understanding the benefits of adding dairy to adolescents’ and older adults’ diets to reduce the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. This research is also expected to support the submission of a health claim
to Health Canada in
type 2 diabetes.
One further study, led by the team of Dr. Jean-Philippe DrouinChartier at the Université Laval, is building on previous work on the interplay between dairy intake, metabolism and the genetic susceptibility to diabetes. The researchers are tapping into an existing database of 4,700 Canadian adults that have been followed for up to 13 years to explore the long-term impacts and relationships between dairy consumption and development of type 2 diabetes. This work is expected to provide strong evidence that any Canadian can benefit from consuming dairy products, regardless of their risk of type 2 diabetes. These researchers will also be conducting a comprehensive review of the literature and a meta-analysis to help raise the bar on the strength of evidence scientists have on dairy consumption and type 2 development, which is a key from Health Canada’s perspective when it comes to accepting health claims.
Communicating the benefits of dairy
Collectively, these research studies represent a promising step toward confirming the health benefits of dairy consumption in preventing type 2 diabetes for Canadians. This type of claim will help in communicating the benefits of dairy in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and would encourage Canadians to incorporate dairy into their diets. With solid scientific backing, these efforts may lead to widespread acceptance and integration of dairy products into dietary recommendations, ultimately benefiting millions of Canadians at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
How Chevalley Improved Animal Care
Lessons learned from Ontario dairy farmers
MOOSE CREEK, ONTARIO
HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM, FRANÇOIS AND ANNIK, own and operate their family dairy farm, Chevalley. The 80-cow, tiestall facility has been around for more than two decades and has been updated over the years to provide new, wider stalls, an extended barn for an improved dry cow and heifer area, and a fully automatic feeding system. Annik and François take pride in their work and their cows, seeing animal welfare as a priority that not only improves cow comfort, but production as well.
As Ontario dairy farmers, Annik and François participate in the proAction program and receive regular on-farm assessments like all other farmers across Canada. Chevalley was identified as a farm that showed substantial improvement in reducing lameness in their herd over two proAction assessments. Here are some of Annik and François’ perspectives on animal care as Ontario dairy farmers and the on-farm changes they made to improve the health of their dairy herd.
Animal care is standard practice
At Chevalley, prioritizing animal care leads to improved animal welfare and increased production. Making on-farm changes to improve cow comfort leads to better production outcomes and positive results overall. For Annik and François, prioritizing cow comfort and animal welfare is standard practice, and as they put it, simply the right thing to do. Their first proAction animal care assessment in 2011 identified lameness could be improved in Annik and François’ herd. While they already knew this was an area for improvement, François and Annik decided to make some on-farm changes to address other challenges as well, such as neck and hock injuries, reducing heat stress and improving overall cow comfort.
Redesigning the barn to prioritize cow comfort
Along with some smaller-scale changes, the stalls at Chevalley were redesigned to maximize the comfort of their tiestall cows.
The number of stalls in the barn was reduced to allow for bigger stalls that could better fit their cows. Increasing the stall size showed some improvement, but issues with hocks and feet were still present, so they decided to switch their mats for new waterbeds. This showed a tremendous improvement, with cows recovering quicker from lameness, reducing the incidence of lameness and hock injuries, and improving the overall comfort of the cows. While it wasn’t feasible to put waterbeds in every stall, François and Annik took a strategic approach to cow housing to maximize the impact of this new bedding system. Older cows, dry cows and cows that showed signs of lameness were prioritized to be housed on the waterbeds. François and Annik felt the wider stalls, new waterbeds and strategic housing drastically improved the health of their animals, stating these changes alone improved cow longevity.
A holistic approach to improving cow comfort
The proAction Assessment in 2011 identified issues with lameness; however, François and Annik knew they could take things a step further to improve all aspects of animal care on their farm. Improving cow comfort includes looking at the whole picture, so while the changes made to stalls, mats and cattle housing improved lameness and hock injuries, Annik and François noticed improvements could still be made.
Due to the placement of the neck rail in their stalls, the cows were experiencing neck injuries that needed to be addressed. François and Annik looked to other tiestall systems to find a solution for this problem but didn’t have any luck. It wasn’t until they went to see a freestall barn that they came up with the idea of using a flexible bar for their neck rails. The freestall farm they visited was using Flex Stalls, a new method of housing that uses flexible green tubes for stall dividers. François and Annik thought this innovative system would work well in their tiestall barn, so they replaced their neck rails with the flexible tubes and saw improvements immediately. The flexibility of the new rails allowed larger cows to more easily move around, access food and adjust within the stall. They were able to remove
At Chevalley, prioritizing animal care leads to improved animal welfare and increased production.
their electric trainers and immediately saw a reduction in the number of neck injuries from cows rubbing and pushing on the rail. When summer came, the tunnel ventilation system in the barn wasn’t doing enough to keep the cows cool. Again, François and Annik took inspiration from a freestall system and installed water jets, which kept their cows cool and improved cow comfort right away.
Seeing the benefits
The changes made on-farm showed results immediately in the way of increased production and improved animal health. François and Annik noted that after making improvements to their farm, they not only saw a reduction in lameness, and hock and neck injuries, but other issues also resolved themselves. Now that the cows had bigger stalls, they saw fewer down cows, the cows were more comfortable and longevity was improved. Since the cows were happier and healthier, they were doing better over more lactations, which allowed Annik and François the ability to have more control over which cows remained or left the herd. Not only was production greatly improved, but the replacement rate on the farm decreased as well. Being able to keep cows for longer
and reducing the number of replacements needed ended up improving calf health and welfare as well since they did not experience overcrowding in their calf area any longer. While some of the benefits from these changes were seen immediately, others took a few years to take effect. Some changes, such as renovating the stalls, were more of a time and financial investment, whereas other changes, like the flex bars, were a quicker and less expensive project. François and Annik made these improvements to their farm over a number of years, highlighting the importance of continuous improvement and making steady progress over time.
Taking inspiration from other farmers
Other farmers were a huge help for Annik and François when it came to getting inspiration for how to make improvements on their farm. Visiting other farms and discussing things with other farmers was an important part of the process and helped inspire some of the changes François and Annik ended up implementing on their farm. Annik and François are also part of a farm management group, which includes 75 other farmers they can chat with and receive recommendations from. This group has allowed them to compare their farm to others and benchmark how well they are doing compared to their peers. Through this process, Annik and François noticed they
DECISIONS SUPPORTED BY SCIENCE
Proper housing design, such as stalls with ample space and properly positioned tie rails and neck rails, as well as the use of deep bedding, are factors that can help to reduce the prevalence of injuries. Longer and wider stalls have been associated with increased cattle lying times and decreased injuries.
Housing management practices are critical factors for lameness. This includes stall design, bedding type, stall base and bedding depth. Small stalls with large cows have been associated with greater lameness.
Low neck-rails (< 140 cm in height) have been associated with a higher prevalence of injuries.
were getting rid of more cows and had higher vet expenses than some of their peers, which inspired them to look for opportunities to make a change.
When it comes to recommendations for other farmers, Annik and François say the best and easiest way to get ideas about how to improve your farm is to talk to other farmers about their experiences, the cost of certain elements and their perspectives on what has worked for them in the past. They have also built strong relationships with their veterinarian and nutritionist, whom they feel have been great supports throughout this journey.
At Chevalley, continuous improvement has been a goal for many years, with cow comfort being a priority above it all. Annik and François have worked diligently over the years to ensure they are providing the best care possible to their cows, while also working to improve their system and maximize their production. Keeping animal care at the forefront and leaning on other producers in their community have been key aspects for François and Annik on their journey to continuous improvement and cow comfort.
This project was developed by ACER Consulting and funded and supported by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, Dairy Farmers of Ontario and the University of Guelph.
References
“Decisions supported by science” statements are supported by the Lameness and Injuries section of the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Dairy Cattle: Review of Scientific Research on Priority Issues. 2020.
Free Mental Health Training for the Agricultural Community
Jackson family farm gains success shifting herd to grassfed program with help of their nutritionist
FOCUS ON NUTRITION
By Jeanine Moyer
Fourth-generation dairy farmers, Jim and Jo-Anne Jackson, along with their son, Josh, are grateful for the opportunity to raise their family in their small, closely knit farm community while having the opportunity to expand their land base and farm operation over the years.
FARMING IN NORTHERN ONTARIO HAS ITS BENEFITS. Fourth-generation dairy farmers, Jim and Jo-Anne Jackson, along with their son, Josh, are grateful for the opportunity to raise their family in their small, closely knit farm community while having the opportunity to expand their land base and farm operation over the years.
Jim points to reasonable land prices as a local advantage and, more recently, the farm’s proximity to Thornloe Cheese has provided new herd management and economic opportunities for Jackson Valley Farm with the grassfed milk program.
When Thornloe Cheese, located just down the road from the farm, put out a call to source more milk under their grassfed program in 2021, the Jackson’s didn’t hesitate to sign up. Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s grassfed program started in 2017. There are currently 44 grassfed producers in Ontario, including nine that are grass-fed organic and 35 that are grass-fed conventional.
Pasturing dairy cows was second nature for
Jim, saying “we were running our milk cows on pasture when we first bought the farm from my dad in 1996, and we have the land, so switching to a grassfed program made sense for our herd and farm operation.”
The Jacksons milk 95 registered Holsteins with two Lely robotic milkers. With the help of one full-time employee and two part-time students, the family also manage 1,100 acres, cropping 500 acres and pasturing 70 acres. In 2019, the family built a new freestall barn and transitioned to milking with robots.
THE CHANGE WAS EASY
“We’ve always utilized pasture for our dry cows and heifers, so it was easy to add our milking cows,” Jim says. The cows were first turned out on pasture in May 2021, where they have access to pasture for six months of the year. They also have free access to the robotic milkers and total mixed ration (TMR) feed in the barn at all times.
“Transitioning to a grassfed nutritional program was also easy on the cows,” says Jim, explaining the higher forage ration
With the help of one full-time employee and two part-time students, the family also manage
We’ve always utilized pasture heifers, so it was easy to add
– Jim Jackson
works well for his herd. The Jacksons worked closely with their nutritionist and herd health team to manage the transition. The biggest change in their ration was the transition from corn silage to a higher grass forage ration and a reduction in grain.
Under the grassfed program requirements, the cows receive no more than 25 per cent grain. Corn silage and roasted beans are prohibited. All forages are stored in ag bags on the Jackson farm and are routinely tested for moisture and feed quality.
Jim admits milk production dropped slightly as the herd adjusted to the new program but is happy if they can maintain a 35-kilogram average. He notes this production level may be lower when compared with standard, or non-grassfed rations, but the Jackson’s are pleased with their newly adjusted production levels. Jo-Anne explains the milk produced under the program contains a six-to-three Omega ratio and that, as a result of the higher pasture and forage content, they do lose some butterfat.
While the family was concerned about how the nutritional change would impact herd reproduction rates, they are happy to say conception rates were not affected.
“The grassfed program has really worked well for our herd, and we’re proud to produce milk for premium dairy food products,” JoAnne says.
The increased reliance on pasture means additional management and labour to
pasture for our dry cows and add our milking cows
maintain fences and keep the pastures healthy, but the Jacksons have made the adjustments seamlessly and are happy to utilize their unique northern Ontario surroundings.
UNCERTAIN FUTURE
The premiums associated with the grassfed program were the initial appeal for the Jacksons, but they’ve since realized additional benefits, such as operational cost savings and enhancements to their farm’s environmental sustainability.
Jim notes immediate savings were seen with
the reduction of grain and feed supplement requirements. Using and maintaining their pastures also contributes to the sustainability of their land and farm.
“Every morning, I wake up and I love what I see out my window,” Jim says. “We’ve built a farm that serves our community and provides a place to welcome our family home.”
Jim says they’ve had a positive experience managing their herd’s nutrition with this approach and would be happy to continue, but unfortunately, the future of the Thornloe
Cheese grassfed program is uncertain since Gay Lea is in the process of selling the cheese plant to Triple “A” Cheese. Gay Lea has notified Temiskaming farmers, including the Jacksons, Thornloe will stop taking grassfed milk in October 2024 with Gay Lea continuing to pay grassfed premiums to producers until March 2025.
Josh, who is a member of the Temiskaming milk committee, says he and his family have appreciated the opportunity to contribute to the dairy industry and look forward to doing so for years to come despite the change with Thornloe Cheese’s sale.
Every morning, I wake up and I love what I see out my window. We’ve built a farm that serves our community and provides a place to welcome our family home.
– Jim Jackson
MORE FEED, PLEASE
How feeding cows for longer may help improve cull cows’ fitness for transportation
By Karen Daynard, Outreach Coordinator, Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph
THE DECISION TO CULL A COW is often a tough one, both on the farmer and on the cow. Culled cows are typically sent to an auction, sold, then transported to slaughter, a process which can take anywhere from three to seven days. During this period, the animals encounter many stresses, such as co-mingling, novel environments, handling and repeated loading and unloading. In addition to the stressors encountered, cull cows often arrive at auction with a high prevalence of lameness, low body condition score (BCS), injuries and swollen udders, all of which may have been exacerbated by transportation.
A recently completed study under the leadership of Dr. Todd Duffield at the Ontario Veterinary College demonstrated giving cull cows time to dry-off and gain some weight improved their readiness to handle the stress of transportation.
What if though, the welfare of cull cows could be improved by feeding them for a few extra weeks? A recently completed study under the leadership of Dr. Todd Duffield at the Ontario Veterinary College demonstrated giving cull cows time to dry-off and gain some weight improved their readiness to handle the stress of transportation.
In this project, 45 cull cows were dried off, half of which were fed for 60 extra days, with the rest going directly to slaughter. All cows were assessed for welfare at the beginning for lameness, body condition, hock lesions, udder engorgement and body weight. The ‘fed’ cows were reassessed weekly, up until the day before slaughter. Over the feeding period, ‘fed’ cows gained an average of 116.9 kilograms, increased their BSC by 1.2 points and successfully dried off their udders (udders that are not milked at regular intervals, swell and have intramammary pressure increases leading to tissue damage, discomfort and pain).
Though cows in the fed group and direct-to-auction group did not differ in terms of severe hock lesions at the end of the trial, the feeding period was able to reduce the severity of existing hock lesions. This may be due to the cows not getting up as often because of not being milked.
Duffield suggests farmers should look at this extra feeding on an individual cow level since it wouldn’t benefit cows that already have healthy BCS and are dried off. For thin cows though, this could be an opportunity to fatten them before slaughter. He also cautions it has to make economical sense since not everyone has the additional space, time or feed to house unproductive cows for an additional period of time, although he notes TMR sweepings could be used for feed.
Duffield was also surprised at how quickly the cows gained weight, as well as the increase in meat quality (to the equivalent of AAA+ prime) – something to be considered for farmers directly selling their own meat.
What’s next? Duffield would like to do a meat quality/preference tasting trial, as well as a full cost/benefit analysis. He’s also hoping to convince a few farmers to try this on their farms and get a more realistic look at the benefits of delayed shipping since the study was done in a research centre.
This research was supported by the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance Research Program of the University of Guelph, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, and Dairy Farmers of Ontario.
Ordering tags just got easier! The DairyTrace Portal was updated and you can now order tags directly. The portal allows you to:
• Report traceability events
• View & edit submitted events
• Review & download your proAction® validation report
• Access your premise address book
Reducing the amount of mycotoxins
If you want to solve your mycotoxin problems, prevention is the simplest and least expensive strategy
By Jean-Philippe Laroche, agr., M. Sc., Lactanet
THE PRESENCE OF MYCOTOXINS IN SILAGE can lead to considerable financial losses for a dairy farm. Increased veterinary costs, reduced productivity, reproductive problems, exorbitant cost of additives to reduce the negative impact on cows ... is it possible to prevent these problems?
The main mycotoxins that can affect dairy cattle are deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEA) and T-2/HT-2. These mycotoxins are produced by molds of the genus Fusarium, which mainly originate from plant diseases in corn and small grain cereals. The most important diseases caused by Fusarium in Canada are Gibberella ear rot, Gibberella stalk rot and Fusarium head blight.
Rain plays an important role in the lifecycle of these diseases. First, Fusarium needs rain to produce spores, and these can travel several kilometres to infect a corn or cereal plant. Once the infected plant has been harvested, contaminated residues are left on the ground. The following year, rainfall will again contribute to disease spread by creating spore-containing splashes, which can infect a susceptible plant that has grown among contaminated residues.
Short-term strategies: identify and reduce the impact
When clinical signs are observed in your animals (see Figure 1), you can test their diet to determine whether the symptoms are indeed caused by mycotoxins. You can also test feeds to identify a problematic ingredient. The challenge with those types of analyses is obtaining a sample that is representative of the actual mycotoxin concentration throughout existing feedstocks. Therefore, the rigor of the sampling process is a crucial step in obtaining relevant results.
Once it has been confirmed mycotoxins have reached worrying levels, a few solutions can be considered, such as replacing contaminated feed, reducing its inclusion rate in a herd’s diet or using a feed additive with the ability to bind specific mycotoxins. Unfortunately, these solutions can be difficult to apply, costly and not always effective. Therefore, plans should also be put in place to prevent the long-term persistence of mycotoxin issues.
Long-term strategies: a focus on prevention
Once the problem has been identified and short-term solutions found, it’s important to determine how to
prevent the problem in future years. In a study published in 2021, a group of international experts came together to discuss managing mycotoxin-related problems. They had to answer the following question, which strategies/measures are effective for minimizing
“...reduced fetching and improved robot attachment times. That’s huge!”
— Josh Lingen
“The Udder Comfort™ pre-fresh groups came in with udders full of milk, but so soft. Robot attachments are faster and fetching time has been cut by 70% on rst lactations. That’s huge, making the robots more ef cient,” says Josh Lingen, Balaton, Minnesota.
They milk 360 cows in 5 robots, making 40kgs of 5.2 fat milk. They used Udder Comfort routinely after calving for 5 years and started pre-fresh applications 2 years ago. “We always saw results in quality and performance. Now we see additional bene ts in how our heifers come into the robot barns,” Josh explains.
“We apply Udder Comfort Spray to our pre-fresh 2-year-old groups in headlocks 1x/day for a week before calving. The biggest thing we see is how this reduced fetching and improved robot attachment times. I absolutely love this product!”
Figure 1. Clinical signs associated with the main mycotoxins in cattle.
• Oxford Cattle Company is working with genetic companies to select sires for use in our guaranteed calf buy back program.
• We are now pleased to announce that we are interested in buying your holstein bull calves and can include them in your regular pick up. We will take calves that are over 92 lbs and 10 days old. The price will be negotiated on a weekly basis.
• Presently serving southwestern Ontario region and Ottawa region. •
DON and ZEA contamination in maize during crop growth (preharvest)? Several strategies were proposed and then ranked according to their importance (see Figure 2).
Of the 15 strategies on the list, several can be grouped together. Hybrid choice alone accounted for 36 per cent of votes (host resistance, locally adapted, earliness). The absence of contaminated residues accounted for 20 per cent of votes (crop rotation, residue management, tillage). These strategies alone are by far the most important, accounting for 56 per cent of votes.
Genetics and absence of contaminated residues: two essentials
One important question is whether or not all corn hybrids sold have a good level of resistance to Gibberella ear rot. Researchers have studied the question and shown there is considerable variability in DON levels among corn hybrids grown in Ontario. According to the Ontario Corn Hybrid DON Screening Trials, the most susceptible commercial hybrid had almost 15 times more DON than the least susceptible hybrid in 2023. No wonder experts place so much importance on the choice of hybrid.
But how can you check the level of resistance to Gibberella ear rot? In Ontario, you can consult the Ontario Corn Hybrid DON Screening Trials 2023 Report or ask your seed representative. Most companies evaluate their hybrids’ resistance to this disease.
Unfortunately, others either don't report the information or evaluate very general indicators that are not specific to Gibberella ear rot. If your business is at high risk of mycotoxins and your supplier doesn’t have the information, you should ask yourself whether you can really do without this information.
For small grain cereal varieties, trials are carried out every year by the Ontario Cereal Crop Committee. Several indicators are evaluated, including resistance to Fusarium head blight. Naturally, don’t forget to choose a hybrid or variety that is suited to your conditions, and that won’t be too late in maturing.
When it comes to crop residues, there are two main strategies to consider: The first is to ensure a rotation that avoids the continuous presence of disease-susceptible crops. If this is not possible, the other option is to bury the residues of a susceptible crop before sowing another susceptible crop in the same field. To be effective, it must be tilled. Obviously, tillage is not an optimal strategy for farms wishing to improve soil health. If you’re in this situation, you’ll need to carefully consider your options and balance their costs and benefits to determine how best to proceed.
To conclude, if you want to solve your mycotoxin problems, prevention is the simplest and least expensive strategy.
Figure 2. Effective strategies to minimize DON and ZEA in corn before harvest (% of votes).
complete peace of mind for lasting happiness.
Let us show you the quality of our GEA DairyRobot R9500 milking robot by providing complete peace of mind - a Full 5 Year Warranty*!
From now through September 30th, 2024, when purchasing the DairyRobot R9500, GEA is offering its very own attractive 5 Year Warranty* as a proof that GEA is undoubtedly standing behind its equipment. This offer is applicable on each DairyRobot R9500 that’s purchased.
Get in touch with your authorized GEA dealer for all details, terms and conditions.
GEA’s proven In-Liner Everything technology performs every step of the milking process in a single attachment.
BRITISH COLOMBIA
Pacific Dairy Centre Ltd.
Chilliwack — 604 852-9020
ALBERTA
Dairy Lane Systems Alberta
Leduc: 780 986-5600
Blackfalds: 587 797-4521
Lethbridge: 587 787-4145
Lethbridge Dairy Mart Ltd. Lethbridge — 888 329-6202 Red Deer — 403 406-7344
SASKATCHEWAN
Dairy Lane Systems Saskatchewan Warman — 306 242-5850
Emerald Park — 306 721-6844
MANITOBA
Tytech Grand Pointe — 204 770-4898
ONTARIO
Conestogo Agri Systems Inc. Alma — 519 638-3022
Dairy Lane Systems Komoka — 519 666-1404
Lawrence’s Dairy Supply Inc. Moose Creek — 6 13 538-2559
McCann Farm Automation Ltd. Seeley’s Bay — 613 382-7411
Performance Dairy Centre Inc. Embro — 519 423-9119
Wood’s Dairy Source Keene 705 295-3247
ATLANTIC PROVINCES
Atlantic Dairy Tech, Inc.
AMS Sub-dealer for Sheehy Entreprises Ltd. Charlottetown, PE — 902 368-1719
Sheehy Entreprises Ltd.
Shubenacadie, NS — 902 758-2002
Lower Queensbury, NB — 506 478-4878
DFC IN ACTION
SEPTEMBER 2024
THE IMPORTANCE OF REDUCING ANTIMICROBIAL RELIANCE
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), when bacteria no longer respond to antibiotics, is a top human health risk. It’s something directly affecting farmers and farm workers, who are constantly exposed to bacteria through their livestock.
At Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC)’s recent Annual General Meeting (AGM), Daniel Lefebvre, Chief Operations Officer of Lactanet and Chief Science Advisor to the CEO at DFC, chaired a panel on this crucial topic. Featuring special guests Dr. Herman Barkema, Professor Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases at the University of Calgary, veterinarian Dr. Rob Tremblay, and dairy farmer and former DFC Board representative Dave Taylor, the panel discussed antimicrobial use (AMU) and the importance of reducing its reliance.
“Internationally, the costs of antimicrobial resistance are higher than HIV/AIDS and malaria combined,” said Dr. Barkema. Each year, 18,000 hospitalized patients in Canada acquire AMR infections; 4.95 million people around the world die annually from such infections, with figures increasing every year.
The factors behind the increasing rates of AMR include higher use of antibiotics in both human and livestock health management, the sale of medications without medical supervision, and the lack of proper adherence to medical and veterinarian advice.
82% of antimicrobials distributed in Canada are intended for production animals; adjusted for populations and the size of animals, this means 1.8 times more antimicrobials were used in animals than in humans. These can enter the environment through the cow’s urine and manure, and the biggest path of transmission for the public is not through pasteurized milk or beef sold at the grocery store, but through groundwater.
“From the studies [the University of Calgary] did for the [World Health Organization], it was clear that if we reduce the use of antibiotics in animals, the resistance in humans goes down,” said Dr. Barkema. He shared data showing that the number of infections among farmers and farmworkers also decreases by 29%.
Dr. Tremblay detailed changes that have occurred in Canada since 2019 regarding AMU and AMR. In February of that year, Quebec restricted treating anim al s with antibacteria l drugs deemed very high in importance to humans, without extensive testing or using alternatives when available.
In the five years since this regulation was made, studies show that more farmers and veterinarians reduced al l antibiotic treatments. “Because dairy farmers recog nize that they have an obligation from an economic standpoint as well as from a welfare standpoint, there was a switch to more preventative strategies,” said Dr. Tremblay. “They said ‘we’re going to aggressively go out and reduce the risk of our animals having the disease.’ It was a great side benefit.”
Dave Taylor, who learned much about AMR through his work at DFC and as a board member at Animal Health Canada, became more and more aware of the use of antibiotics on his own farm. “When we need antibiotics as the only cure, or those we love need them – even our cows and calves – we want those antibiotics to be available and to work to restore health.”
Taylor highlighted focusing on preventative tactics related to pre- and post-calving, calf care, foot care, mastitis, and respiratory disease, as well as closely adhering to labels for medicinal dosage. He said much of the industry’s progress comes down to working with a great veterinarian and being aware of the average farmer’s ability to make change towards this issue.
D r. Barkema concluded by applaud ing farmers like Taylo r fo r how they have successfully changed their approaches to treating illnesses such as mastitis in consideration of AMR. “You have done a great job by bringing the somatic cell count down, and it was all through prevention.”
Dairy Farmers of Canada is a proud partner of Animal Health Canada. We’re joined by government and agricultural partners to support them in creating a cohesive, responsive system for the health and welfare of farmed animals. Learn more at AMRaction.ca
From left to right: Daniel Lefebvre, Dr. Herman Barkema, Dr. Rob Tremblay, and Dave Taylor.
P5 MESSAGE – QUOTA
INCREASE SEPTEMBER AND FALL INCENTIVE DAYS – SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER - ORGANIC
TO ENSURE A CONTINUED PRODUCTION LEVEL needed to meet the current and anticipated demand, the P5 boards agreed to increase the saleable quota allocated to P5 producers by one per cent on Sept. 1, 2024.
P5 growth has reached 3.1 per cent since the beginning of the 2024 calendar year, which is a higher level than the 2.6 per cent growth projected by the CDC’s optimistic model for the 12-month period of 2024. Imports have also been lower than anticipated for the 2023-24 dairy year. Market demand is anticipated to continue to be strong during the remainder of the calendar and 2024-25 dairy year.
“Processing capacity to handle raw and skim milk has been less of a concern in recent months which gave P5 boards more confidence to send a longer-term production signal,” says Patrice Dubé, Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s chief economics and policy development officer. “The over quota penalty at the national pool level that has been a source of concern in recent months has been avoided in July 2024, which gives the P5 more room to send a stronger production signal.”
Total kilograms of butterfat produced at the P5 level have been lower than expected in recent months and pretty much on par with the same months in 2023. With production going in the opposite direction than demand, and some of the butter and cheese stocks expected to be utilized to meet the typically strong fall demand, sending a longer-term production signal became the logical thing to do to maintain some of the fall production momentum after the end of the fall incentive days period.
In July 2024, butter stocks reached 37,420 tonnes, up from June by 600 tonnes. July butter stock levels are higher compared to July 2023.
Cheese stock levels for July 2024 were at 100,271 tonnes, which is higher compared to June by 248 tonnes and the lowest they have
The following table summarizes the incentive days:
August 2024 2 0
September 2024 3 3
October 2024 3 3
November 2024 2 2
December 2024
been for the same month in at least three years. For the 52-weeks ending June 29, 2024, sales for fluid milk, fluid cream, yogurt, ice cream, cheese and butter increased/ decreased by -0.4, 0.4, 2.5, 1.0, 2.1 and 3.0 per cent, respectively, compared with July 1, 2023.
Organic Milk
Separately, due to improvements in the organic utilization rate through the spring and summer of 2024, as well as some expected small increases in demand in the fall of 2024, the DFO board announced three incentive days for organic producers in each of the months of September and October and two incentive days in November, to be issued on a non-cumulative basis. This will provide the same incentive days to all producers, organic and conventional, in Ontario for the months of September to November 2024.
The DFO's board will continue to monitor the market demand for organic milk, as well as the utilization rate, impact on premium, and processor commitment volumes, and will continue to review and adapt production signals to address organic market changes, as required.
A
monthly recap of markets and production trends in Canada and Ontario
CANADIAN REQUIREMENTS AND PRODUCTION
Canadian butterfat requirements in kilograms and actual butterfat production across the P10.
12-month requirements (in millions of kilograms) 12-month production (in millions of kilograms)
412.2
433.3
Canadian production has increased by 2.0 per cent over the previous 12 months, and requirements have increased by 4.0 per cent over the previous 12 months.
This graph shows Ontario’s SNF-BF ratio for the last 12 months.
NATIONAL RETAIL SALES
Average increase in retail sales for dairy products sold in Ontario and the dairy product’s share of the total market sales, including at hotels, restaurants and institutions.
As of March 26, 2022
* Source: AC Nielsen & StatsCan NOTE: There is a two-month lag in the national retail sales data.
• To ensure a continued production level needed to meet the current and anticipated demand, the P5 boards agreed to increase the saleable quota allocated to P5 producers by one per cent on Sept. 1, 2024;
• Separately, due to improvements in the organic utilization rate through the spring and summer of 2024, as well as some expected small increases in demand in the fall of 2024, the DFO board announces 3 incentive days for organic producers in each of the months of September and October and two incentive days in November;
• In July 2024, butter stocks reached 37,420 tonnes, up from June by 600 tonnes. July butter stock levels are higher compared with July 2023.
ONTARIO UTILIZATION
202407
Percentage of the total milk produced in Ontario that was used to produce dairy products.
Fluid Milk & Cream
Butter & Powders
Yogurt and Ice Cream Cheese
Skim Milk Non Marketed
July 2024
P10 UTILIZATION BY CLASS
For July 2024 (kg of butterfat/kg of solids non-fat)
*There is a two-month lag reporting these figures
Class 5c Confectionery products % Butterfat % Solids non-fat
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
ONTARIO MONTHLY PRODUCER AVERAGE GROSS BLEND PRICE
A total 3,178 producers sold milk to DFO in July compared with 3,220 a year earlier.
For July 2024
DEDUCTIONS,
$ 94.15
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).
*There is a two-month lag reporting these figures * These figures are based on Ontario’s average composition for July 2024 of 4.1048
P5: $94.05 July
WMP: $92.04
3.1546
and 5.9398
other solids, rounded to the nearest cent.
U.S. CLASS PRICES
The August 2024 Class III Price, US$20.66 per hundredweight, is equivalent to C$63.46 per hectolitre. This equivalent is based on the exchange rate US$1 = C$ 1.35317 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.
Source: USDA
Co-ordinated by Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s communications and economics divisions. Questions? Please email questions@milk.org.
STAY UP TO DATE!
Weekly Update email newsletter every Friday for Ontario dairy producers.
Milk Producer magazine is the voice of Ontario dairy producers. Subscribe for free or read online at www.milkproducer.ca.
Dairy Farmer Update provides updates with the monthly milk cheque.
Producer Dashboard , a secure platform behind your password on MMS that contains important news, updates and forms.
www.milk.org
Facebook: /OntarioDairy
Twitter: @OntarioDairy
Instagram: @OntarioDairy
LinkedIn: /company/Dairy-Farmers-of-Ontario
Scan this QR code to see in action the new GEA XT suspension.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Mountain View Electric Ltd.
Enderby — 250 838-6455
Pacific Dairy Centre Ltd.
Chilliwack — 604 852-9020
ALBERTA
Dairy Lane Systems
Leduc: 780 986-5600
Blackfalds: 587 797-4521
Lethbridge: 587 787-4145
Lethbridge Dairy Mart Ltd.
Lethbridge — 888 329-6202
Red Deer — 403 406-7344
xt suspension for improved driveability
Do you want a uniform weight distribution while improving tractor traction? Have you ever wished for a superior suspension? The GEA XT suspension is what you have always wished for, to respond to extreme terrain conditions.
• Wider axles for next level stability
• Three independent hydraulic circuits
• Extended drawbar travel for independent movement of the tractor and spreader (Patent pending).
You want the best. You need the GEA XT suspension.
SASKATCHEWAN
Dairy Lane Systems
Warman — 306 242-5850
Emerald Park — 306 721-6844
MANITOBA / NW ONTARIO
Penner Farm Services Ltd.
Blumenort — 204 326-3781
Thunder Bay ON – 800 461-9333
Tytech
Grande Pointe — 204 770-4898
ONTARIO
Claire Snoddon Farm Machinery
Sunderland — 705 357-3579
Conestogo Agri Systems Inc.
Drayton — 519 638-3022
1 800 461-3022
County Automation
Ameliasburg — 613 962-7474
Dairy Lane Systems
Komoka — 519 666-1404
Keith Siemon Farm Systems Ltd.
Walton — 519 345-2734
Lamers Silos Ltd.
Ingersoll — 519 485-4578
Lawrence’s Dairy Supply Inc.
Moose Creek — 613 538-2559
McCann Farm Automation Ltd.
Seeley’s Bay — 613 382-7411
Brockville — 613 926-2220
McLaren Systems
Cobden — 613 646-2062
Melbourne Farm Automation
Melbourne — 519 289-5256
Watford — 519-876-2420
Silver-Tech Systems Inc.
Aylmer — 519 773-2740
Dunnville — 905 981-2350
ATLANTIC PROVINCES
Atlantic Dairy Tech.
Charlottetown, PE — 902 368-1719
Mactaquac Farm Equip. Ltd.
Mactaquac, NB — 506 363-2340
Sheehy Enterprises Ltd.
Shubenacadie, NS — 902 758-2002
Sussex Farm Supplies
Sussex, NB — 506 433-1699
FROM NAVEL TO KNEES
The critical link in calf health and future productivity
By Veal Farmers of Ontario
THE ROLE NAVEL HEALTH PLAYS in the overall well-being and future productivity of calves can not be underestimated. Ensuring a calf’s navel is clean and free from infection is not just a basic health measure but a foundational step in promoting long-term animal welfare and farm productivity. It is estimated an infected navel can cost $40 in losses at minimum.
UNDERSTANDING NAVEL INFECTIONS
The navel, or umbilicus, is the calf’s lifeline during gestation, connecting it to the dam's placenta. It is made up of blood vessels. At birth, this connection is severed, leaving the navel as an open conduit with a hollow tube where bacteria can enter the calf’s bloodstream.
Once in the bloodstream, the bacteria can circulate throughout the calf’s body, leading to a condition known as omphalitis (an infection of the umbilicus and/or surrounding tissues, primarily in the neonatal period) and diseases like septicemia (blood infection), meningitis (brain infection) and arthritis (swollen joints).
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN NAVEL HEALTH AND SWOLLEN JOINTS
Arthritis, also known as "joint ill," can cause significant pain, swelling and lameness. The resulting joint damage can be irreversible, severely impacting the calf’s ability to move and reduce its productivity and longevity.
Once pathogens enter the bloodstream through the navel, they can lodge in the joints, where the immune response causes inflammation and destruction of joint tissues. The knees are particularly susceptible due to their anatomical structure and the high demands placed on them for mobility. Calves with knee infections are often reluctant to stand or walk, leading to further complications like poor weight gain and secondary infections due to prolonged periods of laying down.
BEST PRACTICES FOR NAVEL CARE
pathogens.
2. Disinfection: Apply a strong navel disinfectant, such as seven per cent iodine or two per cent chlorhexidine, immediately after birth.
3. Monitoring: Regularly palpate (feel) the navel for signs of infection, such as swelling, heat or discharge.
4. Prompt treatment: If an infection is suspected, follow the farm protocol for an infected navel. If one does not exist, develop a protocol with your herd veterinarian to ensure prompt and appropriate antibiotic treatment occurs.
Despite these measures, infections can still occur. Recent studies in both Canada and the United States have found between 19 to 27 per cent of calves can be affected with an enlarged or abnormal umbilicus (navel).
It is also important to note a calf with an infected navel is unfit to be transported. It must remain on farm until the navel is completely healed.
CONCLUSION
Maintaining the health of a calf’s navel is a vital aspect of calf management that can have long-reaching effects on the animal’s health and productivity. By preventing navel infections, you can avoid the cascade of complications leading to joint issues, unnecessary veterinary bills and reduced overall productivity. Attention to navel health is not merely a protocol but a commitment to the future.
Find more information in Veal Farmers of Ontario’s navel health resource at: https:// calfcare.ca/management/navel-health/.
Calf Care Corner, brought to you by Veal Farmers of Ontario, delivers the latest information to help you improve the way calves are raised on your farm. Follow @CalfCareCorner on Facebook and sign-up for monthly e-newsletters on calfcare.ca.
photos by: APostersView, Cowsmo
FOLLOWING TRADITION
Swiss farmer endures strict production regime for famous Gruyere cheese
By Chris McCullough
DATING BACK TO MEDIEVAL TIMES, Gruyere is one of the most famous cheeses in the world and can only be produced in certain areas of Switzerland.
Even though proper Swiss Gruyere cheese is protected by an Appellation d'origine protegee (AOP), basically a protected designation of origin, the French have, perhaps controversially, also created their own alternative.
Gruyere AOP takes its name from the Gruyere region, in the canton of Fribourg, Switzerland, and has been produced according to the same traditional recipe since 1115. Today, it is made in the cantons of Fribourg, Vaud, Neuchâtel, Jura and in some municipalities in the canton of Bern.
For Swiss farmers, though, who produce the milk for the Gruyere cheese, the stipulations surrounding production techniques are extremely strict and there is zero tolerance for deviation from the rules.
One of those farmers is Rene Durand, who milks only 22 cows with his wife, Zoe, and son Dominic. Their farm is quite a unique set-up, totalling 37 hectares (91 acres) in two locations at Muhleberg and Niederhunigen, both in the canton of Bern.
“We own 16 ha (39.5 acres), which is now not so suitable to run a dairy enterprise from since it is in the middle of Niederhunigen village,” Rene says. “It was bought by my parents in 2013, who were dairy farmers for 35 years and milked 24 cows from 2013 to 2018. Since 2019, we keep around 40 young cattle there, including five in a breeding contract with another farmer.”
Become part of this unique community and read interesting facts about calf rearing, health and nutrition in
posts by Dr. Robert James and Förster-Technik!
The Durand’s second farm at Muhleberg is home to a 22-cow dairy herd and has been leased by Rene since 2019. The fields are mostly grass with some wheat, rapeseed, barley and corn grown for animal feed and 1.5 ha (3.7 acres) of peas for human consumption.
Prices for the milk from Rene’s cows are among the highest in Switzerland, but that’s also because he has to jump through hoops to stick to the strict regulations, such as no silage feeding or robotic milking.
“We milk 22 Red Holstein cows,” Rene said. “Our standard lactation over 305 days averages 10,555 kilograms per cow per year, over the past five years. The milk is 4% butterfat, 3.4% protein and has a cell count of 60,000.”
Like most farmers in Switzerland, Rene farms under the ecological banner, which is called Ecological Performance Proo potential f, OLN. This means they must fulfil certain farming obligations to reduce the potential environmental damage caused by agriculture.
On top of this, Rene must adhere to the production regulations set when producing milk for the Gruyere cheese, which can be challenging.
“As part of these regulations, we are not allowed to feed the cows silage, only fresh grass and hay, and we can only milk them twice per day in a conventional milking parlour, no milking with robots is allowed,” he says.
“If milking is carried out more often, the Lipase, or fat cells in the milk, will be too weak and the cheese will become rancid.
“In the winter, our cows are kept indoors in the tiestall barn. We feed them dry grass cubes, sugar beet cubes, concentrated feed and molasses. They can move freely in the yard for one hour per day.
“Our summer period lasts for up to eight months during which the cows eat at pasture for four hours per day. They are also fed in the barn a diet comprising fresh grass, whole plant corn cubes, drought feed and concentrated feed.”
Rene uses AI on all his cows using Red Holstein genetics and breeds strictly for milk quality, which is essential for good cheese production.
“Despite the fact we only milk 22 cows, between 25 and 30 calves are born each year. We sell many young cows in their first lactation. Depending on the year, 80 to 90 per cent of the young cows go to the auction,” he says. “Livestock breeding is very important for our company; we select the young cows very strictly. Since our milk is processed into raw milk cheese, the quality of the milk is very important.”
In typical Swiss style, Rene sends some cattle over 100 days old up into the Alps for summer grazing. As for help on the farm, Zoe and Dominic are involved as are Rene’s parents, Jakob and Ursula Durand, and one full-time and one part-time employee.
Rene’s cows are milked in an old Surge pipe milking machine and the milk to produce Gruyere cheese achieves the highest prices in Switzerland.
“Our milk is sold in two batches. The first is A quantity, around 180,000 kg, which sells for 90 centimes (CDN $1.42/kg). Our B quantity, around 20,000 kg, sells for 68 centimes (CDN $1.06/kg).
Any expansion for Rene is difficult since he is a tenant on the farm, but his wish is to buy a farm to secure the future of milking cows for his family.
– A robust health index with CDCB, Lactanet, Zoetis1, Semex data, and the bull’s response to bacteria & viruses
– IM+ cows have 30% less mastitis than herd mates
– High-reliability, permanent genetic solution
– Cumulates like milk, fat & other traits with each generation
– Female genomic results & herd rankings with Elevate®
– A decade of proven on-farm results Zoetis information is male only
