Dairy Knowledge at Your Fingertips

Atlantic Canada | May 2021

When a producer plans to build a new barn, a number of questions arise. Many will opt for a free-stall barn, but what to choose, parlour or robot?

When reviewing the data, the producer will find that the milking robots have higher productivity in every part of Canada, but on the other hand, the fat test is a little lower. On the other hand, parlours have the highest fat test and have lower calving intervals than milking pipelines, but are about equal to milking robots.

These are the type of findings you will discover in the 2020 Milking System report. Enjoy the article!

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Since the fall of 2020, the components at Ferme Yves R. Couture have been slowly decreasing. We tested some feeding solutions, but nothing was conclusive. Some time later, we began to question the forages in the PMR. We compared the old rations and made some observations. Let’s find out more about this story and its happy ending.

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Improving Performance: Management vs Genetics?

Advances in research and technology give us a deeper understanding of the complex biological processes and environmental factors behind the production of dairy products.

But how are these genetic improvements showing on your farm? Are you working for your cows, or are your cows working for you?

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Genetic Selection for Fat Production

One possible solution for increasing milk fat levels is focusing efforts on genetic selection, with heritability being 50% for fat content, and 26% for fat yield.

Ferme Bessette et Frères has prioritized selection for fat index for several years now. See their results :

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What is the ideal NDF*?

It seems like a simple question, but there is no simple answer! In fact, the feeding context and the type of animal to be fed will have significant influence on the ideal NDF value. It is therefore important to include your feed advisor in the discussion; they will be able to guide you through the process.

You can set a general objective, however, this objective will vary according to the type of mixed forage. Given that the NDF in grasses are more digestible than those in legumes, one should aim for a higher NDF value for grasses:

• Alfalfa → 40% NDF
• 50/50 Mixed Forage → 45% NDF
• Grass → 50% NDF

*Neutral Detergent Fibers

The damage caused to legumes over the winter months can result in serious financial losses for dairy farms. The impact on yield is sometimes so significant that producers are required to take action, for example, by overseeding or terminating the stand. So how can you better the odds for legume survival?

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