Dairy Knowledge at Your Fingertips

Quebec Edition | June 2021

 
 

JUNE SPECIAL FEATURE

Heat stress : A Burning Topic! 🔥

Expert Advice - Steve Adam, agr., Dairy Expert in Comfort and Welfare - Lactanet 🎤

7 Points to Consider for Minimizing Heat Stress for Your Cows!

1. Observe the cows: The effects of heat are felt from: A temperature humidity index (TIH) of 68 (equivalent to 22°C at 50% relative humidity) and a respiratory rate > 60 breaths/minute

2. Provide access to shade: Make sure that cows can protect themselves from the sun's radiation

3. Provide water quality and quantity: 15-20 liters per minute (4-5 gallons/min) and 9 cm (3.5 in.) of space per head at the trough

4. Provide fresh air: Minimum of 40-60 air changes per hour

5. Cool the animals: Expose the animals to a wind of 5,5-7 km/h (300-400 ft/min) on their bodies

6. Add water: sprinklers and misters

7. Continue to cool the animals at night so they can recover: If it was very hot and humid during the day, continue cooling to lower their body temperature

 

DRY OFF AND TRANSITION

Thinking Outside the "Lactating Cow" Box

Milking cows are not the only group of animals on the farm that are affected by heat stress and, consequently, cooling strategies should be extended to the rest of the herd.

An increasing body of evidence is pointing out to dry cows and young calves as the next target groups to provide cooling and further reduce the negative impact that heat stress has on dairy production.

Learn more

 

 

GENETICS

Beat the Heat with Genetics

Producing milk is a metabolic process that results in internal heat being generated by the animal. As we select for higher producing cows, we also select for cows that have greater metabolic heat. While economically this is beneficial, increasing the cow’s internal heat production overtime means that she is less able to deal with the heat outside.

Learn more

 

MILK RECORDING

Milk Sampling in Summer Temperatures

Now that the heat of the summer is upon us, we need to take special care and attention with the milk samples taken on test day to ensure the quality of the samples arriving at the lab are in good condition for analysis.

Refresh your memory with Important protocols to ensure good milk sample quality for any milking system (tie stall/parlour/robot).

Learn more

 

June Challenge : Are your Dry Cows too Hot?

We challenge you to observe your dry cows and count their respirations. If they have more than 60 breaths per minute, strategies can be implemented to reduce the impact of heat stress. 

Learn more

 

See our June 2021 Article

Fix a Milk Quality Problem Quickly

Acting quickly when a milk quality problem arises is both a productive and profitable approach. A quality advisor can help you define the issue more clearly.

Stéphane, who owns Ferme Barsalou, shares his experience here.

Learn more

 
 

WHAT'S NEW AT LACTANET?

Get to know MySite 👇

 

RESULTS OF THE PORTRAIT OF QUEBEC'S DAIRY PRODUCTION DRAW

Congratulations to Ferme Karibel and to Ferme F.M. Lévesque!

A big and special thanks to the dairy producers who participated in the portrait of Quebec's dairy production! Stay tuned, the portrait of the dairy sector will be made public in the Fall.

Congratulations to our two winners, Ferme Karibel from Saint-Paul-de-Joliette and Ferme F. M. Lévesque from Saint-Germain-de-Kamouraska, for a prize package worth $500 offered by Lactanet and Les Producteurs de lait du Québec for a stay or an activity of their choice.

(Picture on the left: Ferme F.M. Lévesque, from left to right: Francis, Étienne and Mario Lévesque)

(Picture on the right: Ferme Karibel, from left to right: Luc Lasalle, Lily Rose, Isabelle Lasalle and Jacinthe Breault)

 

The Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue needs your input!

By taking the survey about your silage quality practices, you could win one of four $50 Canadian Tire gift cards.

For more information and to see if you qualify to participate, click here :

Take the survey 

 

Our Annual Publications (Progress Reports) Are Now On-Line

Lactanet publishes four regional annual Progress Reports across Canada. As our flagship publication, each edition showcases top managed herds, publishable herd data, statistics, benchmarks and articles from dairy experts. The publications are now posted on our NEW website.

View them on-line 

 

Careers at Lactanet

We have posted NEW employment opportunities across the country. 

Join our team! 

 

🐄 Learn More about Lactanet's Projects 🐄

"Estimating the Cost and Value of Rearing Programs" is a recent project led by Rodrigo Molano, Ph.D., postdoctoral intern at Lactanet. With replacements contributing to the significant expense of milk production, the project will study the costs and strategies of heifer rearing on 100 Quebec farms.

If you would like to participate in the study or have more information, email us at rmolano@lactanet.ca.