PD newsletter: Teamwork and cow comfort are paramount at Lucky Hill Dairy

This Progressive Dairy-Canada newsletter features a dairy where teamwork and cow comfort are a priority, discusses three ways to tackle lameness and addresses how much money your dry cow program can cost you. Learn of emerging consumer trends and if your calf facility matches the needs of your operation.

Teamwork and cow comfort are paramount at Lucky Hill Dairy

Progressive Dairy Editor Emma Ohirko

Co-owners of Lucky Hill Dairy Ltd. Willem and Joanne van der Linde say that lucky is more than just a part of the farm’s name, it is an outlook on farm life itself. “[The name] came about when we bought the farm 25 years ago. We had to find a limited name for the farm corporation, and we said we've been very lucky that we were able to move [from the Netherlands to Canada]; that it all worked out is lucky. We try to use that now; we say, ‘Home of the Lucky cows.’ They’re lucky and we’re lucky,” Willem explains.

Want more essential dairy info like this? Subscribe here for our monthly newsletter.

Three D's to tackling lameness on the dairy

Lameness rates on dairies around the world average around 25%, this percentage has not changed over the past few decades. As an industry, there have been enormous improvements in milk quality, milk production and reproduction over the past decade, but industry-level lameness rates have stayed the same.

Detimdale Holsteins in Alberta bounced back from a barn fire and transition from tie-stall to GEA robotic barn

In the beginning, the GEA robot was not an option for the Hofstra’s. The family decided to visit Ontario and tour 8-10 robot farms and they realized they needed to take a more in-depth look at the GEA robot. Tim Hofstra said:

“We liked the simple, sleek design, the all-in-one milking unit for teat prep, milking and post dipping, and that we could sort and dump milk. Pricewise, GEA was right in the middle of the other two options on the table, and GEA had an impressive warranty.”

Read the complete story…

What is your dry cow program costing you?

Matt Groen for Progressive Dairy

When evaluating feed costs on any dairy operation, there are three main areas of focus: the lactating herd, the heifer program and the dry cow period. While many producers have moved to some variation of a low-energy, high-fibre diet with straw or coarse hay and corn silage, within that there are many different nutritional strategies employed to target specific transition challenges on-farm.

Emerging consumer trends

The consumer landscape will continue to change and evolve when it comes to food. This is a fact dairy producers and agriculturists in general have recognized and addressed for years. According to associate professor Mike von Massow from the University of Guelph, people in Canada feel relatively good about the food produced in the provinces and, more importantly, they love their farmers.

Does your calf facility match your farm's needs?

Jodi Wallace and Ray Reynen for Progressive Dairy

Today’s calves and heifers will be your future milking herd. Pampering our replacements is not only the right choice, it's essential for the long-term health and productivity of our herds. Before building, producers must determine the best calf facility for them in terms of labour efficiency, health and productivity today.

Facebook

YouTube

Twitter

Website