This article was originally published in 2021 in the Milk Producer Magazine produced by Dairy Farmers of Ontario. By Josh Moran Bedding is an important component of any dairy operation, and the bedding source used by a particular farm will vary from straw, sand, compost and other materials. Proper bedding management ensures a clean home ..read more

Caution! Members of the sorghum family – sorghum, sudangrass, and hybrid sorghum-sudangrass – contain dhurrin, a glucoside that breaks down to release hydrocyanic acid, also known as prussic acid (hydrogen cyanide, HCN). A sudden disruption of growth such as frost, drought or cutting, causes prussic acid to be released inside the plant at a more ..read more

This article was originally published in 2021 in the Milk Producer Magazine produced by Dairy Farmers of Ontario. By Mario Mongeon Over the past decade, several research projects have focused on studying the behaviour and comfort of dairy cows, and the outcomes of these studies have enabled producers to revise the dimensions of the stalls ..read more

Key Points When is the fall rest period? The fall rest period (sometimes called “critical fall harvest period”) for alfalfa is 450 growing degree days, base 5°C — or approximately 6-weeks — before the average date of the first killing frost (-4°C for several hours), when alfalfa stops growing. Not cutting during this period allows ..read more

Culling considerations...Fall is a critical time for many cow-calf producers to make culling decisions ahead of winter feeding. Preg checking tends to be an activity that spurs culling decisions, and for good reason. However, there are many factors to consider when making decisions on cow and heifer retention and culling within the herd. In this article, James Byrne (Beef Cattle Specialist, OMAFA) breaks down these factors and outlines which decision-making criteria should take top priority ..read more

Unpacking outcomes from the Ontario Feedlot Digital Dermatitis Survey...A survey on digital dermatitis in Ontario feedlot cattle was conducted in 2023-2024. This survey was lead by Dr. Cynthia Miltenburg (Lead Veterinarian, OMAFA) and supported by the OAHN in an effort to gain a better understanding of the prevalence and management of digital dermatitis on Ontario feedlots. This article provides an overview of the outcomes of that survey and what we can learn from the results. Be sure to check out the infographic for a summary of the survey results ..read more

More than just a gut feeling…New work is underway by a team of researchers from the University of Guelph and the University of British Columbia exploring the role of the gut microbiome in influencing feed efficiency and methane production. More specifically, the research focuses on the relationship between the animal genome and the rumen microbiome in beef cattle and how this complex relationship affects the expression of the phenotypic traits of feed efficiency and methane emissions. Read on for more details on this fascinating new research ..read more

The health and survival of newborn dairy calves heavily depend on the timely feeding of high-quality colostrum, which is the first milk produced by cows post-calving. Colostrum is rich in antibodies essential for passive immunity, protecting calves from diseases during the early weeks when their immune systems are still developing. Adequate colostrum intake not only ..read more

By Rajan Niraula This article was originally published in 2021 in the Milk Producer Magazine produced by Dairy Farmers of Ontario. The world’s rising population has put tremendous pressure on the agriculture sector—from production to processing. When the sector is feeling the pressure to increase productivity, consumers on the other hand are becoming increasingly aware of the production system and its impact on the environment. In the dairy sector, producers have a critical task of building livestock housing systems that meet public expectations in terms of cow health, animal welfare and bette ..read more

This article was originally written by Joel Bagg in 2012. It was edited June 27, 2023 by Christine O’Reilly to reflect current insecticide options to control potato leafhopper and the cessation of third-party alfalfa variety trials in Ontario. Potato leafhopper (PLH) is the most damaging alfalfa insect pest in Ontario in most years. While the damage created is not as dramatic as an alfalfa weevil or armyworm outbreak, leafhopper damage is more chronic and widespread. Many farmers are unaware of the significance of PLH damage, which is often blamed on the hot, dry weather that frequently accomp ..read more