Dairy farmers who make the switch to robot milkers are very predictable, says Brussels, Ontario farmer Joe Terpstra. When Terpstra and three other dairy producers took to the stage at the 2016 Canadian Dairy XPO to share their experiences with robot milking, all four seemed to be singing from the same songbook. Improved cow health,… Read More
Category: Canadian Dairy Xpo
Ask Francisco Rodriquez a question about dairy robots and he’ll tell you about people. With more than 38,000 robots milking cows on 19,000 farms around the globe, the technology is becoming ubiquitous throughout the dairy business. But what does it mean for dairy producers as technology revolutionizes the traditional daily milking grind? “The future in… Read More
The evolution of the Canadian Dairy XPO continued last week as the Stratford, Ontario-based dairy industry event moved to April and unveiled its new We Cover Cow Coliseum. General Manager Jordon Underhill was joined by a host of stakeholders for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the permanent 440′ x 72′ Cow Coliseum located on… Read More
Would consumers watch a farming reality TV show? The ‘Incredible’ Dr. Jan Pol thinks so. Since 2012, the 73-year-old veterinarian has starred in the popular series bearing his name on National Geographic’s NATGEO Wild channel, which features him and his family as they make their rounds tending to the needs of farm and companion animals…. Read More
They’ve built it, now it’s time to come. With the 2016 Canadian Dairy XPO just two weeks away, show organizers are getting ready to unveil the new WeCover Cow Coliseum and pedestrian bridge that will connect the building to the Stratford Rotary Complex. The steel bridge will carry the more than 15,000 visitors expected to… Read More
As the Canadian Dairy XPO enters its fourth year, the upstart dairy industry show is making moves to attract more producers and exhibitors. The show attracted about 10,000 people when it launched in 2013. Local dairy producers have embraced the show, says CDX General Manager Jordon Underhill, “but what we’ve seen is an increase in… Read More
The Canadian Dairy XPO and Dairy Farmers of Canada are teaming up to encourage producers to embrace the Blue Cow symbol to show support for their industry. The Blue Cow Spirit Campaign will see gate admission to the CDX reduced to $15 and producers attending the show will be encouraged to wear Canadian Milk’s Blue… Read More
Introducing Fleckvieh genetics into holstein operations can significantly improve the strength, fertility and productive life of dairy animals, says John Popp of Big Bear Genetics. As one of the exhibitors at this year’s Canadian Dairy Xpo, Popp showcased the results of a few Fleckvieh/Holstein crosses, ranging from 50% – 87.5% Fleckvieh, as well as one calf with… Read More
How often do you assess a dairy cow’s body condition score? Sure, you’re looking at your cows everyday, but changes like weight loss can go unnoticed exactly because you see them every day — the change may be too subtle to pick up on. Why would you want to be assessing and recording body condition… Read More
It’s an age-old question — which is the best dairy breed? Like most farming questions, the answer is rarely a simple A or B and is more likely to be a qualified “it depends,” but Elliot Currie, with the University of Guelph, headed up a project recently to try and answer the question of which… Read More