Dairy Cattle Technical Articles
Article published the October 31, 2012:
Here are some of the most asked questions about robotic milking systems. Answers are based on formal interviews with Canadian robot owners, Ontario milk quality records and European research studies.
How...
Article published the October 30, 2012:
Horns and Their Growth
Horns are the pairs of hard, bonelike, permanent growths projecting from the heads of cattle. They grow from a unique area of skin cells at the base of the horn. At about two months of ...
Article published the October 19, 2012:
Drought conditions across the country have many beef producers evaluating their feeding costs in an effort to make the correct management decisions for their operations. The information in this publication can ...
Article published the October 19, 2012:
Rumen pH is one of the most critical determinants of rumen function particularly for the cellulolytic rumen bacteria which fail to grow at pH 6.0 and below. Rumen pH falls as a result of enhanced fermentation d...
Article published the October 15, 2012:
Introduction
Herd bulls have a large influence on many aspects of beef operations, especially an operation's profitability. For example, percent calf crop weaned is the single most important factor influencing...
Article published the October 1, 2012:
Introduction
The use of feed additives containing live microorganisms and (or) their metabolites to alter rumen fermentation and improve animal performance has increased in response to demands for using more &...
Article published the October 1, 2012:
INTRODUCTION
Subclinical ketosis (SCK) is defined as elevated concentrations of ketone bodies in the absence of clinical signs of ketosis. It is an important metabolic disease in dairy cattle during early lact...
Article published the September 19, 2012:
The cost of raising replacement dairy heifers is significant. New studies show how much raising replacements can impact a dairy operation's bottom line.
Due to high herd-replacement rates and heifers calving a...
Article published the September 19, 2012:
Shrink results from the stress cattle experience during processing, transporting and marketing, costing both the buyer and the seller. Reducing the stress placed on the cattle during this time will help reduce ...
Article published the September 19, 2012:
INTRODUCTION
Robotic milking systems depend on voluntary visits by cows to the milking stall. If cows experience electric shocks when visiting the milking stall they are less likely to visit. This Factsheet o...