The latest developments in Canadian dairy research were presented by scientific experts in the areas of human nutrition and health, genetics and genomics, and farm sustainability.

Presentations by Canadian experts in each area were recorded and are now available for viewing on the Dairy Research Cluster channel on YouTube.

New Canadian Dairy Research Council to coordinate dairy farm research

Following its annual policy conference, Dairy Farmers of Canada announced the organization will be developing a new national strategy for Canadian dairy research and knowledge transfer.

The responsibilities will fall under the direction of a new national committee created (reporting to the board of DFC) called the Canadian Dairy Research Council.

The research strategy will be prepared in the coming months for presentation to DFC’s General Council in July. The knowledge transfer strategy will be developed later in 2016.

The national strategy for dairy research and knowledge transfer is aimed at ensuring communication, improving coordination, maximizing collaboration among provincial and national producer organizations in planning and delivering dairy research and transfer programs across the country.

The overall objectives are to avoid duplication of efforts and optimize investments.

The strategy will also ensure that dairy research and knowledge transfer activities support farm efficiency and sustainability, stimulate innovation, enhance producer-led programs such as ProAction and finally provide credible and compelling findings about the benefits of dairy products for Canadians.

 Animal comfort webinar series for farmers

DFC, in partnership with Valacta, has developed a webinar series to help farmers improve animal comfort on their farms in practical and cost-effective ways. Three nationally available webinars are scheduled for February through April in English and French.

They will address animal comfort evaluation, comfortable surfaces and comfortable spaces. Animal comfort specialists and a scientific expert will host the workshops and all information delivered via the web. Visit www.dairyknowledge.ca to register for the next webinar.

Coming soon – Dairy Farms +

A Dairy Research Cluster-financed project led by Groupe AGÉCO (formerly Quantis) will lead to the launch of a new carbon footprinter tool in April 2016. Called DairyFarms+, the tool will be available soon.

The assessment tool is designed to help dairy farmers measure and benchmark their farm’s environmental and socioeconomic performance and provide access to about 110 best management practices to help improve farm efficiency and profitability.  PD

Email Shelley Crabtree, communications specialist, Dairy Research Cluster for more information.

PHOTO 1: Photo provided by Dairy Farmers of Canada.

PHOTO 2: Animal Comfort webinar. Photo provided by Valacta.