It has become a nightly game in my farmhouse to “get the bugs.” My 2-year-old serves as the bug spotter while myself or my husband is the bug squasher.
In the game, my daughter points and exclaims, “Bug! Bug!” until we see the fly and go after it. She then usually lets us know whether or not we were successful – even though she’s not always accurate in her proclamation.
Many of you are probably dealing with a similar situation in your homes and worse yet out in the barnyard. With the mild winter experienced by many, entomologists are stating bug populations are expected to be higher this year than most.
That is why we’ve included another article on fly control in this issue. The article by Mark Taylor (click here to read) points out that fly control is an overlooked practice in mastitis management.
He goes on to identify four different species of flies found among dairy cattle, which could help you address a specific fly problem on your dairy.
Bug control is just one of the many things to worry about in the summer. In addition to that, you have to deal with heat stress, crop management and harvest, preparing for cattle shows, etc.
With immediate needs like these it can be easy to put aside or at least slough off on those items that are important day-in and day-out. Two of those items are featured in this issue: calf and heifer raising and hoof care.
Calves are the future for every dairy and should not be neglected or short-changed, even though it can be tempting when there is hay to be cut.
Keep on reading to find articles relating to caring for calves from birth to breeding. You’ll learn more about colostrum management with an article by Jim Quigley (click here to read) and another by Ines Rodrigues (click here to read).
Select the right feeding program for your calves with input from articles such as: "Setting the right feeding program for your calves," "Intensified feeding programs: Are they worth the cost?," "The hidden magic of milk," "Feeding management strategies for growing heifers" and "How does feeding calves relate to a bank account?".
Once your calves are off to the right start, read an article by Gene Boomer (click here to read) and another from the Dairy Calf & Heifer Association (click here to read) to properly manage heifer growth.
Once in the milking herd, you’ll want to be sure those animals have the right footing, literally. Vic Daniel is back this issue to share what he has learned about digital dermatitis (click here to read).
Paul Greenough, a respected researcher and author from England, expands on Daniel’s previous lameness article featured in March ((click here to read). There is also a lesson on hoof anatomy provided by Anita Heeg (click here to read), and a webinar recap on the topic of flooring (click here to read).
With this being our fifth of nine issues for the year, it is hard to believe we’re more than halfway to the end of 2012. That simply means it is time to start focusing on 2013 and I’m excited for what we are already planning.
I am pleased to see the number of Canadian contributors continue to grow issue by issue, and I hope to be able to introduce you to many more next year. That said, if you are a company or individual that would like to work with us on editorial content, please feel free to email me at any time.
Next year you can expect to see more topics in each issue. The same great topics you’ve enjoyed thus far will be returning, some at an even greater frequency.
We’ll also be adding new topics, such as dry and transition cow management; milk quality and parlour management; and women in dairying.
Lastly, keep watching your post for our next issue, which will include an announcement on the newest member of our Canadian family.
