Dairy Global magazine: Edition 3 is here

For a more in-depth look into these topics be sure to flip through the pages of this edition and also the featured Cow Health section. This issue is now available to read online in our digital magazine section.

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Interview: André van Troost, Lely CEO

We had the chance to catch up with the CEO of Lely, the Dutch agricultural machine manufacturer. André van Troost was appointed CEO at the start of this year, in the interview he talks about automation in the dairy sector, the first installation of the A5 milking robot in China and how it was done remotely. He also gives us some insight on the impact of Covid-19. More on page 6.

“One of the first things I had to tackle was how to get through the pandemic,” says André van Troost, Lely CEO. Photo: Lely

Key factors for optimal herd health

Numerous factors can impact dairy herd health and performance, including genetics, management, housing and stress. However, the most fundamental factor in ensuring herd success is nutrition. Here we discuss three key areas of dairy cow nutrition, page 12.

Promising efforts to lower enteric methane

Researchers around the world are searching for new ways to lower emissions. Projects in Denmark and Canada have assessed emissions-lowering measures, and Swiss feed additive company DSM Nutritional Products has developed a new active ingredient that shows great promise, more on page 32.

Projects in Denmark and Canada have assessed emissions-lowering measures, and Swiss feed additive company DSM Nutritional Products has developed a new active ingredient that shows great promise. Photo: Ronald Hissink

Heat stress: The positive effects of selenium

When summer arrives, heat stress is top of the farmer’s mind when the temperature rises. Heat stress has a dramatic impact on feed consumption and milk production in dairy cows. Documented evidence has proven that selenium can effectively alleviate heat stress in dairy cows, see page 34.

How has the European dairy sector coped during Covid-19?

A webinar this year held by French Livestock Institute Idele, looked at the preservation tactics used by the European dairy sector to deal with Covid-19, on page 37.

Increasing pasture use – the steps to success

Here we dive into the latest findings on how to increase use of pasture and explore and face the challenges that come with it – while protecting milk quantity and quality, on page 39.

Use of pasture can provide many benefits for dairy farmers across the globe. Photo: Shutterstock

Feeding for performance

The ability of a cow to remain healthy depends on many factors, not least its immune system. Competent immune function is critical to dairy cow performance and welfare – and nutrition plays a vital role in maintaining a strong immune system, see page 42.

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How to mitigate feed safety risks in ruminant diets

While ruminants are well designed to leverage the feed-to-food upcycling trend, production efficiency can never come at the expense of safety. Read more on page 45.

Strategies to reduce nitrogen

Reducing the amount of nitrogen that ruminants excrete is not only better for the environment but is also an opportunity for ruminants to produce more efficiently. Thus, balancing diets for amino acids can maximise dairy herd profitability and improve nitrogen efficiency, page 48.

The hidden risks of maize silage

New research shows dairy cows’ vulnerability to established and emerging mycotoxins and sheds light on their prevalence in feed, page 53.

Hoof health

Hoof health is an important factor when it comes to the economic side of things on farm. It can cause tremendous losses. Its impact can result in deceased feed intake, lower milk production and impaired reproductive efficiency, amongst other things. Here we dive into control and prevention strategies on page 9.

Hoof health issues can result in deceased feed intake, lower milk production and impaired reproductive efficiency. Photo: Henk Riswick

Potential biomarker: Predicting ketosis

Ketosis – a major metabolic disorder in dairy cows. Studying altered gene expression is a significant move towards determining potential molecular markers for predicting the incidence of ketosis. Researchers at Sichuan Agricultural University carried out a study where they employed a whole blood transcriptome approach to investigate the associated alteration of gene expression with clinical ketosis in dairy cows, page 56.

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