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Summer IS coming! THE PROFESSIONAL SOLUTION.


COLOSTRUM testing


COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • JUNE 2017 nfrom page 37


The Kverneland Taarup 9578 C and 9584 C ProLine are designed for the toughest conditions and feature a high performance oil-bath gearbox and a strong carrier frame. The ability to make sharp turns up to 80° and the cross stabilizer in the headstock are unique Kverneland features.


The best plow in the world.


UBC PhD student Christine Sumner explains why the quality of colostrum is important to dairy farmers.


to the need to have quality colostrum delivered into the animal quickly, in the right quantities, and that it should be tested to ensure it meets minimum requirements. “If calves don’t drink it, tube it,” she says.


Designed for In Furrow and On Land operations, the EO/LO are robust ploughs requiring lower lift requirements than other brands. The 300 heavy duty head stock provides the necessary strength for smooth reversing. The Kver- neland unique steels and the heat treatment of the complete plough guarantee the longevity.


Designed for heavy conditions.


“These are all management issues.” Students Ruan Daros and Hanna Eriksson


spoke about the transition period and management of the timeframe before and after birthing to better prevent transition disease. “There are lots of metabolic and


behavioural changes in the cow,” Daros says of this timeframe. “She needs lots of energy but isn’t eating.”


Eriksson noted the social environment of


quality feed to help prevent transition diseases.


Understanding estrus, or signs of pre-


ovulation was the focus of Tracy Burnett’s presentation to the tour. “Estrus is part of the reproductive cycle,


right before [the cows] ovulate,” she says. “They increase their walking, they mount other cows in the pen, they allow other cows to mount them. It’s a prime indicator of when to breed the cow.” Burnett found cows who more obviously


express estrus behaviors tend to be more fertile and have higher levels of progesterone, which helps them to maintain pregnancy. While she believes observing estrus behavior allows farmers to move away from timed breeding to a degree, and she acknowledged both methods need to be considered in a herd.


Cheese please


The Kverneland NG-S 101 is a heavy duty power harrow for all kinds of operations in all types of soil conditions. Robustly de- signed with the Kverneland heavy-duty trough design and Quick-Fit tines this power harrow is the right alternative for large farms and farm contractors.


Quality Pre-Owned Tractors & Equipment


ANDEX 843 RAKE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,500 AGCO HESSTON 3312 MOWER . . . 19,500 BOBCAT BACKHOE, SKID ST MNT 6,500 BOBCAT S570 LOW HOURS . . . . . . 42,000 CLAAS 660 HYDRO RAKE . . . . . . . . . 6,500 DEUTZ ALLIS 7085 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,500 GASPARDO PLANTER 4 ROW . . . . 35,000 HESSTON 1345 MOWER . . . . . . . . . 18,500 JCB 409 WHEEL LOADER . . . . . . . . 45,000 JOHN DEERE 3720 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26,000


JD 5320 CAB, 4X4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27,500 INTERNATIONAL 584 W/LDR . . . . . . 9,000 KVERNELAND 4032 MOWER . . . . . 16,000 KVERNELAND 12’ FR.MT MOWER . CALL MASCHIO 4000 PWR HARROW . . . 14,000 MF GC 2400 LOW HOURS . . . . . . . 12,000 NEW HOLLAND TM150 . . . . . . . . . 47,000 SUNFLOWER 7232 23 FT HARROW 17,500 TYCROP DUMPBOX . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,500


We service all makes!


Van Der Wal Equipment (1989) Ltd. 23390 RIVER ROAD, MAPLE RIDGE, BC V2W 1B6 604/463-3681 | vanderwaleq.com


Alex Brooks checks the flow of the drainage system at Golden Eagle Fish Farm.


the animal plays a part. Over-crowding combined with hormonal changes can lead to longer periods of standing on a weakened claw. “The transition period could be an indicator of lameness,” she notes. “That’s the period when cows are most prone to disease.” She advises to not overstock animals during this timeframe and ensure a high


The final stop on the tour was at The Farm House Natural Cheeses, an award winning cheese maker. The farm and cheese shop was sold last year to the Kooyman Group of Companies, which doesn’t plan to make changes. However Debra Amrein-Boyes, will leave the business on August 1. All cow and goat


milk from the farm is used to create dozens of cheeses in various styles. Both goats (earless LaMancha) and cows (Guernsey and Brown Swiss) have open pens and graze in the abundant pasture on site. BC Young Farmers director Jillian Robbins of K&M Farms in Abbotsford says tours like this are increasingly necessary for farmers wanting to learn from others.


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