Revue December 2013

December 2013

www.holsteinquebec.com

Carousel, robot or parlour?

All great, but to each his own

Ferme Paquet et frères PP40005044

Where longevity comes first

Photos : Bullvine

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HERD PROFILE

By Michel Dostie Editor Translation by Nicole De Rouin

Ferme Pâquet et frères

Where herd longevity is the strong suit

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nown far and wide, the red roof is the familiar emblem of Ferme Pâquet et frères inc., the thriving operation that, under the guidance of brothers Bertrand and Normand Pâquet and Ghislaine Boulianne, Normand’s wife, was awarded Silver and Gold medals by the Ordre national du mérite agricole, the first 1984 and the latter in 1989.

These breeders were following in the footsteps of their parents, Léo Pâquet and Rose-Aimée Belzile, who, in 1986, received the title of Famille terrienne de l'année (renamed Famille agricole de l'année in 1988). Today, the farm’s current owners, brothers Daniel and François Pâquet, Normand’s sons, their cousin Yves, Bertrand’s son, and Andrée Rioux, Daniel’s wife, are keeping to that path and maintaining the operation’s well-established reputation for high quality.

Owned by the Pâquet family since 1902, the farm began breeding Holsteins in 1962, when brothers Normand and Bertrand were at the helm. The herd has developed continually since then and today comprises 200 head.

The herd’s 110 cows are classified 11 EX, 56 VG and 39 GP, and have an average production of 11 664 kg of milk, with 4.0% fat and 3.3% protein, for BCAs of 250-272-257.

Those who keep abreast of show results will have seen the herd’s latest star, Paquet Korail Goldwyn, shown by Andrée and Daniel’s daughter Ariane, triumph in her class at the Classique des jeunes ruraux, in Quebec, in 2012. This year, in Rimouski, Korail won first place in the Senior Yearling class. She is a daughter of Paquet Karolie Stormatic, EX, a Superior Lactation holder with a production of 42 477 kg of milk in only three lactations (246-278-257), and a granddaughter of Paquet Kellie Cousteau, VG-86 6*, a cow with seven

Under its iconic red roof, Ferme Pâquet et frères inc., houses a 200-head herd in which cow longevity is the strong suit.

daughters, 1 EX, 5 VG and 1 GP, that together have earned nine Superior Lactation awards and one Super 3.

Korail’s granddam, Paquet Kelline Torrent, GP-84 4*, a cow that François describes as a “strong with long stature and show style”, is the dam of 11 daughters classified 82% GP or better. Paquet Kolya Goldwyn, EX-92, is another of Kelline’s granddaughters. Crowned Intermediate Champion and Grand Champion in Rimouski, in 2010, Kolya is currently a leading figure in the herd and is a regular embryo donor. With two Superior Lactation awards to her name, one for a 305-day yield of 23 070 kg of milk, at 5 years and 6 months (423-450-405), she is the dam of 12 daughters, with the eldest a year old. Kolya’s dam, Paquet Kolza Titanic, EX-90 3*, whose 5 daughters include 1 EX and 3 VG, is a Superior Lactation holder with a production record of more than 70 000 kg of milk in four lactations

(271-262-272), in addition to being a generous embryo donor.

It is in good part thanks to this family that the Pâquets won both the Junior Exhibitor (in a tie with Ferme Hudon et fils) and Breeder banners in addition to finishing in second place for the Breeder and Exhibitor banners at the Rimouski show last August. This family also produces the majority of the embryos harvested on the farm. On that score, Paquet Kolita Goldwyn, VG-87-2yr, the top-producing cow in the Bas-St-Laurent Holstein Club in 2012, at the age of 2, and endowed with an LPI of 3216, is the first animal of the herd to fill an international order. On the Pâquet farm, the embryos are implanted into ordinary cows, but not necessarily yearling heifers. Since these matings often yield large calves, the breeders prefer to avoid exposing their future dairy cows to difficult calvings.

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HERD PROFILE

Paquet Francelle Lindy, EX-93 6E 5*, the first of the Pâquet cows to classify EX, and nominated My Favourite Cow by the Bas-St-Laurent Holstein Club in 2009, has a lifetime production of 103 607 kg of milk and is the dam of 18 daughters, all classified GP or better.

The “F” family, descendants of Haljoy Tradition Frances, EX USA 2*, a cow that the breeders acquired in 1987, is also rousing interest. Frances’ daughter Paquet Francelle Lindy, EX-93 6E 5*, represents the family’s seventh generation of VG or EX cows and exemplifies the longevity that is characteristic of the Pâquet herd. She won first Mature Cow at the Amqui show, in 2006, and was nominated My Favourite Cow by the Bas-StLaurent Holstein Club, in 2009. Born in 1996,

Paquet Kellie Cousteau, VG-86 6*, is the dam of seven classified daughters, 1 EX, 5 VG and 1 GP-84, that together have earned nine Superior Lactation awards and one Super 3.

she gave birth to her last calf at the age of 13 years and 2 months, going on to produce for 389 days. Her lifetime production, in eight lactations, totals 103 607 kg of milk. On the reproductive side, she is the dam of 18 daughters, all classified GP or better.

Three generations later, Paquet Franciska Storm, EX-93 3E 3*, is another cow true to form in this family known for its longevity and high milk production. In eight lactations, she

produced 140 895 kg of milk, with 3.7% fat and 3.3% protein, earning BCAs of 255-250-254.

She is the dam of five daughters, all classified GP or better, including Paquet Filante, a Superior Lactation holder with a production of over 33 000 kg of milk in two lactations (298293-295).

Paquet Lilia Radius, EX-91, is the descendant of another family of importance to the Pâquet herd. With four VG dams and one EX 6E

There’s vitality under the red roof Ferme Pâquet et frères was incorporated by Bertrand and Normand in 1980. The number of shareholders doubled in 1988, when their respective sons, Daniel, who had just completed his Farm Management diploma, and Yves, joined the operation. Ten years later, Daniel and Yves retained ownership when their parents retired and transferred their share of the operation. In 2005, the team again grew to four shareholders, with the addition of François, Daniel’s brother, armed with a newly obtained bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences, and Andrée Rioux, Daniel’s wife, an agronomist who until then had been working as a management consultant. Daniel and François’ mother, Ghislaine Boulianne, has also been very involved in the operation on a continual basis. “The Gold Medal from the Ordre du mérite is very much her,” insists François. Ghislaine is also a keen hockey fan and is president of the Vallée Matapédia regional minor hockey association. In that capacity, she was the dynamo behind her region’s victory in the Kraft Hockey Goes On contest last March, which brought the organization a sum of $100 000.

The shareholders discuss and make all of their decisions jointly, from sire selection to seeding, and they all share in the work on the farm, as much in the barn as in the fields. In addition, each of the partners also has specific responsibilities. Milking is François and Daniel’s realm, but it is Daniel who manages the herd, particularly matings, calvings and veterinary follow-up, while François, who is also a director of the Bas-St-Laurent Holstein Club, takes more interest in feeding. François also manages the fields, 250 ha of cropland, with 55 ha seeded to barley and the rest devoted to alfalfa and timothy, which are harvested as silage or hay. Grain corn and supplements are added to the animals’ ration.

Andrée is in charge of calf care and administrative tasks, while Yves is responsible for operating and maintaining the farm machinery. The farm also has 263 ha of woodland, but because the lumber market is of little value right now, that section remains unexploited.

In addition to the shareholders, and their parents who are still active on the farm, the operation also counts on the help of an employee on weekends and during the summer months.

among her six maternal ancestors, Lilia, Honourable Mention Grand Champion in Amqui in 2012, and the holder of a Superior Lactation certificate, is an unparalleled milk producer. At 4 years and 11 months, after 115 days in milk, she has a projected yield of 15 398 kg, with 3.4% fat and 3.2% protein, and BCAs of 314-286-314. Her granddam, Paquet Liliane Morgan, VG-89 1*, is the dam of three daughters, all classified VG. Lilia’s udder is high, wide and modern-looking, say the Pâquets, and she is now used as an embryo donor. Because Goldwyn is absent among her forerunners, it is easy to have her bred with the leading sons of this legendary bull.

A fourth family raising the Pâquets’ hopes is that of Paquet Rudeur Rudolph, VG-86 5*.

With a lifetime production exceeding 100 000 kg, she is the dam of six daughters all classified GP or better. Among them are Paquet Nannie Stoneham, VG-86, the herd’s first cow to add a Super 3 to her pedigree, and Paquet Nigeria Dundee, EX-91 1*, the holder of a Superior Lactation and dam to Paquet Niria BMW Leader, EX, second Senior Two-Year-Old in Amqui, in 2010, and the holder of two Superior Lactation certificates.

François Pâquet, left, and his brother Daniel share the responsibility for milking.

These breeders also have high hopes for the family of Paquet Anetta Rudolph. Classified VG, Anetta has earned two Superior Lactation awards and was the winner of the production trophies of the Bas-St-Laurent Club in both 2007 and 2008. Her dam, Paquet Anisette Casper, VG 3*, was milked until the age of 12, for a total production of 93 655 kg of milk.

Selection

At Ferme Pâquet et frères, Andrée Rioux is in charge of calf care in addition to administrative tasks.

Photo : Marcel Levesque

Although many of their animals have high LPIs – which the breeders attribute to good milk yields with high components from healthy and high classified cows – the focus of their breeding program is not so much on that index as on longevity.

In view of that, they attach a great deal of importance to sound matings, favouring proven sires with particular emphasis on high milk production, health, and good feet and legs.

But that doesn’t mean they close the door to young bulls, which for many years were well to the fore in this herd that in fact was recognized as a Participating Herd. This is less the case today, because high embryo production reduces the number of services.

Nonetheless, the young bulls they select must be descendants of a distinguished maternal family, with a pedigree featuring a large number of EX cows.

Today, 95 per cent of the animals in the Pâquet herd are registered under the farm’s prefix. The breeders do buy a good animal now and again to bring new blood into the herd, but, as Daniel admits, “it’s more motivating to work with our Paquet families.”

In the show ring After acquiring a taste for the show ring in Amqui, the Pâquets first showed their animals in Rimouski in 1976, where the daughters of Paquet Olivette Miro won renown in the group class. Show participation is also a family affair. In the beginning, Normand and Bertrand were aided by their brother JeanMarc, an agronomist with a passion for shows, who came to lend a hand for the occasion. Shows are blue chip stock for the Pâquets, who take part as a family and consider shows to be good way to take a vacation. They open the season at the Vallée de la Matapédia show, in Amqui, to which they are very much committed. A propos, Andrée Rioux was chair of the region’s Société d'agriculture for five years. The Paquets then take part in the Rimouski show, mainly for the children, although the distance makes it more demanding. “When the results are good, it’s motivating for the children,” claims Andrée Rioux. And if some of their animals make it possible, the family also heads to the Spring Show or the provincial finals. ■

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FEATURE

By Michel Dostie Editor Translation by Nicole De Rouin

Carousel, robot or parlour?

All great, but to each his own

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ith the increasing size of herds on the one hand and the desire for an easier lifestyle on the other, producers, researchers, and industrial manufacturers are certainly preoccupied with improving milking efficiency. New technologies have also made an appearance on the market, providing additional tools for testing and monitoring.

No matter how efficient the equipment, however, producers must choose according to their individual needs and the particularities of their farms. La Revue spoke to a few dairy producers who use one or another of these systems.

A few decades ago, the milking parlour was the first option offered to dairy producers. In 1968, that was the system chosen by the three Champagne brothers, in Sainte-Agathe, in the Lotbinière region, who had decided at the time to merge their herds under the New Armagh prefix. One of the operation’s five shareholders, Fred Martineau, who is in charge of the herd along with Steve Champagne, says today that he is very satisfied with the equipment and doesn’t expect to abandon it. Obviously, a number of improvements have been made between the installation of the initial single-6 parlour and that of the double-8 they use today, including the recently added retracting arms that support the milker units.

These producers let economic considerations be their guide. The equipment is still very functional and updates cost little. With the upcoming generation in mind, they thus intend to maintain a debt level that will allow

the younger farmers to set themselves up and also ensure that the outgoing generation will be able to retire.

Ferme Champagne et frères has also adopted a management philosophy that is somewhat out of the ordinary. While most farms choose their equipment to reduce the time required for milking as much as possible (a maximum of one to one and a half hours), these producers have instead opted to have the equipment operating for a maximum amount of time to make it more cost-effective. Milking the 200 to 250 cows (the same equipment could handle twice that number) thus takes almost the entire day. Two of the partners are in charge of the milking operation as well as other herd management tasks, and employees complete the team. Accordingly, newly calved cows are milked four times a day, those in the second group, three times, and the others, twice, all in an order determined by the producers.

Choosing a carousel Other producers have opted for a carousel system. This is the case of the Drapeau family, of Sainte-Françoise, in the Lotbinière region (Dragon prefix). When planning new facilities for their 180 cows housed in tie stalls, the Drapeau brothers visited a number of farms before making their choice. Dominic explains that because their previous experience with robotic feeding had proved unsatisfactory, robotic milking was not an option for them. The efficiency of the carousel system, where milking is done continuously and employees don’t have to move around, was of particular interest to them. Moreover, from a financial point of view, the difference in cost compared to a milking parlour wasn’t very high. And finally, after seeing older equipment that was still working well on a number of farms in the United States, they were reassured by the reliability of this system.

At Ferme Drapeau et frères, Dragon prefix, the carousel is currently used for 500 cows but could handle double that number.

Eleven years later, Dominic says they still like it and think it’s one of the sound decisions they’ve made. Indeed, they now milk about 500 cows three times a day with that same equipment but, according to Dominic, could easily milk up to 1000. He also adds that working with this equipment makes the employees happy as well, which means they don’t have any trouble hiring people. Finally, the automatic gates makes it possible to retain any cows requiring special care after milking, which avoids adding to their stress by going to find them in the barn.

That opinion is shared by Gervais Pelletier, of Ferme Pellerat, in Saint-Roch-des-Aulnais.

His farm is equipped with a 32-stall carousel that was installed five years ago. For Gervais and his brother Jean-Guy, the carousel was the obvious choice because the equipment enables them to milk more cows for the same investment. Milking on their farm takes about 2 hours for 250 to 300 cows, with three milkings per day in the fall. A full revolution lasts 10 minutes, leaving ample time after milking to observe the animals without them being disturbed. Moreover, having experienced working with a milking parlour, Gervais finds that the cows are not as stressed in the carousel. They enter the carousel calmly, he concludes.

Robotics enthusiasts abound Other large herd owners have instead opted for robotic milking. A case in point is Sylvain Landry, of Ferme Lansi, in Saint-Albert, in the Bois-Francs region. When Sylvain began using robotic milking in 2001, he was a pioneer in Quebec. He made the move after spending a number of years visiting different operations in America.

He opted for robotics mainly because the system allowed operators time to talk with visitors, the employees seemed happier, and the cows were obviously at ease. Moreover, the equipment operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and, so long as preventive maintenance is ensured, underlines Mr. Landry, it’s very reliable. On the Lansi farm, the cows are generally milked 3.2 to 3.3 times a day, but that frequency can reach 6 times daily for cows in early lactation. The Landry farm began automated milking with 4 robots and now has 9, the last of which were acquired recently because the transfer of the farm to the next generation is now assured, and the herd has been expanded to 450 cows.

As for the smaller herds The appeal of robotic milking is not exclusive to large herd operators.

Because one robot can handle about 50 cows, many producers have adopted this system. One such example is Luc Julien, of Venance Julien et fils inc., a dairy farm located in Saint-Alban, in the Portneuf area, where robotics made an appearance five years ago. Suffering from a sleep problem, which fortunately On Tony Sauvageau’s farm in Saint-Thuribe, has now been resolved, the barn has been equipped with a milking robot since June 2013.

Luc was looking for a way to reduce his workload. According to this owner, the cows adapted easily to the equipment, which now allows him to milk three times a day.

Faced with hiring additional staff or robotizing milking, he chose the latter. Unlike other producers, same thing in the barns he visited before he had confidence in robotics because he making his final choice. After a fire destroyed had been using a robotic feeding system for their dairy barn in August 2011, building new the past 20 years and had always been facilities became imperative for these producers. Steve Naud, a keen Holstein satisfied with it. breeder, says the idea of losing his neat and Although he admits that the early stages were tidy rows of cows caused a pang of anguish, challenging, mainly because they were but, he explains, “We were afraid of not adapting to a free-stall setup at the same moving with the times, and told ourselves that time, he says that he is very happy with the 2012 was not the time to get attached to our decision today. The first in Portneuf county to cows.” Moreover, when thinking about who acquire a milking robot, Luc’s initial concerns might eventually take over the farm – a about the reliability of the equipment have female candidate if it should come to pass – since vanished. Production has remained the owners wanted to reduce the physical steady and the system providing information demands of the job. Hence they chose to buy on each animal lives up to his expectations, two milking robots for the 70 or so cows that constitute their herd. particularly for its help in detecting heat.

The 60 cows in the Julien farm’s herd, which includes 12 EX and 45 VG, are milked an average of 2.9 times per day, but some go through 4 times daily. As well, some cows may be milked conventionally near the end of lactation. Luc’s brother Yves explains that this practice frees up the robot, which could have trouble keeping up with demand during peak periods. Like the other producers interviewed, Luc Julien stresses the importance of cow health and mobility, vaccines and a strong immune system.

At Ferme Géno, in Saint-Marc-des-Carrières, the author of these lines was struck by the peaceful atmosphere in the barn. Steve Naud, one of the farm’s owners along with his brother and his nephew, says he noticed the

For these producers, as for the others interviewed, adapting to robotics occurred at the same time as the shift to free-stall housing, and it was this latter change that proved the most demanding. Indeed, in all the cases mentioned above, the cows quickly became accustomed to the robot, and producers say that only a few cows needed to be culled.

Using a milking robot, and likewise housing cows in a free-stall barn, also required that breeders make adjustments to prepare for visits by classifiers. Obviously, being able to display an udder to its advantage is still important during these visits, says Steve Naud.

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FEATURE for. There have also been problems in barns where there were too many cows for each robot, underlines Steve Naud. Hence he and his associates bought two.

My cows are tied, what can I do?

In the end, it wasn’t the cows that had to overcome the main obstacle, but rather the producers, says Dany Langlois. Specifically, they had to learn to use computer technology.

On the Langlois farm, the milking robot works 24 hours a day and milking is done on a continual basis, with 2.9 to 3.6 milkings per day. First-calf cows are the exception; the brothers initially milk the new heifers twice a day so they can be there and guide them in backing up, although they do take the precaution of training the animals prior to calving.

Building a new barn to install milking robots isn’t for every producer however. For those whose animals are housed in tie The robot keeps you posted stalls, the Quebec firm Milkomax, located in If something is not working properly, the robot In Saint-Alban, the cows in the Lucyves herd, including Sainte-Monique, near immediately informs the person in charge. For 12 EX and 45 VG, willingly head for the milking robot.

Nicolet, has developed a some, this a definite advantage. Someone Good management is mobile robot. It is in fact a robot already does have to be on duty, but two or three available on the market that these inventors people can share the job, which makes it the key to success placed on an apparatus that can move up and easier to tolerate. At Ferme Lansi, if an Contrary to what some might think, the robot down the alley, stopping at each cow. Two employee is required to come in at night, he doesn’t work by itself, and good herd producers from the Portneuf area have or she will start work later the next morning management remains essential. In that regard, acquired the equipment: Tony Sauvageau, of so as to be able to catch up on lost sleep. all the producers interviewed expressed the Saint-Thuribe, and Dany Langlois, of SainteThere are others, however, who find the same view and will strongly advise anyone Christine-d'Auvergne. responsibility hard to shoulder. As Fred who is thinking of buying a robot in the hope Martineau, who uses a milking parlour, In both these cases, the purchase required of “off-loading the cows” against making such an investment, because it wouldn’t be a no specific changes to the layout of the barn, underlines, when the milking is done and the good fit. Although a robot does allow for more which meant the cows adapted quickly, work day is over, you can be sure you won’t flexibility in the schedule, someone still needs explains Mr. Sauvageau. He was also looking be disturbed because the robot has a to be there, they say. “You have to work out a to enhance his quality of life and so opted for problem. Likewise for Gervais Pelletier, who new routine for supervision,” adds Steve the robot rather than hiring additional staff, had that experience with a robotic feeding saying he is quite happy with his choice. He system and had no desire to suffer the same Naud. particularly likes the automatic detacher, stress for milking. ■ Sylvain Landry stresses that a robot is like an which removes the milker unit from each teat amplifier. If the herd is well managed, independently. Since this apparatus requires performance will improve, but if management that the cows back up, Mr. isn’t up to the mark, the negative conse- Sauvageau initially had to intervene quences will be that much greater. That’s to train them. Now many of the why you have to be devoted to your cows and cows back up on their own as soon really love the job of dairy producer to gain as the robot is positioned behind them. The 42 cows are milked from it. every five hours, three times a day.

In the early 2000s, when robotic milking was coming onto the market in Quebec, no one On the Langlois farm, the really had any advice about how to succeed. experience began in May 2012.

Now we’re well aware that the cows must be With no one to take over the farm, healthy, with sound feet and legs, and that we the two brothers were looking for have to take action as soon as there’s any a solution to improve their quality sign of lameness. For Steve Naud, that’s one of life, provided it was justifiable from an economic viewpoint. The of the key elements of management. idea that the robot could increase Another factor that seems important is the production by about 10 per cent quality of the housing facilities. A lack of meant it answered that requirespace in the alleys or in front of the robot or ment. According to Dany Langlois, On the Géno farm, two milking robots were installed in the the feed bunks, for example, may prevent you the designers’ promise proved true new barn that was built following the fire in August 2011. from obtaining the results you were hoping on their farm.