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By Michel Dostie Editor Translation by Nicole De Rouin
Twenty-three farms invite you to the Holstein Québec Picnic
Faced with exceptional circumstances that changed the plans for the Holstein Québec Picnic, members of the Shefford-Brome Holstein Club rolled up their sleeves to organize the event all the same. And so the picnic will take place, as scheduled, on 20 July 2013, on the Brome Fair grounds. Twenty-three farms, members of this Club, will have some of their animals on site for the occasion. La Revue introduces you to three of these farms, located in three different regions of the Club’s territory.
Les hectares verts
a lifetime production to date of over 45 000 kg of milk and BCAs of 249-291-253.
Motivated by their children, who were extremely interested in dairy farming, and faced with enormous economic and organizational difficulties related to breeding and showing their Holstein animals in Switzerland, the Baechler family relocated to Roxton Pond, where they purchased a farm, Les hectares verts inc., in 1995. They say they have no regrets about crossing the Atlantic, and enjoy the freedom they have living in Quebec. In 2010, they received their first Master Breeder shield. Considering that only 10 per cent of the points for this title were attributable to animals they acquired when they bought the herd, the breeders are all the more proud of their achievement.
Jérôme and Dominique focus their breeding decisions toward obtaining “the best milking cows possible”, an approach that, when combined with meticulous management, ensures herd longevity and milk quality. Indeed, for the past four years, the farm has received a Great Distinction certificate for milk quality from the Fédération des producteurs de lait du Québec. In addition to that priority, the brothers also concentrate on health traits, specifically fertility and low somatic cell count. With these selection criteria, they say, production happens.
Today, their 320-head herd comprises 170 milking cows, with 25 of them classified EX, including 18 multiple EX, 84 VG, and 55 GP. Filling a 150-kg quota, they produce an average of 10 263 kg of milk annually, with 3.9% fat and 3.2% protein, earning BCAs of 221-230-222.
Hectare Duplex Lindor, VG-88-3yr, is now in her second lactation and is one of the great hopes of brothers Jérôme and Dominique Baechler.
At the moment, the Baechler brothers have high hopes for two young cows in their herd, namely Hectare Duplex Lindor, VG-88-3yr, and Hectare Goldwyn Tanzanie, EX-92-2E. Born in 2009 and descended from four generations of VG or EX dams, Lindor is currently in her second lactation, which is projected to yield 10 899 kg of milk, with 4.3% fat and 3.5% protein (230-266-250). As for Tanzanie, an impressive descendant of seven VG or EX dams, she is now in her fourth lactation, with
Having achieved their dual objective, specifically, to develop an outstanding herd that enables its owners to live well and to house that herd in comfortable facilities that are pleasant to work in, they now want to concentrate on quality of life. Before they can manage that, say the brothers, they will first have to learn to live with the new reality brought about by Nicolas’ departure.
Thank you Nicolas As everyone knows, the Baechler family had intended to host the 2013 picnic, but Nicolas’ premature death changed those plans and led brothers Jérôme and Dominique to ask the organizing committee to find an alternative solution. On the one hand, coping with the shock, they were in no mood to celebrate and, on the other hand, because they considered Nicolas to be a founder of the Hectare herd, they didn’t see how, at this time, they could possibly extol its virtues without him. Their main wish is thus “to express their thanks and pay him tribute.” They also want to thank the event’s organizers for understanding their decision and taking on full responsibility for carrying the event through to a successful conclusion. Jérôme and Dominique wish the best for the 2013 Holstein Québec Picnic. They will in fact be present at the event, taking part with a few of their animals. The three Baechler brothers, in the summer of 2012, left to right: Dominique, Jérôme and Nicolas. Dominique was a director of his Holstein Club for 12 years. LA REVUE HOLSTEIN QUÉBEC I JUILLET 2013
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Larrymead Holsteins Representing the fifth generation of Frizzles on this farm in Lac-Brome (formerly known as Knowlton), nestled in the Eastern Townships, Tom Frizzle, in partnership with his parents, continues to develop the Holstein herd that his grandfather first put together in 1950. Inspired by both the Beerworts and the Millers, two renowned breeders with farms on the same road as the Frizzles, Tom’s grandfather Lawrence began to build the herd that, in 1980, qualified him and his son Larry for the title of Master Breeder. Tom Frizzle took over the farm in 2005, when he acquired 50 per cent of the farm’s shares. Two years of working with his parents were enough to convince him that the farm and Holstein breeding were definitely the right career choice for him. He had previously completed CEGEP at Macdonald College and John Abbott College before studying agronomy at a Nova Scotia university. Tom operates the Larrymead herd with his father and mother, who are both actively involved in the daily farm work. The Frizzles take pride in the fact that all of their herd’s 145 animals except two bear the farm’s prefix. Their 70 cows, which include 3 EX, 37 VG and 30 GP, fill a 50-kg quota with an average annual production of 9 400 kg of milk, with 4.0% fat and 3.4% protein, and BCAs of 191195-189. The herd has grown over the past few years, which explains the slight drop in average production, to reach the size and quota the breeders were aiming for. Tom and his parents are now focusing their efforts on improving the herd through more rigorous
Diana and Larry Frizzle and their son Tom are joint owners of Larrymead Holsteins. Tom and his spouse, Lindsay Currie, have two daughters, Emelia, aged 3, and Andrea, 1.
selection. As a result, animal sales should regain their importance for this dairy operation. Through careful breeding, Tom Frizzle aims to improve both conformation (he lays great stress on longevity) and production, but he doesn’t intend to compromise to keep up with the latest trends. To accomplish his goal, he gives a lot of room to reasonably-priced proven sires. When choosing bulls, he selects only those that score at least +10 for conformation, and he then looks at pictures of their daughters, paying particular attention to their mammary systems and feet and legs. He also considers milk components and health criteria, especially low somatic cell count.
Larrymead Rudolph Mary, VG-2yr 4*, represents the type of cow that Tom Frizzle likes to breed. A good milk producer, with BCAs of 251-231-255 after two lactations, she produced six daughters, including two EX and two VG, to whom she owes her four stars. Unfortunately, Mary was hit by lightning only two months after her third calving. LA REVUE HOLSTEIN QUÉBEC I JUILLET 2013
The breeder completes his sire selection with a few high genomic young bulls that are unrelated to Goldwyn, since the herd already includes many of Goldwyn’s daughters. The selected sires must also come from families renowned for their high genetic potential. Embryo transfers are another of the tools that Tom Frizzle relies on. Each year, two to four transfers are performed using semen from proven sires, mostly to meet the needs of his herd. Among the animals bred on the farm, the Frizzle family is particularly proud of Larrymead Goldwyn Ming, VG-86-3yr, a representative of the 10th generation of VG or EX cows registered under the Larrymead prefix, and two half-sisters, Larrymead Fortune Nessa, VG-88, and Larrymead Fortune Martine, VG-87, descended from the same family and both of the 9th generation of VG or EX cows bearing the farm’s prefix. Visitors attending the picnic this year will have the opportunity to see Nessa. Now 67 days into her third lactation, she is projected to yield 11 695 kg of milk. She will be accompanied by Larrymead Spectrum Magenta, a heifer born in 2012 from a line of 10 VG or EX Larrymead dams. The Larrymead herd takes part in Brome Fair, and Tom Frizzle is one of the event’s directors. He has also been a director of the Brome Holstein Club, as well as of the SheffordBrome Club, following the amalgamation.
Ferme Viens et frères inc. Ferme Viens et frères inc., in Saint-Alphonsede-Granby, is now under the command of Daniel, of the fourth generation of the Viens family. The Viens Holstein herd was started by his father, André, who was then co-owned the farm with two of his brothers. Daniel joined the business in 1986, after graduating from the ITA with a diploma in Farm Management. His brother Patrice, also an ITA graduate, is a shareholder in the operation as well. In addition to his off-farm work, Patrice takes care of the poultry rearing and manages the fields. The Prudense herd has 200 head of cattle and a 101.9-kg quota. The 120 cows, which include 5 multiple EX, 3 EX, 36 VG and 62 GP, have an average production of 12 412 kg of milk, with 3.96% fat and 3.23% protein (272289-275). For five of the six past years, the herd has ranked first among its Club members for production. The herd also received a Great Distinction certificate for milk quality from the Fédération des producteurs de lait and ranks among the top 10 Agropur members for this same criterion.
One of the herd’s cows, Prudense Rudolph Farouche, EX-93-6E 11*, was nominated My Favourite Cow by the Shefford-Brome Holstein Club in 2011. This year, it is her daughter, Prudense Allen Tetue, EX-3E, who will defend her Club’s colours. With 11 daughters, including 3 EX, Farouche is one of the herd’s brood cows. She has produced 144 877 kg of milk in 8 lactations (278-314-290) and Prudense Lheros Ostil, EX-94 6*, owned by Pierre Boulet, won Tout-Québec titles as Junior Two-Year-Old, Junior Three-Yearhas passed that quality down to Old, and Five-Year-Old, and was nominated All-Canadian Junior her daughters, who have a Three-Year-Old and All-Canadian Five-Year-Old. projected mature equivalent yield of 13 656 kg. Farouche is the dam of, among others, more than 75 000 kg of milk in 7 lactations, Prudense Lheros Ostil, EX-94 6*, a cow Requise now serves the herd through her owned by Pierre Boulet that won Tout- 5 daughters, among them 1 EX and 3 VG. Québec titles as Junior Two-Year-Old, Junior Three-Year-Old, and Five-Year-Old, and was Because the cows on the Viens farm are nominated All-Canadian Junior Three-Year- housed in free stalls, selection focuses Old and All-Canadian Five-Year-Old. primarily on the quality of feet and legs and the mammary system, prerequisites for Prudense Inquirer Requise, VG-89 4*, is longevity. another important cow. Having produced About 30 per cent of the sires are selected among high genomic young bulls. But the breeder also studies the bulls’ origins to identify those with deep pedigrees. “You need to look at the full proof,” says Daniel Viens, because experience has taught him that, when dealing with genomics, it’s important to be cautious with respect to conformation.
Photo : Ferme Viens et frères inc.
On a day-to-day basis, Daniel is assisted on the farm chiefly by his father, André, who is active at all levels of the operation, and his mother, Jeanne, who is in charge of accounting and other administrative tasks, as well as one full-time employee, Cristel Delorme, who is mostly responsible for milking and the herd’s animal health records.
The team behind Ferme Viens et frères, from left to right, front: Raphaël Viens, Daniel’s son, Jeanne Granger and André Viens, co-owner ; behind: Daniel Viens, co-owner, Camille Guertin, Jeanne and André’s granddaughter, a student at the ITA, and Christel Delorme, employee.
The Viens family is also very active in their community. André has been a municipal councillor in Saint-Alphonse-de-Granby since 1971, a total of 42 years. Jeanne has been a church warden, has been involved in her local AFEAS organization, and has sat on the board of directors of the Société d'histoire et de généalogie des Quatre Lieux. As for Daniel, he has been a director of his Holstein Club for many years now, including eight as president. ■
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By Michel Dostie Editor Translation by Nicole De Rouin
The better off the animals are, the better they perform
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e doesn’t have a specific mandate and he’s not on a crusade on behalf of some organization or other; he simply likes animals and hence takes an interest in their welfare. It was in fact this same motivation that inspired him to become a veterinarian. Brought up on Ferme Clairbois inc., Dr. Guy Boisclair has been practicing veterinary medicine for nearly 30 years. Now chief of technical services, cattle unit, for Merck Animal Health, he is convinced that any action aimed at enhancing animal welfare will improve not only herd health and productivity, but farm profitability as well. And his interest in helping producers impels him to talk about it. “Welfare,” he says, “is the secret to success.” Referring to changes in barn construction, he explains that twenty years ago the emphasis was more on the person working there than on the animals themselves. As a result, certain mistakes were made that had adverse consequences. And with increasing herd size came an increased risk of disease, to the point that it was at one time thought that producing more milk went hand in hand with more disease. But, as Dr. Boisclair points out: “That isn’t true, because it is possible to counter those negative repercussions.”
Québec, Mr. Bruno Letendre, is part of that group. The Code comprises six sections and various appendices that cover all aspects of dairy cattle care. All the references used are also mentioned.
Advantages for breeders Producers may initially be taken aback by the standards, but, as Dr. Boisclair points out, opposing the constraints won’t make them disappear. He also underlines that it is to the advantage of producers to be vigilant with
A place for standards In Canada, the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) is entrusted with the mandate to promulgate the standards that assure animal welfare. Recommendations and certain requirements are communicated to producers and published on the Internet site www.nfacc.ca (under the tab Codes of Practice) for each production sector. According to the Council, “NFACC’s Code development process ensures credibility through scientific rigour, stakeholder collaboration and a consistent approach.” This means that the developers of these codes are industry participants, including producers, who rely on scientific research to establish standards. The Council also stipulates that each of the codes “reflects societal expectations for responsible farm animal care.”
Ample bedding means more comfort!
The standards for dairy production are defined in the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Farm Animals: Dairy Cattle, released in 2009. The producers who serve on the Code Development Committee represent the Dairy Farmers of Canada; the chairman of the Fédération des producteurs de lait du LA REVUE HOLSTEIN QUÉBEC I JUILLET 2013
respect to animal welfare. In his view, there is no doubt that the better off the animals are, the better they perform, and this translates into increased productivity for the herd. Breeders may also find the Code to be advantageous in terms of workload. Complying with the guidelines obviously requires time, but, as Dr. Boisclair mentions, treating sick animals is often a great deal more time-consuming. Hence, it seems that breeders who concern themselves with animal welfare get as much out of it as their animals.
comfort, insulation, warmth, dryness and traction. Bare concrete is not acceptable as a resting surface.”
Heifer care It is a well-known fact that colostrum is essential to calf health and that calves must consume it in sufficient quantities. In that regard, the Code specifies: “Calves must receive at least 4 liters of good quality colostrum within 12 hours of birth, with the first meal occurring as soon as possible, and no more than 6 hours after birth.” Moreover, underlines Dr. Boisclair, in order to give calves the best chance of survival, it’s best to separate them from their mothers as quickly as possible and house them in a suitable area where they’ll have no contact with manure, so as to reduce the risk of Johne’s disease, diarrhea, and salmonellosis.
A comfortable stall and good bedding are key components of animal welfare.
And that’s not counting the mounting pressure from consumers with regard to animal welfare. Dr. Boisclair highlights the example of New Zealand, where producers were in the habit of docking their cows’ tails. Japanese consumers, important clients of New Zealand, demanded that the practice be ceased, threatening a boycott of their dairy products. Dairy producers responded by prohibiting the procedure in order to protect their market.
Comfort, cleanliness and stability One aspect of welfare on which Dr. Boisclair lays great stress is the use of bedding. Cement is obviously an uncomfortable surface and many producers cover cement floors with mats or mattresses. But that isn’t enough, says Dr. Boisclair, because a good two-inch layer of additional bedding is required, not only to make the animals more comfortable, but also to keep them clean, which is essential to udder health. Likewise, the bedding needs to be cleaned and replaced as necessary. “Working the pitchfork is still a must,” insists this veterinarian. Stall size has a role to play as well. Surprisingly, some cows even have problems when the stalls are too big. Appropriate stall dimensions therefore depend on the specific
needs of the animals that will be housed in them, whether yearling heifers, young cows or mature animals. “Outside, there are no stupid cows,” says Dr. Boisclair, referring to a comment that is oftheard when a cow has trouble rising. If the cow can’t manage to get up normally inside the barn, perhaps the floor or the size of the stalls is causing the problem. The standards prescribed by the NFACC also apply to freestall barns. In this case, the Code stipulates that cows must have adequate room at the feed bunk and water trough in order to minimize competition in these strategic areas. Air quality and temperature are also components of the overall quality of dairy cattle housing. Adequate ventilation is thus a requirement. Likewise, says Dr. Boisclair, noise is considered a stress factor, which means that yelling at the cows is not a recommended practice. The Code sums up the requirements for animal housing by stipulating that: “Housing must allow cattle to easily stand up, lie down, adopt normal resting postures, and have visual contact with other cattle.” It also states that: “Cattle must have a bed that provides
Dehorning is another major issue in relation to heifer well-being. There are painless methods that can be used right after birth. When the calves are older, however, an anaesthetic is required. The pain represents 12 hours of stress, says Dr. Boisclair, and this stress makes the animal vulnerable to infections and disease. What’s more, a young animal that is suffering sees humans as the enemy, and this fear will have a long-term effect on the animal’s well-being. Breeders who so desire can ask a veterinarian to perform the operation. Calf welfare is also dependent on housing facilities. There are a number of entirely recommendable housing systems, and guidelines regarding space requirements, depending on the calf’s age, are available. Even hutches are acceptable according to the Code of Practice, so long as they are positioned in such a way as “to minimize environmental impacts (e.g., out of the wind, facing south, shaded areas).” Dr. Boisclair underlines, however, that when temperatures are cooler, it is important to increase the energy intake of calves housed in hutches and provide them with a thicker layer of bedding. When calves are housed in groups, it is preferable that the group remain constant throughout the entire rearing period. Whenever a new group is formed, a new hierarchy must be established, and this increases the stress level and makes calves more vulnerable.
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A space for each cow at the feed bunk is a good way to assure their well-being.
Even in a freestall barn, every cow needs a place to lie down.
Welfare also means health
bedding are often the cause of early removal to the slaughterhouse. According to Dr. Boisclair, about 30 per cent of cows suffer from lameness, a problem that is underestimated by breeders. The condition leads to decreased feed intake, which has a negative impact on production and makes it more difficult to detect heat. The Code explains that
About 15 per cent of heifers perish between birth and early lactation. According to Dr. Boisclair, a significant proportion of these losses is linked to inadequate environmental conditions that are conducive to neonatal diarrhea and respiratory problems.
Although microbes are ever-present, a calf raised normally will develop a good immune system and be able to defend itself. If there are too many microbes, however, the calf will no longer be able to protect itself and will fall ill. Later on, foot or hock injuries due to inadequate stall dimensions or insufficient
Yearling heifers deserve a comfortable resting area as well.
LA REVUE HOLSTEIN QUÉBEC I JUILLET 2013
In this photograph of a heifer barn, notice the system along the ceiling that ensures excellent air circulation.
a “healthy cow places the rear foot into the position vacated by the front foot on the same side. Slippery floors or dark conditions can alter a cow's walking behavior, placing greater stress on the outside claw.” In open housing, this is relatively easy to see with a good eye. In a conventional barn, a tied cow that shifts its weight from one foot to another is probably suffering from lameness. After ensuring that animals are housed on comfortable flooring, pre-emptive hoof trimming, done at least twice yearly, is the best way to prevent lameness. It’s somewhat surprising, says Dr. Boisclair, but foot problems occur more frequently after calving. Hormonal changes associated with calving lead to a loosening of the ligaments in the hooves. Because the post-partum period is central to a dairy cow’s productivity, breeders should do everything possible to assure the cow’s welfare, and that includes comfort. Hence it’s a good idea to keep cows on a padded surface or on pasture for the first month after calving. On the other hand, because cows don’t like to be alone, they
should be kept near one another as stress caused from isolation will also hinder production. It’s important to remember, says Dr. Boisclair, “that comfort doesn’t necessarily equate to well-being.” And if the source of the disease is environmental, it’s important to be aware that when the medication ceases to have an effect, the animal will again suffer. Inquisitiveness should motivate the breeder to search for the real cause of the problem. A case of mastitis, for example, could be caused by a defective milking system. Identifying the bacteria and choosing the right antibiotic certainly won’t eliminate the underlying problem. This same inquisitiveness should also compel breeders to attend to any indications of problems that need clearing up, such as hock injuries affecting a number of cows or abrasions on the back of the cows’ necks. Dr. Boisclair would say these signs reflect a failing in animal welfare caused by inappropriate housing conditions.
Calling on the service providers Whether your veterinarian, your Valacta advisor, your input supplier or any other consultant, all of these people are usually able to advise you on improving the quality of life of your animals. They are often more than pleased to answer their clients’ questions. Equipment distributors are also in a good position to provide you with information about the use of the different equipment available and its effect on animal welfare. Although it may feel awkward to intervene, concludes Dr. Boisclair, it is also up to the various service providers to make breeders aware of the practices they’ve observed that may be affecting the well-being of their herds. Thus, it is often teamwork that helps breeders identify the limiting factor in their management practices or herd environment that is negatively affecting the well-being of their animals and, as a result, the profitability of their farms.
• The author thanks Dr. Guy Boisclair for his invaluable collaboration in the writing of this article.
LA REVUE HOLSTEIN QUÉBEC I JUILLET 2013