Reading Time: < 1 minute University of Alberta researchers are developing an easy pen-side test for mastitis. The test works by mixing urine samples with a chemical solution that uses colour intensity to reveal metabolite concentrations. Although still in development, the test could predict the likelihood of mastitis with 95 per cent accuracy. Identifying cows that are susceptible to developing […] Read more
University of Alberta test to offer new way to control mastitis
Pen-side test will be able to accurately predict which cows need proactive treatment
Alberta Milk working to increase milk supply
Demand for milk and dairy products has jumped, but Alberta Milk is increasing deliveries to processors
Reading Time: 2 minutes [UPDATED: Mar. 24, 2020] Alberta Milk is aware of milk shortages in the province and is addressing them, says a spokesperson. “There are shortages happening across the province and we’re trying really hard to react to them,” Karlee Conway said March 23. “I think it comes back to people hoarding milk and products — and […] Read more
Saputo to shut two dairy plants in East
Canadian dairy processing giant Saputo, in a move it describes as “right-sizing” its manufacturing footprint, plans to close two of its plants in Eastern Canada within a year. Montreal-based Saputo said Thursday it will close the former Riverside Cheese and Butter plant at Trenton, Ont. this September and its Baxter dairy plant at Saint John, […] Read more
Program gives dairy industry hopefuls a foot in the door
Alberta Milk is accepting applications for the New Entrant Assistance Program until March 31
Reading Time: 3 minutes Peggy and Harmen Hondebrink didn’t see a way to start dairy farming on their own before Alberta Milk introduced its New Entrant program nine years ago. “It’s not something you can just start out of nothing,” said Peggy Hondebrink, who now operates a dairy farm with husband Harmen east of Rocky Mountain House. “To buy […] Read more
Agropur pulls milk over sanitizer residue concerns
A case of “discomfort” reported by one consumer has led North America’s biggest dairy co-operative to pull certain batches of milk from sale in Quebec and Ontario. Agropur on Friday announced a voluntary recall of certain bagged and cartoned milks made at its Ottawa processing plant and sold under the Sealtest and L’ecole c’est nourrissant […] Read more
Ben + Jerry’s says ‘happy cows’ lawsuit should be put to pasture
Reuters — Ben + Jerry’s said it does not deceive consumers by saying it used milk and cream from “happy cows” to make its ice cream, and that an environmental advocate’s lawsuit claiming otherwise should be dismissed. In a Monday filing seeking to end the proposed nationwide class action, Ben + Jerry’s said James Ehlers […] Read more
New dairy-processing plant to be built in Alberta
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Western Milk Pool, which represents dairy producers in Western Canada, will build a new dairy concentration facility. Construction of the Dairy Innovation West plant will begin in April and is expected to be completed by March 2021. The facility will be located near Lacombe and Red Deer. The state-of-the-art facility, the first of its […] Read more
Gay Lea buys northern Ontario cheesemaker
Ontario’s first producer of verified-grass-fed butter and cheeses is set to become part of the province’s biggest dairy co-operative. Gay Lea Foods said Monday it has completed a deal to buy Thornloe Cheese from its current owner, Guelph-based dairy genetics firm EastGen, for an undisclosed sum. Thornloe Cheese on its website says the business takes […] Read more
Free business analysis for dairy producers
Reading Time: < 1 minute Enrolment is now open for the Dairy Cost Study, which offers free business analysis for participating Alberta dairy farmers. Participants provide farm information over the course of a year, which is then compiled to create a business analysis on the cost and returns of producing milk at their farm. Individual data is kept confidential but […] Read more
Alberta Milk’s new-entrant program taking applications
The program, which ‘loans’ quota to new dairy farmers, has helped 17 operations start up
Reading Time: < 1 minute Until March 31, Alberta Milk will be accepting applications to its New Entrant Assistance Program. The program offers a quota loan at no cost to successful applicants who want to be dairy farmers anywhere in the province. Under the program, every kilogram of quota purchased by the new entrant is matched by two kilograms by […] Read more
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