Improving Calf Health and Welfare with Dr. David Renaud

Drs. Stephen LeBlanc and David Renaud join us to discuss the status of their work announced in February 2023 aiming to help Canadian farmers improve sustainability and herd health with $4 million in funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Alliance program, in addition to four industry collaborators, including Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO), Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC), Lactanet and Veal Farmers of Ontario. Alongside Dr. David Kelton, the research team from Ontario Veterinary College are tackling a series of 15 studies that target burning questions from the dairy and beef industries that require science-based answers.

During this episode, we talk to Dr. John Cant, Professor in the Department of Animal Biosciences at the University of Guelph, about his research program on nutrition modelling and precision feeding for dairy cows.

During this episode, Dr. Eduardo Ribeiro, Associate Professor in the Department of Animal Biosciences at the University of Guelph, talks about fertility, embryo development and pregnancy losses in dairy cows, as well as additional factors affecting pregnancy, including transition cow health, long-term effects of diseases and prevention strategies.

During this episode, we talk to Dr. Trevor DeVries, Professor in the Department of Animal Biosciences at the University of Guelph, and Canada Research Chair in Dairy Cattle Behaviour and Welfare, about his research program on robotic (or automated) milking systems, cows’ personality traits and sensor-based technologies.

During this episode, we talk to Dr. Charlotte Winder from Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) about welfare and health in dairy farming, including heifer calf management, pain-control practices in youngstock, best strategies for dry-off and farmers’ mental health.