Alberta Dairy Farm Survey Response

Abstract

All dairy producers in the Canadian province of Alberta were mailed a questionnaire to determine current management practices and production. This survey was undertaken to develop and to plan extension programs based on current dairy producer needs. Of the producers contacted, 802 (57%) responded to the survey questionnaire. The results indicated that the mean herd size was 67 cows, and mean daily milk production was 21.9 kg/d per cow. More than 60% of the producers reported that the majority of their calf losses occurred at birth, and another 15.6% stated that losses occurred within the 1st wk. Less than one-third of the cooperators individually penned calves to prevent contact among calves prior to weaning. Approximately 31% of the cows in the herds surveyed required two or more breedings, partially because of inadequate estrus detection; only 50.3% of the respondents had daily scheduled detection times. The most frequent health concerns perceived by the producers were mastitis, foot problems, and silent estrus. Educational and extension programs should focus on specific areas, such as newborn calf management and reproductive management, to improve the efficiency and profitability of dairy production in Alberta.