Canada invests $1M in the health of dairy cows
by CM Staff
This investment will enable the association to develop algorithms that will help predict risks during lactation based on blood metabolites obtained before calving.
OTTAWA — With an investment of nearly $1 million from the federal government, the Association des médecins vétérinaires praticiens du Québec says it will be able to develop a digital tool to anticipate and reduce the risks associated with metabolic diseases in dairy cows.
Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau made the announcement about the contribution from the Canadian Agricultural Strategic Priorities Program.
The association says metabolic diseases represent a major health concern for dairy cows, especially during the post-calving period. This investment will enable the association to develop algorithms that will help predict risks during lactation based on blood metabolites obtained before calving. The tool and the results will be made available online for dairy producers and veterinarians.
The Quebec-based veterinary group says that by being better equipped to understand and anticipate risks, they will be able to quickly target corrective actions that improve animal health and welfare.
The tool will help producers reduce economic losses due to disease for both producers and processors. Further, it will help improve intervention capacity for veterinarians and strengthen working relationships between producers and processors.
“Canadian dairy farmers are counting on innovation to help them protect the health and welfare of their animals, grow their businesses and stabilize the food supply. I salute this initiative of the Association des médecins vétérinaires praticiens du Québec which will allow them to better predict diseases and thus reduce the risks for producers and processors,” said Bibeau in a statement.
