1. Kevin Bekkers, P.Eng. NS Agriculture, Antigonish
NS Dairy Farming
Kevin Bekkers, P.Eng.
NS Agriculture, Antigonish

2. Dairy Farming is a Business.

3. NS Dairy Farming
270 Dairy Farms in NS down from 350 less than 5 years ago.
Largest sector of NS Agriculture and the backbone of Antigonish Agriculture
Supply Managed Commodity under a Quota System measured in kg BF / day
18350 kgs BF allocated to NS Dairy Farmers or 500,000 litres milk/day

4. Antigonish Perspective
12% of NS Production
36 Producers or 13.5% of the farmers
20,000,000 million in Gross Farm Sales
Supports spinoff jobs through processing milk, equipment sales and repairs, feed companies, vets, farm jobs, fertilizer companies, seed companies, …….

5. Quota System
Each Farmer has to own the piece paper for the right to ship milk.
Currently in NS to purchase 1 kg BF or approximately 27 liters of production per day or the equivalent of one cows production
$28,000 / kg BF
For an average 55 cow farm the asset value would be 1.4 million just for the quota or piece of paper.

6. What we will see?

7. Milking Systems Two Types Relies on Technology and automation
Parlor where the cow walks to get milked
Tie Stall where the farmers carries the milker
Relies on Technology and automation
Bulk Tank for storing milk
Quality Assurances for consumer safety

8. Milking – 365 days a year no exceptions!
Most farmers milk twice a day generally strive for a 12 hour rotation
Increase in Milking 3 times daily on an eight hour rotation, less stress for the cow, increased milk production, more labour, harder to get breaks on the weekends

9. Feed Bunks Plates the cows eat from, how they are managed daily
What they are fed
How many can eat at one time or bunk space
How the feed gets to the bunk
If cows are grouped or all eat together

10. Free or Tie Stalls Free Stalls Tie Stalls
Cows walk to feed bunk and stalls to lay down
Different types of bedding for the cows to lay on – Sand, rubber mats, sawdust
Spacing and length of stalls
Tie Stalls
Cow remains in one place, often let out for exercise
Receive their feed and water at there location

11. Cow Comfort Ventilation Lighting Air Quality Traffic of Animals
Access to feed, stalls, and water
Floor surfaces
Manure handling

12. New Buildings
Elaborate structures designed for cow comfort, efficiency, environmental considerations, technology, …..
100 cow barn - $1,000,000 easily today

13. Hospital Wards Maternity pens for calving Sick cow area
Hoof trimming stalls
Treatment areas, foot baths

14. Feed Storage Bunker silo – stored on the ground
Tower Silo stored upright in large concrete tower
Both are used for storing grass/legume or corn silage

15. Silage compacted to remove air, allowing fermentation and storage
Stored Feed
Potato waste
Bunker Silo

16. Commodity Feeds producing a TMR Totally Mixed Ration
Ration or Meal supplied to the cow is a balance of energy and protein
Farmers maximize the amount of silage they can feed and balance the remainder with other inputs, $$$$
Soybeans, barley, wheat, minerals chocolate,…

17. NS Farmers are encouraged to have Environmental Farm Plans
12 month manure Storage

18. So what is Dairy Farming?

19. Dairy Farming Job Description “Farm Management Professional”
Animal Husbandry
Animal Health
Maximize Efficiency constantly
Harvesting crops at optimum yield and quality
Financial management
Equipment maintenance and skill
Technology – Computer, GPS,
Human Resource Management