Research Reports

Research Reports are designed to report applied aspects of research from the UBC’s Dairy Education and Research Centre recently published in refereed international scientific journals. Reports are two pages in length and are published three to five times per year.

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Farm animal transport regulations in Canada: A focus on dairy cows and calves

Farm animal transport regulations in Canada: A focus on dairy cows and calves

Farm animal transport regulations in Canada: A focus on dairy cows and calves

Technology in the dairy industry: Historical and future perspectives

Technology in the dairy industry: Historical and future perspectives

Technology is everywhere on modern dairy farms.

Social housing improves dairy calves’ performance in a competition test

Social housing improves dairy calves’ performance in a competition test

Social housing improves dairy calves’ performance in a competition test

Improving lameness detection on dairy farms: developing a cyborg assessor

Improving lameness detection on dairy farms: developing a cyborg assessor

Improving lameness detection on dairy farms: developing a cyborg assessor

Progesterone and intensity of estrus are associated with fertility of dairy heifers.

Progesterone and intensity of estrus are associated with fertility of dairy heifers.

Progesterone and intensity of estrus are associated with fertility of dairy heifers.

Pasture access helps lame cows recover

Pasture access helps lame cows recover

Lameness is a painful but common condition in dairy cows, characterized by abnormal gait. Various surveys have estimated lameness prevalence on farms in North America to be above 25%, posing both an animal welfare and economic concern for the dairy industry.

What does success look like in calf rearing? Perspectives of dairy farmers

What does success look like in calf rearing? Perspectives of dairy farmers

Calf rearing practices vary greatly across farms, including feeding and weaning methods. This variation occurs despite research-based evidence showing the benefits associated with feeding calves higher milk allowances and weaning gradually. Survey-based studies can tell us ‘what’ calf feeding and management practices are occurring on farm, but to better understand ‘why’ farmers do what they […]

How Dairy Science Students View the Future of Cow Care

How Dairy Science Students View the Future of Cow Care

Public expectations of agriculture are sometimes in conflict with common management practices on farms, threatening social license and the long-term social and economic sustainability of the industry. Today’s students will be tomorrow’s leaders, so these individuals will likely have a key role to play in bridging any disconnect between industry practices and public values.

Dairy calves are motivated to be with another calf

Dairy calves are motivated to be with another calf

Dairy calves are often reared individually early in their life, contrary to natural conditions, where calves have access to a richer social environment. A large body of research suggests that housing dairy calves in pairs or groups early in life is important for the development of their social and cognitive skills.

Brushes for heifers

Brushes for dairy heifers

Brushes, both automated and fixed, are becoming common on dairy farms, providing cows the opportunity to express natural grooming behaviours.