Advances in Dairy Technology Virtual.Dairy.Reality. Volume 33, 2021 Advances in Dairy Technology Volume 33 Proceedings of the 2021 Western Canadian Dairy Seminar Editor WCDS Program Sub-Committee Co-operating Agencies: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Alberta Milk Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (Livestock Veterinary Services) B.C. Representative (UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre) Dairy Industry Representatives Animal Nutrition Association of Canada (Masterfeeds and Alltech Company) Equipment Representative (Dairyland Agro Supply Ltd.) Financial Institution (Farm Credit Canada) Pharmaceutical Representative (Zoetis) Manitoba Representative (Dairy Farmers of Manitoba) Saskatchewan Representative (University of Saskatchewan) University of Alberta (Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science) University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Published by: University of Alberta Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science Copyright © 2021 University of Alberta Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2P5 4 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means whatsoever without prior permission of the copyright owners. ISBN: 1184-0684 Editors WCDS Program Sub-Committee Program Chair: Karin Orsel, University of Calgary Members: Masahito Oba, University of Alberta Divakar Ambrose, Government of Alberta Tietsia Huyzer, Alberta Milk Devon Simmelink, Alberta Milk Karen Beauchemin, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Production Co-ordinators Jody Forslund, Kira Macmillan, Kate Davies University of Alberta For information please contact our office at: Telephone: (780) 492-3236 Email: [email protected] Home Page: http://www.wcds.ca/ Mailing Address: Western Canadian Dairy Seminar c/o Department of Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science 4-10 Agriculture/Forestry Centre University of Alberta Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6G 2P5 5 Preface One cannot start a preface to the 39th Annual Western Canadian Dairy Seminar (WCDS) proceedings without a word about the current pandemic. Our 38th conference was cut short, and the 39th will be a virtual format. However, it is with great pride we present you the proceedings for the seminar “Virtual. Dairy. Reality” This year’s seminar has the following five sessions: . Calf Health . Nutrition . Virtual farm tours . Student Research and Producer Panel . Reproduction and genetics As in person meetings are currently not an option, we have chosen to work with TK Virtual to provide a professional platform to present to you some of the best speakers in the world at this year’s WCDS. As teachers, researchers, extension specialists and industry experts, our speakers are not only leaders in their areas of expertise, and the virtual platform provided no restriction to getting the best ‘on board’. Besides the presentations, the virtual format allow us to take you all on a virtual farm tour and into a virtual trade show floor. Our special thanks to all sponsors for their continued financial support in this new format. Without the generous support of our sponsors it would not be possible to bring you the speakers of this caliber while keeping the registration fee low. The WCDS was founded in 1982 with a vision to support the growth and success of the Canadian dairy industry. Every year the dairy industry looks to the WCDS for solutions to emerging issues, and for new research results. As in past years, we are thrilled to see attendees from a broad cross section of the dairy industry, including producers, nutritionists, consultants, veterinarians, services companies, government, university/college personnel and students. We truly hope that the networking and knowledge-sharing will also happen and be enjoyed in our virtual reality. The continued success of the WCDS is attributable to the guidance, support and commitment of the WCDS Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee includes representatives from academia, the provincial and federal governments, Alberta Milk, Alberta Veterinary Medical Association, Animal Nutrition Association of Canada, dairy equipment manufacturers, financial institutions, milk processors, pharmaceutical industry, as well as representatives from each of the four Western provinces. We thank the Advisory Committee members for their input and advice in shaping this year’s program. We specially acknowledge the tremendous support of our conference coordinators, Kate Davies, Jody Forslund and Kira Macmillan, who always go the extra mile to ensure that the excellence of the seminar is maintained, in person or in our virtual reality. Once again, we extend a warm welcome to you and thank you for your participation. We wish everyone a wonderful time learning and networking over the week. On behalf of the program committee; Tietsia Huyzer, Devon Simmelink, Divakar Ambrose, Masahito Oba Karin Orsel (Program Chair) 6 Advisory Committee Our thanks to the following individuals and organizations for the time and effort that they have devoted to organizing the 2021 Western Canadian Dairy Seminar Agriculture and Agri-Food Financial Institution Representative Canada Michael Koornneef Karen Beauchemin Farm Credit Canada Lethbridge, AB Red Deer, AB Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Representative from Manitoba Divakar Ambrose Miriam Sweetnam (WCDS Co-chair) Edmonton, AB Dairy Farmers of Manitoba Pauline Van Biert Winkler, MB Edmonton, AB Pharmaceutical Representative Dorothy Erickson Alberta Milk Zoetis Tietsia Huyzer Hepburn, SK Olds, AB Devon Simmelink Representative from Saskatchewan Rocky Mountain House, AB Greg Penner University of Saskatchewan Alberta Veterinary Medical Association University of Alberta Betty-Jo Bradley Masahito Oba Livestock Veterinary Services Department of Agricultural, Food Picture Butte, AB and Nutritional Science Animal Nutrition Association of Canada Kate Davies, Jody Forslund, Kira Hamid Khazanehei Macmillan, Conference Coordinators Masterfeeds an Alltech Company, Department of Agricultural, Food Calgary, AB and Nutritional Science Representative from BC University of Calgary Nelson Dinn (WCDS Chair) Karin Orsel UBC Dairy Education and Research Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Centre, Agassiz, BC Equipment Representative MJ Sharma Lethbridge Dairy Mart Lethbridge, AB 7 Table of Contents Preface 5 Advisory Committee 6 Table of Contents 7 Sponsors 11 Index of Advertisers 13 Speakers 15 Program 16 Session I. Calf Health Nutraceuticals: An alternative strategy for the use of antimicrobials in dairy calves Michael Ballou ................................................................................................................................ 23 Giving calves a good start: Lessons from the maternity pen Kathryn Proudfoot .......................................................................................................................... 31 Coccidiosis in dairy calves John Gilleard .................................................................................................................................. 41 Session II. Nutrition Growth benchmarks and nutrient requirements of dairy heifers from weaning to calving Mike Van Amburgh ......................................................................................................................... 53 Managing high-straw dry cow diets to optimize health and performance Trevor DeVries ............................................................................................................................... 67 Protein during the dairy cow transition period: What we feed and what they lose Jacquelyn Boerman ....................................................................................................................... 81 Session III. Virtual Farm Tours ......................................................................................................... 95 Session IV. Student Research Presentation Competition Effects of glutamate supplementation during the periparturient period on the performance of dairy cows Satoko Hisadomi, University of Alberta ........................................................................................ 100 Effect of selective removal of high proviral load cattle on the herd prevalence of bovine leukosis Sulav Shrestha, University of Calgary ......................................................................................... 100 The effect of gradual weaning method and forage type on feeding behaviour and growth of dairy calves Allison Welk, University of British Columbia ................................................................................ 101 8 Anogenital distance is consistent throughout adult life in holstein cows and associated with embryo quality Iswarya Rajesh, University of Alberta .......................................................................................... 101 Session V. Producer Panel .............................................................................................................. 105 Session VI. Reproduction and Genetics Advancing genetic gain in dairy cattle through genomics and reproductive technologies Kent Weigel .................................................................................................................................. 109 Impact of altering the voluntary waiting period on reproduction and economics in dairy herds Julio Giordano .............................................................................................................................