Are Lactanet’s Workshops for me?
- November 24, 2022
Do you like to compare your results with other producers, exchange ideas with advisors, and learn from our experts? Do you want concrete strategies to have a more sustainable and profitable farm? Look no further, our workshops are for you!
Do you control your costs?
Let’s be honest. The dairy industry is competitive. There are many external factors you can’t do anything about, but you can reduce and control your costs. Easier said than done? Here is the first question to ask yourself: Do I really know what my costs are on the farm? It’s essential to be able to compare your costs with those of previous years, but also with those of other dairy operations (this is called benchmarking). This step helps you determine the expenses to reduce as a priority and, ultimately, implement an action plan adapted to your environment.
Did you know that applying best management practices could lead to savings between $50,000 and $80,000 per year on production costs?
How are your farm’s costs broken down?
Your cost of production is broken down into several expenses. And these expenses do not have the same financial weight for your business. Feed remains the most important item, followed by mid- to long-term assets, rearing costs and, finally, labour. Also, don’t forget quota management, which is an important part of your profitability and can maximize your revenue.
The choice is yours!
Our The Secrets to Profitable Milk workshop is a group discussion. You will choose from a list of topics and YOU will decide the direction of the discussions. Each session will be unique and tailored to the needs of participants! Join the discussion and let us help you find the management strategies that are right for you.
“A vision without action is an illusion.” – Vern Osborne, PhD, Professor, University of Guelph, 2022 Dairy Cattle Symposium
What is YOUR story?
Before you continue, ask yourself this question: Does each of the heifers I have kept have a story? Do you make sure that every heifer you raise generates revenue for the farm? Let us help you write YOUR story, because no two stories are alike.
Why write MY story?
As mentioned above, rearing is one of the biggest expenses for a dairy operation. In 2021, the average rearing cost was $4,2581 per heifer. It goes without saying that knowing your replacement needs should be the first chapter of your story. This information will allow you to determine if savings could be made (e.g., forage, milk powder, bedding) or if strategic decisions could be taken to improve your farm’s return on investment.
During this workshop, we will talk about key elements to help you raise quality heifers, but also produce an adequate number of heifers with the least amount of resources.
The second chapter of your story should be entitled How can I improve management and genetics to optimize my rearing program? We will highlight several tools to help you reflect on the subject: genetic inventory, Compass, Herd Summary Report, Growth Monitoring application, etc.
Remember that, for an animal to reach its full genetic potential, it must be raised in a healthy and comfortable environment.
Finally, your third chapter is about your breeding program. How do you know which heifers should be bred and what strategy to use? Does your farm have a selection plan? Our workshop entitled The Story Behind Your Heifer Inventory will help you answer all these questions.
Sexed, conventional or beef semen? Knowing the different breeding strategies will help you optimize your rearing program.
How do I register for a workshop?
You can register now via your online MySite account. Simply click on Register to a workshop in the upper right corner of your home page and select the date and time that suits you from the table. You can also talk to your Lactanet advisor or technician or call our customer service department.
Testimonials from 2021-2022 workshop participants
1Agritel 2021
