Dairy producers know that the slightest change in the behavior of cows can give an indication of their state of health. But since they can't be everywhere at once, artificial intelligence could help improve and extend the lives of their livestock. In 不良研究所's Macdonald Campus farm, researchers are developing tools to detect problems before they occur.
Each year,聽聽recognizes top performing herds and outstanding dairy herd management based on the .聽 不良研究所's Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is very proud to share Macdonald Campus Farm鈥檚 results for 2023 and to underline the farm鈥檚 ranking:
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1 of 29聽herds in聽痴补耻诲谤别耻颈濒鈭扴辞耻濒补苍驳别蝉
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4 of 189聽herds in the聽Mont茅r茅gie鈭扥uest region
聽featured our very own聽Macdonald Campus Farm in their online magazine,聽speaking to General Manager Janice Pierson.
The Macdonald Campus Dairy Unit has once again been named one of the best in the region at the 35th Agropur Club of Excellence for Milk Quality Awards.
The apple is constantly being reinvented, changing with the times and cultures. The Malus domestica species comes in some 7,500 varieties.
"Today, people want crisp, sweet apples. Quebec used to import a lot of Granny Smiths; they're now much less popular because they're very acidic," explains David Wees, a 不良研究所 Plant Science lecturer and Associate Director of the university's Farm Management and Technology Program.
Here's a feast for your eyes on this chilly February morning. Join聽Mike Bleho聽for a trip back to the sweltering summer of 2020 to see the construction of a couple of new structures at the Hort Centre - a low input high tunnel and a greenhouse. Thanks to this new infrastructure, the team produced tomatoes right up until the first week of November! The project came together thanks to the dedicated efforts of our staff and students and was supported by the 不良研究所 Sustainability Projects Fund.聽
Animal-friendly fences, optimized water use and rotational grazing systems help make the Mac dairy herd more sustainable overall
鈥淭his system of pasturing uses the cattle to manage grass growth, and in return, the cattle get highly nutritious grass at the peak of quality while spending the spring, summer and fall outside in a natural environment,鈥 says [Farm Manager, Paul] Meldrum of the Project which received funding from the University鈥檚 Sustainability Projects Fund.
The Ecological Improvement of Dairy Cow Pastures project has created a sustainable pasture system at the Macdonald Campus Farm which features a rotational grazing system for cattle, the addition of approximately 700 trees and shrubs, the installation of water lines for access to fresh water, and the purchase of a mobile shade umbrella to protect cattle from the sun. The re-design of the pastures has led to improved animal well-being and reduced machinery usage.
As Coordinator of the Horticulture Research Centre at the Macdonald Campus Farm, Michael [Bleho] has demonstrated his commitment to sustainability through his daily interactions with students and his work making the agricultural process more eco-friendly throughout his 30 years at the Centre. Michael was a driving force in establishing 鈥槻涣佳芯克 Feeding 不良研究所鈥, an initiative which directly provides Macdonald Campus produce to campus dining halls.
芦聽Depuis 30聽ans, je prends soin du verger de 不良研究所, confie fi猫rement Michael Bleho, coordonnateur du Centre de recherche horticole de l鈥橴niversit茅 不良研究所. J鈥檃dore travailler avec les pommiers!聽禄 D茅bordant d鈥檈nthousiasme, il annonce ainsi l鈥檃boutissement d鈥檜n projet colossal聽: planter un nouveau verger pour l鈥檜niversit茅.
Congratulations to Mac Farm Staffer Martin Chaumont recipient of the Principal鈥檚 Award for Administrative and Support Staff (Technical Assistants, Library Assistants and Nurses Category)!
[Paul Meldrum, Macdonald Campus Farm Manager, is a familiar and friendly face to many staff and students on campus - He describes his experience working with students at the farm: "I am very proud of our students. They inspire me and give me confidence in the future."]
Paul Meldrum est un vrai passionn茅. Apr猫s avoir men茅 de front, pendant 22聽ans, le m茅tier d鈥櫭﹍eveur de vaches laiti猫res et de journaliste sp茅cialis茅 en agriculture, il a 茅t茅 engag茅 par la ferme du Campus Macdonald en 2004. Et il en assure la direction 鈥 avec un enthousiasme 茅vident 鈥 depuis 11聽ans.
La Ferme Macdonald College fait partie des seize fermes laiti猫res qui ont re莽u les grands honneurs 脿 l鈥檕ccasion du 30e Gala du Club de l鈥橢xcellence d鈥橝gropur, tenu 脿 Qu茅bec le 25 janvier dernier. Cet 茅v茅nement a rendu hommage aux fermes laiti猫res, membres d鈥橝gropur, ayant enregistr茅 les meilleurs r茅sultats en mati猫re de qualit茅. Lors de l鈥櫭﹙猫nement, la Ferme Macdonald College a 茅t茅 intronis茅e au Club de l鈥橢xcellence d鈥橝gropur.
Le campus Macdonald de l鈥橴niversit茅 不良研究所 disposera bient么t d鈥檜n nouvel espace pour faire conna卯tre au grand public la vraie nature de l鈥檃griculture moderne.聽 ...
不良研究所鈥檚 Very Own Circular Micro-Economy