December 2021
www.holsteinquebec.com
Stimuli in dairy production
Increasing production with ease
Ferme Du Fjord
A promising young herd
Ferme Lacnor
Working tirelessly to develop solid lines
LA REVUE HOLSTEIN QUÉBEC I DECEMBER 2021
Initially, genetic factors play an important
role. Thanks to intense genetic selection for
production traits and advancements in feeding
and herd management, per lactation and per
cow yields in the United States increased by
about 20 per cent between 1980 and 2000.
Other determinants also affect herd profitability
and individual cow productivity: number of
lactations, breed, overall state of health, body
condition, feeding during dry off, and the
duration of this rest and recovery period.
But beyond that, what can dairy producers do
to boost milk production per cow in every
lactation? First, it is important to have a milk
analysis done. One option is to consult a
Lactanet advisor and use the
Lactanet Mobile
application to identify areas for action. Once
the analysis has been done, an advisor will
assess the overall situation: transition mana -
gement, comfort in the barn, breeding, heifer
rearing, cow health, and, of course, feeding.
For feeding-related factors, an advisor can
evaluate the ration and other important
parameters, such as dry matter intake, silage
grind using a Pennstate particle separator,
effective fibre, and the milk:concentrate ratio.
(Source: Lactanet)
Next, producers can examine all the external
stimuli that influence milk production to some
extent. Although small actions in these areas
may seem trivial, producers can make a big
difference in the profitability of their operations,
and in the lives of their animals.
Here are some of the key elements to consider:
Lighting
A number of studies have shown that control-
ling cows’ exposure to light can increase milk
production. The first reason for that is that
light penetrating cows’ eyes activates certain
hormones, such as insulin-like growth factor
1 (IGF-1), that increase milk production in the
mammary gland.
By exposing cows to long-day photoperiods
during lactation, producers can stimulate
intake at the feed bunk. The cows produce
more milk and, accordingly, consume more
feed. And the wheel keeps turning! It is
important that light intensity be uniform
eyond the feed and care we give our cows, milk production is largely stimulated by calving. As is the case for all
mammals, a baby is the requirement for the onset of milk production. But this isn’t news! Milk production reaches
a peak after about 60 days of lactation, and then decreases gradually, drying off two months prior to the next calving. And the
lactation cycle starts again. But what exactly determines how much milk a cow will produce in a lactation? And how can that
yield be improved?
FEATURE
F
B
Stimuli in dairy production
Small actions that count!
By
Véronique
Lemonde
Editor
A Lely system for efficient lighting in the barn.
Photo Lely
3
LA REVUE HOLSTEIN QUÉBEC I DECEMBER 2021
throughout the barn, or at least everywhere
that cows can see light. Consequently, installing
lighting above the feed alley limits exposure
to additional lighting and its effect on day
length. Lely’s
Light for Cows
system works on
this principle. Fully automated, the system
allows producers to put together an efficient
lighting plan, providing 150 to 200 lx of illumi-
nance throughout the building, 16 h per day.
A good lighting plan can increase milk
production by 6 to 15 per cent. The company
Technilight also offers DEL lighting solutions
for agricultural buildings, adapted to various
types of production.
Water
An abundant water supply is another factor
that is easy for producers to control and is
instrumental in enabling cows to produce
more milk. Cows must have unlimited access
to fresh, clean water. A cow can consume
between 40 to 180 litres of water per day.
When it comes to milk production, water
intake is as important as feed. Installing auto-
matic waterers ensures that cows are never
short of water. In free-stall housing, it is
important to install several watering stations
for each group of cows.
In tie-stall barns, the rate of water flow is very
important, because there is often one water
bowl for every two cows. Cows in tie stalls
thus drink more frequently than those in free
stalls. It is important to check the water
pressure regularly in each bowl.
During Quebec winters, the risk of water
freezing in the water bowls is very real.
Electrically heated waterers, like
Suevia
drinking bowls, are thus ideal. Products from
this German company, distributed by Agriclé,
also include insulated double-walled iso -
thermal frost-protected drinkers that require
no electricity and water heaters for facilities
where Suevia drinking bowls cannot be supplied
by an underground water line, in addition to
a number of heating accessories. A must for
well-hydrated cows!
Avoid heat stress!
According to the agronomist Steve Adam,
Dairy Production Expert in Comfort and
Welfare at Lactanet : “In a relatively humid
climate, a wind speed of 5 to 7 km/h on a
cow’s hair coat is required to ensure adequate
cooling during a period of heat stress.” Heat
waves are hard on dairy cows and can lead
to a decrease in milk production, since thermal
stress makes it difficult for them to eat and
ruminate. Cows also tend to remain standing
for longer periods of time in an effort to cool
Isothermal frost-free waterer
LA REVUE HOLSTEIN QUÉBEC I DECEMBER 2021
off and may eventually suffer from lameness.
The result? Physical discomfort and psycho-
logical stress for livestock, and diminished
milk production in both quality and quantity
for producers.
With longitudinal or tunnel ventilation, there
are all sorts of obstacles that can prevent
wind from reaching the cows in free stalls.
The robot milker and the milking box are two
such examples. With cross-ventilation, air
flows down the alleys and walkways instead
of over and around the cows. And, lastly, natural
ventilation is insufficient during periods of
extreme heat. Adding fans likely won’t be
enough, especially if the airflow doesn’t reach
all the cows. So what are the solutions?
The company Ventec underlines the importance
of accurately evaluating one’s ventilation
system. Herd health is at stake. For example,
combining sprinklers with fans is considered
to be one of the most efficient cooling
systems for livestock.
Thermal stress is a major problem for dairy
cows and has a marked impact on milk
production and herd fertility. “As we continue
to improve milk yield per cow genetically,
nutritionally or through other management
strategies, we’re also making cows that are
more susceptible to heat stress. The cow of
tomorrow will be more sensitive to heat
stress than the cow of today,” explains
Dr. Pete Hansen, professor of animal science
at the University of Florida, on the Ventec
website. The company recommends its
Cyclone Plus 52
and
Cyclone 360 52
systems
as solutions to the problem. These systems
are equipped with airfoil deflectors that direct
airflow over and under the animals.
Other automated systems, such as those
proposed by Agrinuvo, provide overall control
of the barn environment by replacing the
producer in accomplishing the repetitive
tasks that are so important to ensuring herd
well-being and stimulating milk production.
The Agrinuvo system maintains acceptable
environmental conditions for maximum comfort
by controlling moisture and air quality in the
barn. Producers can use a smart phone to
FEATURE
F
Cyclone Plus 52 Automated feed pusher, GEA Frone.
The OptiDuo , by DeLaval, not only repositions feed but also refreshes it,
remixing the ration to make it more appetizing for cows.
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LA REVUE HOLSTEIN QUÉBEC I DECEMBER 2021
manage ventilation equipment such as infla -
table curtains, balloons, fans, chimneys and
other equipment related to inside and outside
temperatures.
Regular feeding
Another aspect that influences milk produc-
tion is continuous access to good-quality
feed. Cows are curious animals that are stim-
ulated by sound and smell. Automated feed
pushers are extremely useful in keeping cows
active by ensuring they always have feed within
reach. Providing sufficient feed stimulates milk
production.
An automated feed pusher, such as the
GEA
FRone
, not only simplifies work in the barn but
is said to increase milk production by 1 to 3 per
cent by regularly pushing feed to the front
and maximizing the cows’ access to feed at
all times. Other similar equipment is available,
such as the Lely
Juno
and the DeLaval
OptiDuo.
All these tools stimulate forage consumption
both day and night and increase feed intake
in the herd.
Well-being above all!
In all cases, increased milk production
depends primarily on cow comfort and well-
being. In fact, according to René Roy, agro-
nomist and agro-economist for Lactanet,
increasing overall comfort to get an additional
lactation would mean 4 per cent more milk for
the producer, with no extra work required.
(Source:
La Terre de chez nous
, November
2017).
For example, installing more comfortable
mattresses substantially reduces the risk of
lameness among cows and increases their
resting time. In a robotic milking system, daily
milk production in lame cows drops by 1.6 kg,
a problem that is easily alleviated by more
comfortable stalls. “Sometimes, just repo -
sitioning the tie rail or adding some extra bed-
ding can make a noticeable difference in a tie
stall,” adds Mr. Roy.
That’s right: There are numerous ways to
boost milk production in your herd – and you
don’t necessarily have to bring new boarders
into the barn to do it!
LA REVUE HOLSTEIN QUÉBEC I DECEMBER 2021
In 2019, the Gobeil-Riverin duo invested $2.7M
to double the farm’s milk production. The
project materialized in the form of a new,
ultramodern, 35 000 sq. ft. barn, with 205 free
stalls and two Lely robots, an initiative also
aimed at ensuring long-term cow comfort.
“It’s a major undertaking for us, and right now
we’re in year 2 of the process. So it’s still a
little hard to get a good idea of how profitable
the investment is, because the herd is young
and still adapting,” explains Daniel Gobeil, a
third-generation farmer on this land in La
Baie. “We replaced part of the herd when we
built the new barn. Still, the robotic milkers
and all the technological tools that go with
them give us great quality of life,” he says.
Milk sales make up 90 per cent of the owners’
revenue, which means milk quality is of
utmost importance, as are high-producing
cows. “Cows that calve every year, with short
calving intervals, low somatic cell counts,
strong health traits, good longevity and good
milking speed at the robot – that’s what we’re
looking for in our herd,” emphasizes Simon
Riverin. Butterfat content is also a priority,
and they aim for good percentages.
A herd in full possession of its potential
Daniel Gobeil’s father, Marcel, bought his first
purebred cow at an auction in Jonquière,
sometime around 1975. Daniel and his brother
Sylvain then began registering the farm’s
animals. Daniel graduated with a diploma in
agronomy in 1997, and became the sole
shareholder of Ferme Du Fjord in 2008. At the
time, the 55-cow herd had a quota of 65 kg
BF/day. “I’ve bought quota every year since
then, to bring it up to the 170 head we have
today,” Mr. Gobeil explains. “Then, we started
using genomics. All our animals are genotyped
and we use sexed semen on our high-calibre
cows,” he adds.
Genotyped at birth, the heifers often have
higher averages than their parents. Genomics
ensures reliability that Ferme Du Fjord would
be unable to do without. “We’re always looking
at the long-term, and with our new facilities, we
have room to just about double production,”
says Mr. Gobeil. “Right now we know we
have too many replacement heifers, and we’ll
have to readjust in that respect.”
Mostly local shows
If Daniel Gobeil has a soft spot for good-look-
ing cows, with deep pedigrees, and backed
by good genetic families, he also likes taking
part in shows, particularly local ones. “For
me, a cow’s pedigree is important. And we’ve
always been on milk recording here on the
farm.”
aniel Gobeil hardly needs an introduction in Quebec’s agricultural world. Chair of Les Producteurs de Lait du Québec
since 2020 and former chair of the Saguenay region, he is also a member of the UPA’s Executive Council. It makes
one wonder how he manages to have time for his dairy operation, Ferme Du Fjord, in La Baie. Fortunately, and despite the young
age of the producer, the next generation is already on the job, in the form of his nephew and godson, Simon Riverin, a barn
management and genetics enthusiast. Indeed, given the modernity of Ferme Du Fjord, it would be difficult not to find satisfaction
there on a daily basis!
HERD PROFILE
H
D
By
Véronique
Lemonde
Editor
Ferme Du Fjord
A young herd with great potential
FERME DU FJORD
Herd: 170 head, including 82 lactating cows
Production: 10 506 kg of milk, with 4.19 % fat
and 3.43 % protein
BCA: 235-254-253
Classification: 3 EX, 26 VG and 45 GP
Quota: 115 kg BF/day
Crops: The farm has 364 ha under cultivation,
including some leased acreage. They grow
243 ha of cereals, such as malting barley,
oats and wheat. They also grow canola and
hay. The cows all receive a daily TMR
composed of 40 per cent corn silage and
60 per cent hay and alfalfa.
The heifers at Ferme Du Fjord enjoy a comfortable bed of straw; the rest of the herd is
housed on straw bedding as well, and on mattresses in each of the 205 free stalls.
Photo Véronique Lemonde
7
LA REVUE HOLSTEIN QUÉBEC I DECEMBER 2021
“Daniel is more romantic in his cow
selection,” teases Simon Riverin. “I’m more
rational in my breeding decisions. It’s impor-
tant to use sexed semen for our top animals,
to produce embryos for example, and for the
others, about 50 per cent, beef semen is good
enough.” Naturally, the breeders are driven
by the same love of high-calibre animals,
without exception! One such example is
Crackholm Speaker Leyla
, VG-88, a cow that
won a number of titles in 2019, including
1st Junior Three-Year-Old, Intermediate
Champion and Reserve Grand Champion in
Chicoutimi, and 1st Junior Three-Year-Old at
the Quebec Spring Show.
But one of the leading lights of the Dufjord
herd is most definitely
Dufjord Numero Uno
Suspecte
, EX 5*. “More than 20 of our daughters
are from
Suspecte
,” Daniel Gobeil explains.
“She’s an excellent dairy cow, with a very
high fat content, 5.4 per cent. That’s really
high as a fat percentage. And so she gave us
high-fat daughters.” In four lactations,
Suspecte
produced 45 961 kg of milk. It should
be noted that
Suspecte
is a descendant of
Glen Drummond Splendor
, VG-86 39*, a well-
known cow in the Holstein world and owned
by Gen-I-Beq.
Among
Suspecte’s
daughters,
Dufjord Alligator
Suspecte
, VG-87, has produced 23 180 kg of
milk in two lactations, with 4.5 per cent fat and
3.5 per cent protein. She is one of the animals
to watch out for at Ferme Du Fjord. The two
producers are also very pleased to have
acquired
Clovis Davinci Indonesi
, as they are
now investing their hopes in one of her
daughters,
Dufjord Midnight Londie
, VG-87.
“Many of
Indonesi’s
daughters have been
classified VG, and
Londie
is already a perfect
cow that calves every year. We love that!
She’s had two lactations with 4.7 and 4.5 per
cent fat, and that’s huge!” exclaims Mr. Gobeil.
“What’s more, Simon has really been working
over the past two years to reduce the calving
interval, and
Londie
had her third calf at three
years and eight months–a model cow,” he says.
Ever forward-looking, Daniel and Simon pur-
chased
Vogue Luster Elegance
-
PP
last May,
from a breeder in Brighton, Ontario. Because
Elegance
is a true polled cow, no dehorning
was needed and the breeders are hoping her
offspring will inherit that trait.
The Ferme Du Fjord herd ranks among the
top herds in Canada: 71st for LPI and 87th for
Pro$.
Harmony in the family
A great rapport exists between Daniel Gobeil and his godson and nephew, Simon Riverin.
The latter has a diploma from the ITA’s Saint-Hyacinthe campus and has completed training
as an inseminator, greatly facilitating work on the farm. Throughout this adventure, his part-
ner, Pamela Tremblay, has never been far behind, taking care of their son, who is already
captivated by the beautiful cows on the family farm.
Photo Véronique Lemonde
Four publishable lactations later,
Crackholm Speaker Leyla
, VG-88, has
produced 37 728 kg of milk, with 4.1 % fat
and 3.6 % protein.
Leyla
won Reserve Grand
Champion at the Chicoutimi show in 2019.
Photo Marc Boisvert
LA REVUE HOLSTEIN QUÉBEC I DECEMBER 2021
Gilles, Daniel and Dominique Côté are the
third generation on this family farm in Saint-
Bruno, and Gilles’ daughter Anne-Sophie, of
the fourth generation, has now joined the
team and is involved in managing the herd
and farm and accounting. Gilles and Daniel’s
grandfather established the farm in the 1940s
to take up breeding good-looking Holsteins;
he was succeeded by his son in the 1970s,
and then by his grandsons in 1997.
With the Jeanri prefix, the family has become
accustomed to working with highly productive
cow families, with good conformation and
high performance indexes. “For example, we
worked for a long time with a family that
stemmed from
Babe
. In the late 90s,
Crasdale
Linjet Babe
was an EX-93 5E 10* sired by
Sunnylodge Linjet, the highest ranking bull for
conformation in Canada at the time.
Babe
gave us two Excellent daughters and, in 2013,
received a Longtime Production award for
over 120 000 kg, with a total of 135 007 kg in
nine lactations. Today, 10 percent of our herd
is still from the family of
Babe
. We’ve also
worked with the
Regwall Rubens Cherry line
,
a high-producing red carrier that we acquired
from a Prince Edward Island farm. And then
with the famous Elegance, a family that has
always performed well and also makes up
about 10 per cent of our herd right now,”
Gilles Côté explains.
A lineage of champions!
Gilles Côté has always had a strong interest
in shows and good-looking cows, a hobby
that he regularly makes time for despite a full
agenda. Indeed, in addition to being a director
for both Holstein Canada and Lactanet, he
also sits on Holstein Canada’s Awards Com-
mittee, and occasionally works as a judge.
Another line that has influenced the Jeanri
herd and has often taken them to local shows
is that of
Petale
. Born in 2009,
Jeanri Boly Petale
,
VG-88 9*, a daughter of the Côté’s
Jeanri
Goldwyn Pylassy
, VG-87, by
Express Bolly
, a
bull owned by Semex, was an influential cow
on Ferme Lacnor. “
Petale
was very aggressive
at the feed bunk and was an excellent
breeder. Her matings were always successful,”
Gilles Côté says.
And indeed, it is through her progeny that
Petale
left her mark on the Côté family farm.
Among her daughters,
Jeanri Dexterman
Pavot
, EX 3E 2*, won first Four-Year-Old and
first Five-Year-Old at the Chicoutimi show in
2017 and 2018. Then
Jeanri Bombero Orchidee
,
their first cow to classify with a score of
93 points (EX-93 2E 1*), became one of their
leading ladies! With three Superior Lactations
and a Lifetime Production award for over
60 000 kg in 2021, Orchidee has given Ferme
Lacnor even more daughters to contribute to
improving the genetics of the herd. “With this
line’s high indexes, we’re now exporting
embryos, a significant component of our
production,” explains Kevin Gilbert, Gilles
Côté’s son-in-law, who is also involved in the
operation. The producers now have their
sights set on one of
Orchidee’s
granddaughters,
Jeanri Alcove Aloes
, currently classified
GP-83. A Favourite Cow finalist in 2021,
Orchidee
dominates all aspects of dairy
production with her high-level conformation
and 11 granddaughters with LPIs over 3000.
Four of those granddaughters are currently
milking in the Jeanri herd, with an average
LPI of 3084. The owners intend to work with
this quartet to produce the next generation.
Another line stemming from
Petale
is that of
her granddaughter
Jeanri Avalanche Lilas
,
VG-89, named Reserve Junior Champion in
few minutes from Alma, on Rang 5 in Saint-Bruno, is Ferme Lacnor, where the Côté family operates a 140-head
dairy herd, with 120 lactating cows. With deep, high-performance pedigrees and families they develop persis -
tently, these owners know how to make the strategic and judicious decisions that have given them the high-calibre herd they
have today.
HERD PROFILE
H
A
By
Véronique
Lemonde
Editor
Ferme Lacnor
Developing their lines for solid,
high-performance cows
FERME LACNOR
Herd: 140 head, including 120 lactating cows
Production: 10 650 kg of milk, with 4.3 % fat
and 3.5 % protein
BCA: 240-270-256
Classification: 7 M EX, 3 EX, 44 VG, 62 GP
Quota: 160 kg BF/day
Crops: The farm grows 445 ha of field crops:
barley, grain corn, soybeans, wheat and
silage corn. The cows are fed a daily TMR
composed of 50 per cent corn silage and
50 per cent hay. The ration is supplemented
with dry corn, soybeans and individualized
dosages for each animal.
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LA REVUE HOLSTEIN QUÉBEC I DECEMBER 2021
Chicoutimi, in 2017. “We have a real soft spot
for
Lilas
because we’ve been to four shows
with her. She’s an exceptional heifer that got
a top score at her first and second calvings.
She has excellent dairy strength,” says
Mr. Côté in her favour. And indeed, in three
lactations,
Lilas
produced 27 147 kg of milk,
with 4.2 % fat and 3.3 % protein, for a composite
BCA of 251-276-256. Her daughter
Jeanri Unix
Liane
, sired by the remarkable
Unix
(
Croteau
Lesperron Unix
, EX-96), was born in 2019, and
is now classified VG-87, a promise for the
future and Ferme Lacnor.
Successful breeding
Seventy-five per cent of the mating decisions
made to develop the Jeanri herd are based
on genetics. “We use a lot of genomic bulls,
and we look at the genetic indexes of the cow
we want to develop.
Pavot
and
Orchidee
, for
example, are very high-potential cows, and
we’ve been pushing in that direction. Even if
we rely a lot on performance indexes, we also
want cows with good conformation that have
good udder attachments and produce high fat
percentages,” Mr. Côté explains. “It’s funny,
because Kevin and I have often chosen the
same bulls without discussing it beforehand.
We really have the same selection philo -
sophy,” he adds.
It was with these goals in mind that the
breeders decided to purchase
Chailow Unix
Magalie
, VG-86, at a dispersal sale in Alma,
last September. Again a daughter by Unix,
Magalie is a great-granddaughter of
Chailow
Thunder Marisa
, EX-91 2E, a show-winning
cow in the 2010s. “We’re hoping to develop
her. Time will tell if we’ve made the right
choice,” Mr. Côté says.
So far the
Jeanri
method has proven worth-
while, judging from the success of some
of the herd’s animals, be they profitable
purchases or well-thought-out bred and
owned. One such example is
Chalsima Manuel
P. Mikierra
, VG-87, and Tout-Québec Inter -
mediate Heifer in 2015, the year the breeders
acquired her. Finally,
Jeanri Doorman Roxy
,
EX-92 3E, sired by
Val-Bisson Doorman EX
,
won first Senior Three-Year-Old, Reserve
Intermediate Champion and Honourable
Mention Grand Champion at the Chicoutimi
show in 2017, and first Four-Year-Old at the
same show in 2018.
“The well-being of our animals is paramount,
and even if we have an old-style barn, we’re
super well equipped. We use all the techno-
logical tools at our disposal, like Heatime, for
example, and we have an automatic feeding
system, an automatic milk feeder for our
calves. Our replacement heifers are raised in
free stalls, as are our dry cows. We give 100
per cent to our herd,” Gilles Côté concludes.
A cohesive team!
Brothers Gilles and Daniel Côté are unmistakably show enthusiasts. Actively involved
in promoting the Holstein breed, Gilles is the decision-maker for the Jeanri herd and
is backed by his son-in-law, Kevin Gilbert. A quiet influence, Daniel is in charge of the
field crops and keeps the equipment in top shape so that Ferme Lacnor can function at
maximum capacity. A family entirely devoted to the Holstein breed!
Jeanri Bombero Orchidée
was the first cow in
the Jeanri herd to classify with 93 points (EX-93
2E 1*). She was also nominated for the Favourite
Cow award in 2021.
Orchidee
has three Superior
Lactations and a Lifetime Production award for
over 60 000 kg, for a total of 60 912 kg of milk,
with 4.3 % fat and 3.8 % protein. One of
Petale’s
granddaughters,
Jeanri
Avalanche Lilas
, VG-89, was Reserve Junior
Champion at the Chicoutimi show in 2017.
In three lactations,
Lilas
produced 27 147 kg
of milk, with 4.2 % fat and 3.3 % protein,
for a composite BCA of 251-276-256.
She also has a daughter by
Unix.
Jeanri Boly Petale
made her mark on Ferme
Lacnor through her remarkable descendants. A
solid dairy cow,
Petale
recorded a Superior
Lactation in 2012, at the age of 2, and after four
publishable lactations had produced 50 430 kg
of milk, with 4.3 % fat and 3.5 % protein. The
9 stars added to her classification are a clear
indication that
Petale
had a tremendous ability
to transmit her genetic traits to her progeny,
producing 2 EX, 5 VG and 1 GP.
LA REVUE HOLSTEIN QUÉBEC I DECEMBER 2021
ounded in 1960, Ferme des Marcil has since made great strides. When Normand Marcil’s father initially set himself
up on the farm’s current site, the operation included about 100 acres of farmland and 30 cows. Now, a little over
60 years later, Ferme des Marcil has a 350-head herd, with 160 lactating cows and the right to produce 202 kg BF/day, in addition
to 1500 acres of farmland.
F
IN THE SPOTLIGHT…
I
It was in 1986 that Normand Marcil and his
brother, the second generation on the farm, took
over the operation. At the time, they had a quota
of 37 kg BF/day. In the years that followed, the
brothers purchased neighbouring land to
give the farm room for expansion. The year
2009 marked a turning point for Ferme des
Marcil, with a move towards free-stall housing
and robotic milking in a brand new cow barn.
Shortly thereafter, in 2011, a second robot was
installed to keep up with their constantly
increasing quota. In 2016, Marc-André Marcil,
representing the family’s third generation on
the farm, became a partner in the operation
by buying his uncle’s shares. Then, in 2020,
the farm’s current shareholders were able to
acquire a second site that had the capacity
to produce 60 kg BF/day with a robotic
milking system.
With an operation of this size, the Marcil duo
knew that a solid work team was a must.
Over the years, the farm’s shareholders thus
made sure they surrounded themselves with
the valuable people needed to keep the
operation running smoothly. Among them
are the farm’s two employees, Dani and
Dominic, who have been with the team for
the past two and five years, respectively.
Likewise, Marc-André and Normand are
especially proud to be able to count on their
family for help during the busiest times of the
year. Marc-André’s children, Amélie (aged
11), Charles (9), and Nicolas (8), are more
than happy to lend a hand when needed.
Devoted to the cows, Amélie enjoys helping
out in the barn, while the boys are more
interested in the field work. Finally, Brigitte
and Annie, Normand and Marc-André’s part-
ners, also lend a hand on occasion.
Over the years, the Marcils have focused on
developing well-balanced cows, specifically,
good-looking cows that are both functional
and profitable. With regard to sire selection,
production traits are particularly important
for these breeders. Nonetheless, conformation
remains key and exerts its influence on the
farm. According to Marc-André, the best
cows are those that don’t stand out in the
herd, and this, from one lactation to the next.
Because the Marcils operate a robotic farm,
particular attention is paid to milking speed,
a trait they consider essential. A good example
of the type of cow they aim for is
Duhuit
Impression Chanelle
, who the owners say
embodied both functionality and productivity.
Classified EX-92 2E, with an average production
of about 40 kg of milk per day,
Chanelle
was
indeed highly appreciated on the farm.
The Marcils are very active in their com-
munity. Normand was long involved in the
cooperative movement, both as a director of
La Coop Fédérée (now Sollio Agriculture) for
17 years and as a director of Nutrinor
Coopérative for 27 years. This engagement
gave him the opportunity to see what was
being done elsewhere in the province and
across the country. Normand always
brought what he learned back to the farm,
endeavouring to apply that experience to his
operation. He says his involvement enabled
them to be very innovative, particularly
when they were setting up their robotic milk-
ing system, more than 10 years ago. For his
part, Marc-André has been a director of the
Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean–Charlevoix Holstein
Club for the past five years, and its vice
president for the past four years. Last
summer, the Marcils also lent their support
to Mini Expo, hosting the event on their farm.
Organized by the region’s Young Farmers,
this laudable initiative gave many young
breeders an opportunity to take part in a
show during a time when the pandemic had
put a stop to the region’s shows.
Run by people who are passionate about
dairy farming, Ferme des Marcil is an excep-
tional operation with a bright future. With
three young children all showing an interest
in the family farm, there is every reason
to believe that this fourth generation will
eventually take over the operation and
continue the excellent work done by its
predecessors.
FERME DES MARCIL (DUHUIT PREFIX)
Owners: Normand Marcil and Marc-André Marcil
Herd: 350 head, including 160 lactating cows
Quota: 202 kg BF/day
Average annual milk yield per cow: 10 082 kg
Herd classification: 7 EX (2 multiples), 47 VG and 74 GP
BCA: 223-241-236
By Émy Lampron
Advisor for
Eastern Quebec
Ferme des Marcil
Moving forward
in a context of expansion!
The Marcil family, in one of their farm buildings in Normandin.
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