Farm406

53 farm406 THE M7- SERIES Kubota's Highest Horsepower Tractor – 128-167 HP THE LARGEST TRACTOR IN KUBOTA HISTORY IS HERE • 3 Models Available – M7-131, M7-151 and M7-171 • Tier 4 Final, High-Torque Kubota Diesel Engine • 24-Speed Powershift or Kubota Variable Transmission (KVT) • Advanced ISO-BUS and GPS/Auto-Guidance Ready • Best in Class 3 point hitch capacity • Multitasking Hydraulic System with 4-Speed Live-Independent PTO • Best-in-Class Front Loader Performance • Available Performance- Matched Hay Tools, Attachments and Implements. Kubota's most powerful tractor yet has what it takes to tackle commercial livestock, row-crop production and more. 1021 Third St NW Great Falls, MT 59404 Office: (406) 453-6541 johnsondistributing.com McCrea explains that float tanks have been used for cows since the 1970s. The Aqua Cow Rise System was developed and patented in Denmark by a dairy farmer who went through physio- and hydro-therapy after an injury. When he returned to his dairy, he wondered whether they could use the treatment for downed cows. "Tanks are used in some universities in Canada and the States and there are a few companies whose business it is to float cows," adds McCrea. In 2013, Agwest purchased an Aqua Cow Rise System from California—the only portable bovine water therapy system in BC—to treat the distressed animals in a more natural, gentle way. "I often wondered why a group of farmers didn't get together to buy a tank," McCrea muses. "It's one of those pieces of equipment you may only need once a year, but when you really need it, you want it—so if it's shared, it wouldn't sit idle." The system requires a water source, a way to heat the water, and a pump. "What we've done is put everything that needs to go along with it on the back of an 18 foot trailer. It's at one of our client's farms, and when a farmer needs it, he can go and pick up the trailer," she explains. She studied YouTube videos and the brochure that came with the equipment to learn how to use it. "It's certainly not a money-making service for us," says McCrea. "We tried to keep it accessible and at a price point for the farmer so that it wouldn't be much different than other procedures that get the cows on their feet. When you think of the cost of replacing the cow and the value of what she holds, we want it to be worth doing." The float tank procedure is low risk to the cow and generally takes 3 days of sessions, at 6–8 hours per session. "When the cow is in the water she only has to support ten percent of her body weight. As you add the water, you can see her start to rise as the water rises and she can stand up easily," explains McCrea. Dr Lisa McCrea, bovine specialist, Agwest Veterinary Group Ltd in Aabbotsford, BC.

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