Producing high-quality silage is an immensely demanding task and thus, it is essential to ensure proper management when feeding it to cows so consistency and quality are maintained at the bunker. While the results of production are always on focus, the safety of our workers throughout each step must always be a priority as well. There can and there should be a strong emphasis on safety without compromising silage quality. In this episode, featuring Connie Kuber, we delve into the topic of safety at the silage pile, discuss safe harvesting practices, and explore safety measures when operating machinery on dairy farms. Additionally, she sheds some light on the importance of women for the dairy milk industry and shares insights on the initiative known as the Dairy Girl Network group.

“Workers need to be safe around the silage pile – maybe that translates into other parts of their job, too.” - Connie Pierson Kuber

What you’ll learn:

• (0:00) Highlight
• (1:53) Introduction 
• (11:56) Safety tips for the silage pile 
• (23:59) Safety and quality in silage harvesting 
• (30:40) Safety measures for the planting season 
• (37:46) The role of women in the dairy industry 
• (46:40) Dairy Girl Network 
• (52:27) The final questions

Meet the guest: Connie Pierson Kuber

Experience:

• Current: Co-Owner at Connor Agriscience; Co-Owner at Sealpro® Silage Barrier Films

Background:

• Certificate, Corporate Communications (University of Southern California)
• B.Sc., Agriculture Journalism (University of Minnesota)

Connect with the guest!

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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- Evonik

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As we move further into the scorching summer, the challenge of heat stress seems to become increasingly daunting. It is not impossible to be overcome, however, and two pivotal steps towards mitigating its effects are comprehending its repercussions by discerning the telltale signs cows exhibit and conducting field trials on commercial farms to test products or management methods. In this episode, featuring Dr. Mark Thomas, we provide you with the latest insights on identifying indicators of heat stress in cows, implementing strategies to ease it, executing field trials on commercial farms, enhancing workers' comprehension and training for field trials, and avoiding errors during the implementation of field trial results. As a bonus, Dr. Thomas shares his expert opinion on the areas that should be the focus on dairy farms in the upcoming years.

“Firstly, what is really important is identifying whether there is heat stress.” - Dr. Mark J. Thomas

What you’ll learn:

• (0:00) Highlight
• (1:45) Introduction 
• (7:13) Heat stress indicators 
• (10:33) Trials on commercial farms 
• (16:39) Results from commercial trials 
• (24:45) Trial issues 
• (30:26) Future areas for development on dairy farms 
• (34:39) The final questions

Meet the guest: Dr. Mark J. Thomas

Experience:

• Current: Partner at Dairy Health & Management Services, LLC
• Past: Partner at Countryside Veterinary Clinic, LLP

Background:

• D.V.M. (Cornell University)
• B.Sc., Animal Sciences (Cornell University)

Connect with the guest!

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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Achieving a high daily milk production is a primary goal when selecting cow traits in a herd, but what does it take to consistently maintain highly productive cows? It is necessary to select resilient cows that are capable of sustaining continuous milk production throughout the entire lactation period. In this episode, featuring Fiona Guinan, we delve into various crucial aspects of the subject, such as the impact of stress during early cow life; the utilization of national herd datasets for the measurement of the influence of health on resilience; the development of genetic evaluations for resilience; the evaluation of lactation curves based on daily milk records; and the correlation between pen management, perturbations, and resilience.

“We expect that consistency is a trait linked with resilience, as we start to dig deeper into perturbations’’ - Fiona Guinan, M.Sc.

What you’ll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:55) Introduction 
• (10:31) The impacts of stress on calves 
• (18:28) Cow resilience vs. consistency 
• (23:25) Data quality for resilience genetic evaluations 
• (26:29) Cow pen management 
• (29:54) Perturbations in the milk curve of cows 
• (37:17) The final questions

Meet the guest: Fiona Guinan, M.Sc.

Experience:

• Current: Ph.D. Fellow at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; Cooperative Researcher at the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding; Cooperative Researcher at the National Dairy Herd Information Association

Background:

• M.Sc., Quantitative Genetics (The University of Georgia)
• B.Sc., Agricultural Science (University College Dublin)

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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As summer approaches, we must be prepared to manage heat stress and prevent losses among our cows. Heat stress can lead to substantial losses in revenue for dairies, so it’s important to turn over every rock in looking for solutions. In this episode, with Dr. Glenn Holub, we explore the impact of heat stress during the early hot days leading up to summer, ways of identifying heat stress signals and physiological changes in cows, effective strategies and systems to minimize heat stress, and common mistakes in managing cow cooling. 

“If your cows start telling you that they're hot, but you don't have your cooling system up and running at peak, then it's too late.’’ - Dr. Glenn Holub

What you’ll learn:

• (0:00) Highlight
• (1:58) Introduction 
• (5:12) Heat stress in colder areas 
• (10:34) Parameters for identifying heat stress in cows 
• (12:44) Physiological changes in cows with heat stress 
• (22:06) Management strategies for heat stress 
• (27:52 Cross ventilation and tunnel systems 
• (29:47) Evaporative cooling systems 
• (32:59) The impacts of heat stress on dry cows  
• (38:51) The final questions 

Meet the guest: Dr. Glenn Holub 

Experience:

• Current: Executive Technical Service Manager at Phibro Animal Health US Inc.
• Past: Assistant Instructional Professor at Texas A&M University 

Background:

• Ph.D., Dairy Science (Texas A&M University)
• M.Sc., Dairy Science (Texas A&M University)
• B.Sc., Dairy Science (Texas A&M University)

Connect with the guest!

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In order to ensure profitability on our farms while producing top-quality milk, we must carefully consider both technical and economic factors when solving problems and managing our cows, since this approach leads to more precise and profitable results. In that sense, managing somatic cell count and heat stress is no exception. To stay up to date with the latest knowledge in this area, we discuss somatic cell premium programs, somatic cell count reduction for economic viability, the daily impacts of early heat stress, and winter-to-summer ratios with Dr. Derek Nolan. In this episode, we also cover other important topics, such as the economic impact of cover crops, the use of big data on farms, and the role of technology in improving economics.

“I hadn’t realized how important the economic side was till I started graduate school’’ - Dr. Derek Nolan

What you’ll learn:

• (0:00) Highlight
• (1:38) Introduction 
• (5:16) The role of somatic cell count in farm economics 
• (11:40) The threshold for lowering somatic cell count 
• (15:17) Heat stress abatement 
• (21:48) Activity monitoring to detect heat stress 
• (25:54) Big data management for farm profitability 
• (31:09) The final questions

Meet the guest: Dr. Derek Nolan

Experience:

• Current: Teaching Assistant Professor and Dairy Extension Specialist at the University of Illinois

Background:

• Ph.D., Animal Science (University of Kentucky)
• M.Sc., Animal Science (University of Kentucky)
• B.Sc., Dairy Science (Iowa State University)

Connect with the guest!

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

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The journey that dairy products undertake starts at the dairy farm and ends at the consumer's table, where milk fluid or other dairy products are consumed. Throughout that process, milk stability is critical, and farms can contribute to a positive consumer experience by managing farm-level factors that can impact the final products. In that aspect, microbiology plays a vital role, so staying up to date with the latest information is essential to reduce dairy product waste. In this episode, featuring Dr. Nicole Martin, we discuss how farm factors, particularly somatic cell count and bacteria plate count, influence the quality of the final products. Additionally, we delve into the significance of cold-resistant bacteria and spore-forming bacteria, as well as consumer decision that contribute to dairy food waste.

“We know that dairy products (namely, cheese and extended shelf-life fluid) can be severely impacted by high somatic cell count in milk.’’ – Dr. Nicole Martin

What you’ll learn:

• (0:00) Highlight
• (1:50) Introduction 
• (7:11) How somatic cell and bacteria plate counts affect dairy product quality 
• (12:30) Spore-forming bacteria in milk 
• (18:53) The waste panorama of dairy products 
• (24:04) Farm-level factors that affect the quality of the final product 
• (29:21) The final questions

Meet the guest: Dr. Nicole Martin

Experience:

• Current: Assistant Research Professor in Dairy Foods Microbiology and Associate Director of the Milk Quality Improvement Program at Cornell University

Background:

• Ph.D., Food Science (Cornell University)
• M.Sc., Food Science (Cornell University)
• B.Sc., Food Science (Cornell University)

Connect with the guest!

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

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In recent years, automatic milking systems have become a valuable tool for dairy farmers, offering solutions to labor challenges and providing efficient management of cow milking. With it, farmers can streamline their daily tasks while also gaining valuable insights into cow behavior and responses through data analysis. However, effectively interpreting and utilizing this data is essential to optimize the performance of the milking systems. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Elizabeth French, an expert on the field, who discusses key factors such as the way the number of milking times, parity, and nutrition impact cow performance in robotic milking systems. Additionally, she provides an overview of her current research projects at the Forage Research Center, with the USDA.

“I think it is exciting that we are getting more and more monitors on farms to start telling in real-time when milk fat, protein, and lactose are changing.’’ - Dr. Elizabeth French

What you’ll learn:

• (0:00) Highlight
• (2:05) Introduction 
• (7:59) The role of milking frequency in automatic milking systems 
• (15:19) Precision nutrition in robotic systems 
• (22:29) Using automatic milking systems to predict feed nutrients 
• (27:12) Cover crops in the diets of cows 
• (31:19) Methane reduction of unborn calves 
• (36:23) The final questions

Meet the guest: Dr. Elizabeth French

Experience:

• Current: Animal Scientists and Researcher/Dairy Cattle Nutritionist at the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
• Past: Dairy Technical Specialist at Purina Mills; Dairy Management Advisor at DeLaval

Background:

• Ph.D., Dairy Nutrition (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
• M.Sc., Dairy Nutrition (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
• B.Sc., Biotechnology and Pre-veterinary Medicine (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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Management is the heart of every business and profitability is its oxygen, both working together and indispensable to keep us alive. Two aspects we must make sure that we are doing right are managing our input costs and preparing the next generation to take over our farms. These are not trivial goals, and we should explore every idea that could help us achieve them – which is why in this episode, with Jonathan LaPorte, M.Sc., we will discuss strategies for input purchases, management of financial reserves for the reduction of price risks, the engagement of younger generations in dairy farm operations, and plans for the transition of farm ownership.

“Dairy farmers make up a very close, neat community where everybody wants to see everybody being successful and there are always people willing to help each other out.’’ - Jonathan LaPorte, M.Sc.

What you’ll learn:

• Highlight (00:00)
• Introduction (01:38)
• Purchasing strategies for reducing inputs costs (05:35)
• Managing financial reserves on a farm (12:37)
• Starting a new dairy farm operation (16:41)
• Engaging the next generations in dairy farm operations (21:28)
• Transitioning dairy farm ownership (27:38)
• The final questions (34:10)

Meet the guest: Jonathan LaPorte

Experience:

• Current: Farm Business Management Educator at Michigan State University Extension
• Past: Senior Farm Loan Officer (USDA, FSA); Agronomy Sales Specialist (Certified Crop Advisor)

Background:

• M.Sc., Agribusiness (Kansas State University)
• B.Sc., Agribusiness Management (Michigan State University)

Connect with the guest: LinkedIn

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

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The final products obtained from milk industrialization make up the identity of the dairy industry and are the image that is sold to our consumers. As such, developing products with high quality is key – now more than ever, particularly considering the development of plant-based alternatives and the emergence of diseases like milk allergy and lactose intolerance. To do that, we have to understand consumer demands and willingness. That is where this episode, with our guest Dr. Stephanie Clark, comes in: to stay up to date with the topic, we discuss the differences between lactose intolerance and milk allergy, the expiration dates of products, the flavors present in products, the effects of packaging types and labeling on consumers, new plant-based milk alternatives, and ways to educate new consumers and give them incentive to buy more dairy products.

“I think we are potentially leading to a lactose-intolerant generation.’’ - Dr. Stephanie Clark

What you’ll learn:

• Highlight (00:00)
• Introduction (01:57)
• Lactose intolerance and milk allergy (04:34)
• Sell by date on dairy products (09:55)
• Milk flavors (14:20)
• Consumers’ packaging preferences (18:15)
• Labeling effects on dairy consumption (27:15)
• Plant-based alternatives for milk (31:21)
• Educational messages for increasing consumption (34:17)
• Milk information sources for consumers (40:47)
• The final questions (42:48)

Meet the guest: Dr. Stephanie Clark‬

Experience:

• Current: Professor at Iowa State University
• Past: Associate Professor at Iowa State University; Associate Professor at Washington State University

Background:

• Ph.D., Food Science (Cornell University)

Connect with the guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

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We now have decades of accumulated knowledge on strategies for mammary health management regarding milking – protocols were developed even as early as in the fifties or sixties, like dipping techniques. This could mislead us to think that there isn’t much new to learn about it, but science is in constant progress and brings in new concepts every day. That’s why we should look for opportunities to keep up with new developments. In this episode with our guest Dr. Valerie Ryman, we discuss the main challenges for mammary health and milk quality, key management strategies for improving mammary health, and somatic cell counts. Also, we talk about new tools for assessing differential somatic cell counts and a recent, controversial proposition that there may be a natural microbiome in the mammary gland rather than only pathogenic bacteria.

“To my mind, the appropriate application of a pre-dip is like an unsung hero in preventing a lot of mastitis – underestimated, but key.’’ Dr. Valerie Ryman ‬

What you’ll learn:

• Highlight (00:00)
• Introduction (1:33)
• Dairy industry trends in Georgia (10:21)
• Main challenges for mammary health and milk quality in Georgia (14:48)
• Key practices for mastitis control (19:03)
• Fore-stripping cows in the milking routine (24:04)
• Research on mammary health (26:28)
• What is differential somatic cell count? (29:31)
• Is there a microbiome in the mammary gland? (32:17)
• The final questions (38:03)

Meet the guest: Dr. Valerie Ryman‬

Experience:

• Current: Assistant Professor and State Dairy Extension Specialist at the University of Georgia
• Past: Postdoctoral Research Specialist at University of Georgia

Background:

• Ph.D., Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology (Michigan State University)
• M.Sc., Animal and Dairy Science (The University of Georgia)
• B.Sc., Animal and Veterinary Science (Clemson University)

Connect with the guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

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While most problems that dairy farms face both arise and are solved inside the farm, sometimes it’s not that easy – some natural hazards, over which we have little to no control, can cause harm. That is the case with wildfires: concerns over the danger posed by the air pollution caused by wildfires have been increasing in recent years. In order to reduce these impacts, we have to stay up to date with the latest research about the effects of poor air quality. That is precisely the topic of this episode’s roundtable, with Dr. Amy Skibiel and Dr. Pedram Rezamand: discussing air quality indicators, the impacts of wildfire air pollution on cow health and performance, and the development of research on the long-term effects, mitigation, and treatment of affected cows.

“The major issues with which producers deal in our area have to do with environmental issues.’’ – Dr. Pedram Rezamand‬

What you’ll learn:

• Highlight (00:00)
• Introduction (1:45)
• Quantifying air pollution (10:09)
• The impact of air pollution on cows (16:53)
• Smoke inhalation issues on calves (21:545)
• Controlled experiments for air pollution exposure (24:14)
• Further research on wildfire air pollution (27:17)
• Protection measures for dairy workers’ safety (32:33)
• The final questions (36:02)

Meet the guest: Dr. Amy Skibiel‬

Experience:

• Current: Assistant Professor at the University of Idaho

Background:

• Ph.D., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (Auburn University)
• M.Sc., Ecology, and Evolutionary Biology (Auburn University)
• B.S., Biology (Juniata College)

Connect with the guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

Meet the guest: Dr. Pedram Rezamand‬

Experience:

• Current: Professor at the University of Idaho

Background:

• Ph.D., Animal Science (The University of Connecticut)

Connect with the guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

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Before we start thinking about formulating the most precise diet for our cows, we have to make sure that the feed is properly prepared and delivered to cows. In order to do that the right way, we have to understand the feeding behavior of cows. In this episode, Dr. Trevor DeVries discusses what drives cows to feel hungry, what the feeding frequency is, how we can identify the individual behavior of the animals at the feed bunk, the benefits of automatic systems, and the challenges of research on nutrition with automated milking systems.

“We don't want a cow to eat because they’ve been out of feed for so long that they’re hungry and need to do it right now – we want cows to be internally hungry.’’ – Dr. Trevor DeVries ‬

What you’ll learn:

• Highlight (00:00)
• Introduction (1:45)
• The access of cows to feed bunkers (6:00)
• Individual behavior at feed bunkers (11:00)
• How many times should we do feed push-ups? (15:00)
• Feed push-up technologies  (26:24)
• Nutrition with robotic milking systems (31:42)
• Technological integration in feed management (38:53)
• The final questions (41:39)

Meet the guest: Dr. Trevor DeVries‬

Experience:

• Current: Professor and Canada Research Chair on Dairy Cattle Behavior and Welfare at the University of Guelph

Background:

• Ph.D., Epidemiology (The University of British Columbia)
• B.Sc.; Agriculture, Animal Sciences (The University of British Columbia)

Connect with the guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

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- Evonik

- Adisseo

Minerals have always been important for the nutrition of cows – even more so when it comes to preparing the animals for calving, since they play a role in helping prevent disorders like hypocalcemia. The most successful example of that is DCAD diets. With that in mind, what are the latest advances regarding minerals for transition cows? To answer this question, we have to look at the most important minerals: calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. In this episode with Patrick Hoffman, we talk about the importance of these three minerals for transition cows as well as define what a zeolite binder is, how it works, and how it reduces hypocalcemia problems.

“I was very skeptical about zeolite products when they first emerged.’’  – Patrick Hoffman‬

What you’ll learn:

• Highlight (00:00)
• Introduction (2:05)
• Important minerals after calving (12:12)
• What is zeolite? (20:52)
• Zeolite mechanism of action on phosphorus homeostasis (25:37)
• Zeolite at farms (29:26)
• Zeolite for heifers: does it work? (33:24)
• The final questions (39:28)

Meet the guest: Patrick Hoffman‬

Experience:

• Current: Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; Scientist at Dairy Science Solutions, LLC
• Past: Dairy Technical Specialist at Vita Plus Corporation

Background:

• M.Sc., Dairy Science (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
• B.Sc., Agricultural Education (University of Wisconsin-Platteville)

Connect with the guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

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- Evonik

- Adisseo

Cow welfare has now become a concern for both producers and consumers. In this context, if we are aware of consumer priorities and industry plans regarding the issue, we can better address the main challenges on our dairy farms. In this episode with Dr. Jennifer Walker, we talk about animal welfare audit protocols, consumer interests, and the main issues in dairy systems related to the subject. Additionally, she shares some perspectives on milk quality.

“I think we're going to see benefits when we start thinking about how to simultaneously optimize both animal welfare with production.’’ - Dr. Jennifer Walker‬

What you’ll learn:

• Highlight (00:00)
• Introduction (1:45)
• Concerns about audits on dairy farms (5:40)
• The priorities of dairy consumers (13:22)
• The main challenges in welfare at dairies (12:06)
• Animal welfare and housing systems (24:45)
• Milk quality perspectives (31:47)
• The final questions (40:19)

Meet the guest: Dr. Jennifer Walker‬

Experience:

• Current: Director of Quality & Care at Danone North America
• Past: Director, Dairy Stewardship at Dean Foods; Graduate Research Assistant- Veterinary of Preventive Medicine at Ohio State University

Background:

• Ph.D., Veterinary Preventive Medicine (Ohio State University)
• M.Sc.; International Animal Welfare, Ethics & Law (University of Edinburgh)
• D.V.M., Food Animal Medicine (University of California, Davis)
• B.Sc., Animal Sciences (University of California, Davis)

Connect with the guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

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- Phibro

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- Evonik

- Adisseo

Having successful lactating cows in the future depends on having successful heifers in the present. However, it is not that simple, as we need to be prepared for any challenges and disorders that heifers may face. With that in mind, how do we deal with udder edema? To answer the question, in this episode, Cora Okkema and I discuss what udder edema is, its prevalence, and how we can evaluate its causes. As a bonus, she also gives us some tips on maintaining mental health and engaging dairy consumers.

“We may never be able to completely remove or mitigate udder edema, but we can reduce its severity.’’ - Cora Okkema

What you’ll learn:

• Highlight (00:00)
• Introduction (1:48)
• What is udder edema? (8:37)
• Difficulties in researching udder edema  (18:56)
• How do we evaluate cows for udder edema?  (23:00)
• How do we reduce and prevent udder edema? (27:48)
• Mental health management (30:22)
• Engaging dairy consumers (37:05)
• The final questions (40:53)

Meet the guest: Cora Okkema

Experience:

• Current: Dairy Educator at Michigan State University Extension
• Past: Graduate Research Assistant at Colorado State University; Dairy Production Director of the Graduate Student Division at the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA)

Background:

• M.Sc., Animal Sciences (Colorado State University)
• B.Sc., Animal Sciences (Dordt University)

Connect with the guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

- AB Vista

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- DSM

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- ICC

- Phibro

- Berg + Schmidt

- Evonik

- Adisseo

Technologies have come to stay on our farms! They may help us make better decisions and work with more precision, but in order to get the most out of them, we have to be up to date with the latest news and innovations. So what technologies are being successfully implemented on farms right now? To answer that question, I talk with our guest Dr. Jeffrey Bewley in this episode. As a scientist that is highly experienced with data and innovation, he discusses the most important technologies that have been developed in recent years, which ones every farm should have , and how we can better choose our tools to avoid falling into traps.

“It's not about a gadget or a certain piece of technology per se. It's more about the insight that we get from them and how that can help us make better decisions.’’ - Dr. Jeffrey Bewley‬‬‬‬

What you’ll learn:

• Highlight (00:00)
• Introduction (1:38)
• Wearable technologies for cow monitoring (5:52)
• What is the SmartHolstein Lab? (10:22)
• Using technologies for genetic evaluation (12:47)
• Traditional selection methods against computer-based methods (15:21)
• Data management technologies farmers should have (24:07)
•  Choosing the right technologies for your farm (26:31)
• The final questions (30:47)

Meet the guest: Dr. Jeffrey Bewley

Experience:

• Current: Dairy Analytics and Innovation Scientist at Holstein Association USA, Inc.; Partner at Fit Genetics; Partner at IceBlue Genetics
• Past: Dairy Housing and Analytics Specialist at Alltech 

Background:

• Ph.D., Animal Sciences (Purdue University)
• M.Sc., Dairy Science (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
• B.Sc., Animal Sciences (University of Kentucky)

Connect with the guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

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- Phibro

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- Evonik

Recently, the rising prices of dairy feeds have tightened farm profits. To overcome this challenge, we need to make sure we have good-quality feed that can result in more milk production, which in turn demands being up to date with the latest advances in forage research. With that in mind, where are we in forage research? In this episode, with our guest Dr. Luiz Ferraretto, we talk about advances in such research over the last 15 years, discoveries regarding kernel starch digestibility, the development of good forage programs, and topics that are being looked into now.

“When we work with forages, it's very interesting to see the whole lot of changes that happen – but they don't happen all at once, they continuously happen over time”. – Dr. Luiz Ferraretto

What you’ll learn:

• Highlight (00:00)
• Introduction (1:20)
• The most important recent advances in forage research (4:08)
• The breaking of more kernel starch and changes in fermentation (7:18)
• How do we develop a good forage program? (9:38)
• The importance of grouping cows for more precise nutrition (13:55)
• Current topics of interest in forage research (15:55)
• Do we need to analyze feed often? (21:22)
• The final questions (26:29)

Meet the guest: Dr. Luiz Ferraretto

Experience:

• Current: Assistant Professor and Ruminant Nutrition Extension Specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Past: Assistant Professor at the University of Florida; Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute

Background:

• Ph.D., Dairy Science (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
• M.Sc., Dairy Science (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
• B.Sc., Animal Sciences (UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista)

Connect with the guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

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Staying up to date with the latest opportunities in the dairy milk market is important for every farmer, manager, and dairy industry worker. In that sense, and considering that the US is one of the largest global exporters of milk and dairy products, keeping an eye on the demands from other countries is a must. So how is China's milk market faring at the moment: are there opportunities to be had, or can they become competitors in the export market? In this episode, with Dr. Walter Chen, we discuss the market opportunities for dairy producers in China, the challenges faced by Chinese dairies, the country’s milk consumption, and the future of their milk production.

“I grew up in China as a kid, and I never drank milk. It's not that I didn't want to drink it, I couldn’t – there was no milk available.” - Dr. Walter Chen

What you’ll learn:

• Highlight (00:00)
• Introduction (1:35)
• Chinese requirements for milk (14:04)
• Reproduction challenges for Chinese dairy farmers (18:48)
• Nutritional strategies in China (28:04)
• The availability of feed additives (32:08)
• The evolution of the Chinese dairy research (35:19)
• Data recording and management (36:37)
• Data recording issues (40:38)
• The final questions (43:54)

Meet the guest: Dr. Walter Chen

Experience:

• Current: President of a dairy consulting business in China
• Past: Dairy Management Consultant for Cargill Nutrition; Manager at XCanton American Dairy Farm in Canton, China; Calf Manager at Canton American Dairy Farm

Background:

• Ph.D., Ruminant Nutrition (University of Arizona)
• M.Sc., Ruminant (University of Arizona)
• B.Sc. (South China Agricultural University)

Connect with the guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

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- DSM

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- Phibro

Reproductive performance is key to maintaining a cow productive and guaranteeing the next lactation. To achieve good results, we need to improve our knowledge about the reproduction of transition cows: how do we manage them in order to be reproductively successful? With that in mind, our guest Dr. Stephen LeBlanc and I discuss, in this episode of The Dairy Podcast Show, the main challenges in the reproduction of transition cows, metritis management, goals for reproductive parameters, and the use of technology to detect early reproductive diseases.

“So that's our challenge: keeping cows healthy, giving them the inputs of nutrition and management, and so on and so forth, so that they are set up with what they need for the success of their reproduction.” – Dr. Stephen LeBlanc

What you’ll learn:

• Highlight (00:00)
• Introduction (1:15)
• The influence of the transition period on the reproductive performance of cows (2:25)
• The indicators of success in reproductive performance  (8:39)
• Resilient cows and reproduction (15:34)
• Pregnancy rates: what’s the new goal? (21:01)
• Advances in the treatment of metritis (25:03)
• The use of sensors for metritis diagnosis (31:56)
• More milk, less fertility: is that true? (36:11)
• The final questions (40:29)

Meet the guest: Dr. Stephen LeBlanc

Experience:

• Current: Professor in the Department of Population Medicine at the Ontario Veterinary College; Director of Dairy at Guelph – The Centre for Dairy Research and Innovation, at the University of Guelph.

Background:

• D.V.S. (University of Guelph)
• D.V.M. (University of Guelph)
• B.Sc., Animal Science (McGill University)

Connect with the guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

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Ensuring continuous efficiency at milk production isn't an easy task: there are many challenges in the process. So how can we accomplish that? In this episode, with Dr. Paola Bacigalupo Sanguesa, we talk about parlor and milking efficiency, issues associated with both concepts, milk losses caused by specific problems, and future research aimed at improving milking results. And, since Paola is an experienced extension educator, she also gives some tips on how we can develop and retain our employees at the farm.

“The idea that we want to change is that more cows through the parlor might not equal more pounds of milk. Maybe we can reach a similar amount of pounds by establishing a better milking routine, but without needing more cows.” – Dr. Paola Bacigalupo Sanguesa

What you’ll learn:

• Highlight (00:00)
• Introduction (1:30)
• Developing employees at farm (8:30)
• Parlor and milking efficiency (10:46)
• Delayed milk ejection (14:31)
• What is bimodal milking? (18:11)
• Impacts of milking efficiency (23:18)
• Future research on milking efficiency (27:20)
• The final questions (31:08)

Meet the guest: Dr. Paola Bacigalupo Sanguesa

Experience:

• Current: Extension - Dairy Educator at Michigan State University
• Past: Graduate Student Research Assistant at Colorado State University; Calves Rearing Manager at Agricola La Cascada

Background:

• M.Sc., Epidemiology (Epidemiology, Dairy Cattle)
• D.V.M., Veterinary Medicine (Universidad de Chile)

Connect with the guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

- AB Vista

- Protekta

- DSM

- Diamond V

- ICC

- Phibro