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 impact...
May 02, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 34
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, featu...
Apr 25, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 33
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,...
Apr 18, 2023•43 min•Season 1Ep. 32
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 financia...
Apr 11, 2023•43 min•Season 1Ep. 31
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, co...
Apr 04, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 30
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...
Mar 28, 2023•42 min•Season 1Ep. 29
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 e...
Mar 20, 2023•41 min•Season 1Ep. 28
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...
Mar 13, 2023•48 min•Season 1Ep. 27
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 ...
Mar 06, 2023•45 min•Season 1Ep. 26
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 ...
Feb 27, 2023•50 min•Season 1Ep. 25
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 consum...
Feb 20, 2023•47 min•Season 1Ep. 24
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...
Feb 13, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 23
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 deve...
Feb 06, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 22
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 discu...
Jan 31, 2023•50 min•Season 1Ep. 21
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...
Jan 23, 2023•47 min•Season 1Ep. 20
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 employe...
Jan 16, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Dry off management has never been as important as it is now, since preparing a cow correctly for the next lactation is key when it comes to maintaining the animal healthy during this whole new period. With that in mind, what are the latest research and advances in the field? How can we improve performance, welfare, and profitability during the dry off period? In this episode, with Dr. Luciano Caixeta, we talk about acidogenic mineral bolus, the management of disorders and advances at the transit...
Jan 09, 2023•53 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Cutting costs with feed is becoming a challenge on dairy farms due to increasing prices. In that scenario, growing adequate quantities of high-quality forages with quality and productivity is a key strategy for reducing costs. But how can we do that? What forages are suitable for that purpose? In this episode, with Dennis Hancock, we will talk about the main challenges in growing alfalfa, the ways we can overcome those challenges, and the benefits of using perennial forages. “We've had a lot of ...
Jan 02, 2023•38 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Genetics can be a powerful tool for improving the efficiency of dairy herds, so it is vital that we keep up with the latest advances in genetic trait selection. With that in mind, there are two questions that are key. Firstly, what exactly are the right traits that improve efficiency? And secondly, what has been done so far, and what are the next steps in our selection programs? In this episode, Dr. Kent Weigel discusses what traits we can use to improve efficiency, how we can measure them, and ...
Dec 26, 2022•58 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Animal welfare on dairy farms is critical and depends heavily on comfort assessments. In other words, taking good care of dairy cows means providing them with living conditions that are comfortable and where they are not subjected to unnecessary stress or discomfort. That is why comfort assessments are key: through them, we can identify areas where the environment of the cows can be improved and made more comfortable, which improves their health and productivity. In this episode, Lindsay Ferlito...
Dec 19, 2022•32 min•Season 1Ep. 15
What do you know about lactose intolerance? You probably know someone who is affected by this disorder, right? In a few words, lactose intolerance is a common condition in which the body cannot digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and other dairy products. This condition is caused by a lack of the enzyme lactase produced by the small intestine's cells. As a deficiency related directly to dairy products, lactose intolerance is a concern for us. And that's why it's crucial to understand it fully....
Dec 12, 2022•33 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Technology came to stay and changed the way we see and do things. Dairy farming is an example of that. There has been a lot of progress in the development and application of technology in various ways, including monitoring cow health, facilitating labor shortages, improving production facilities, supporting reproduction techniques, etc. In this episode, Dr. Marcia Endres discusses precision dairy technologies, such as robotic milking systems, automated milk feeders, and individual cow behavior s...
Dec 05, 2022•48 min•Season 1Ep. 13
When we talk about dairy research, the key to unlocking some answers for questions such as the importance and function of protozoa in the rumen environment and in methane mitigation can lie with fermenters. Today’s guest, Dr. Benjamin Wenner, breaks down the topic and sheds some light on how those fermenters work, and how the research done with them can impact the dairy industry. Additionally, he discusses some important points that we, the dairy industry, need to improve about our production. “...
Nov 28, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Society's expectations towards the dairy industry have been dramatically changing in the past few decades. Consumers not only demand that the products have high quality, but they also want to know that they are produced in an appropriate and respectful way towards the animals. As the dairy industry, the responsibility to adapt to the new consumer expectations and find the right balance to do what is both economically practicable and best for the animals falls in our hands. Dr. Jennifer Van Os, o...
Nov 21, 2022•47 min•Season 1Ep. 11
The rumen is probably the most important machinery that drives cows’ production and health, yet there remains a lot that is unknown of how the rumen actually works. Mimicking the rumen environment in in vitro systems has been an important tool to understand rumen microbiology. Dr. Antonio Faciola, our guest on today’s episode, replicates the rumen environment in systems called fermenters. He and his group strive for a better understanding of how rumen microbiology works. He talks about the rumen...
Nov 14, 2022•33 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Efficiency in dairy production depends on reproduction. One of dairy producers' biggest challenges today is overcoming poor reproductive performance. We know that dairy cow reproduction is affected by a variety of factors including nutrition, milk production, housing, and heat stress, to list a few. But what do we have in terms of processes, techniques, and technologies to improve dairy cows' reproduction? In today's episode I talk to Dr. Paul Fricke about dairy cows' reproduction and reproducti...
Nov 07, 2022•51 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Dairy nutrition has come a long way in terms of manipulating diets to feed the cows. Besides that, producing more efficient animals is essential to economically succeed and better reduce the environmental impacts of dairy systems. This issue is precisely Dr. Sebastian Apelo's focus in his research. In today's episode, he brings up an essential discussion on how we can manipulate diets to directly affect the functions of the mammary gland, thus making it more efficient in utilizing nutrients – es...
Nov 01, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Over the years, a lot of research has been done in the agriculture industry. The purpose is to help producers with new ways to produce more efficiently and sustainably. In today’s episode, Dr. Mark McGuire explains how an ag research facility operates. He focuses on a new facility in Idaho, the Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, that is designed to attend to the needs of the agriculture industry. Additionally, he talks about the challenges they face in ag research and the impact i...
Oct 24, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Heat stress can severely affect the feeding behavior, immune response, and production performance of dairy cows. Besides, it also has the potential to affect not only lactation cows, but calves and dry cows as well. Our guests, Drs. Peter Hansen, Lance Baumgard, and Agustin Rius, have different focuses in their researches on how heat stress impacts those animals. Thus, a round table discussion is held in today's episode to discuss how we can better understand the way cows are affected by heat st...
Oct 17, 2022•51 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Forages are crucial to support an adequate diet for cows. Because of that, we must monitor and improve its growth. Also, when it comes to silage management, we need to follow the best practices for harvesting corn silage and haylage. As for optimizing forage quality and fiber digestibility, we must consider weather conditions and other factors. So there’s a lot to be considered, right? In this episode, Joe Lawrence and I discuss a whole farming approach meant to determine which crops are best su...
Oct 10, 2022•56 min•Season 1Ep. 5
