Shows
Dairy Science DigestDSD 6.12 | Brachytic corn for increased productionDSD 6.12 | Brachytic corn for increased production
The brachytic gene mutation results in corn that is shorter in stature but an improved digestibility profile. Through a reduction in intranode distance, the corn plant reduces indigestible fiber. Dr. Antonio Gallo, PhD ruminant nutritionist from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and his team in Italy recently studied the impact of this gene mutation on the productivity of the dairy herd.
High quality, home grown forages allow dairy producers to maintain the competitive edge. By limiting the purchase of off-farm nutrients, forages possess the ability to advance or hold b...
2025-12-1627 minDairy Science DigestSpotify DSD 6.11 | The sweet spot - Insemination timing for peak profitDSD 6.11 | The sweet spot - Insemination timing for peak profit
With changes in the marketplace, coupled with increased reproductive performance of your herd there is an increased opportunity to improve net return. While breeding beef and sexed semen is no longer new, our industry has experienced a miscalculation of the ideal number of replacement heifers needed to optimize this model.
To ensure you’re on the right path, Megan Lauber , Dr. Paul Fricke and Dr. Victor Cabrera from University of WI recently completed work on a model of the interaction between 21-d Preg rate, semen ty...
2025-11-2436 minDairy Science DigestDSD 6.11 | The sweet spot - Insemination timing for peak profitDSD 6.11 | The sweet spot - Insemination timing for peak profit
With changes in the marketplace, coupled with increased reproductive performance of your herd there is an increased opportunity to improve net return. While breeding beef and sexed semen is no longer new, our industry has experienced a miscalculation of the ideal number of replacement heifers needed to optimize this model.
To ensure you’re on the right path, Megan Lauber , Dr. Paul Fricke and Dr. Victor Cabrera from University of WI recently completed work on a model of the interaction between 21-d Preg rate, semen ty...
2025-11-1736 minDairy Science DigestDSD 6.10 | Summary of Social Housing for CalvesIndividual housing for pre-weaned calves has long been gold standard, since it was first introduced in the 40s. However, interest has emerged around paired and group housing for this phase of production. Intermittent research on this topic has been published over the past 25 years but has never been compiled, until now.
Dr. Katarina Buckova from IA State University, and her team combed through research databases and compiled the results of several projects on paired housing, compared to individually housed calves. Research on production, health and behavior illuminated gaps in knowledge needed for producers to effectively move forward...
2025-10-1630 minDairy Science DigestDSD 6.9 | Surplus calves are a perishable commodityDSD 6.9 | Surplus calves are a perishable commodity
This robust beef market is having a direct impact on the bottom line of dairy calf buyers and possesses the ability to radically impact dairymen’s bottom line long term through low all milk prices. This month we talk to researcher Dr. Sam Locke from The Ohio State University about a survey launched to help better understand the workings of the current calf buyers, jockeys and marketers.
All sectors of this parallel and complementary production stream must work together for the dairy industry to generate a stronger, longer...
2025-09-1627 minDairy Science DigestDSD 6.8 | That is where you should put your moneyDSD 6.8 | That is where you should put your money
For years researchers have sought out to better understand control mechanisms for a successful transition into lactation from the dry period. We’ve learned changing body condition score during the dry period is not acceptable, but what if it changes during late lactation? How does this impact energy partitioning for the next lactation?
Well managed high producing cows with high fertility might find themselves bred back in less than the “textbook ideal” condition score heading into the dry period. Can we alter the late lactation ration to succ...
2025-08-1935 minDairy Science DigestDSD 6.7 | Diagnosing heifer mastitisIt’s always exciting to watch a group of replacement heifers develop and anticipate their performance in the milking string as the top genetics of your herd. There is just about nothing more devastating than freshening them in to find mastitis or even worse, a blind quarter. When a first calf heifer calves in with a high somatic cell count she is more likely to maintain the high count, and more likely to be culled.
Heifer mastitis, or intramammary infection (IMI), is a common affliction yet we know very little about what stage of production it occurs an...
2025-07-1525 minDairy Science DigestDSD 6.6 | How much variation is allowable?DSD 6.6 | How much variability is allowable?
Timing of insemination is still one of the most common question Dr. Paul Fricke, Extension faculty for the University of Wisconsin, gets from farmers. This month he and coauthors Vanda Santos and Paulo Carvalho discuss the ideal timing of insemination when using popular artificial insemination protocols and when producers use estrus detection devices.
Additionally, how does this change if you choose to use sexed semen or a straw of beef?
Listen in to learn how to improve the pregnancies / AI metric in YOUR herd.
Topics o...
2025-06-1633 minDairy Science DigestDSD 6.5 | Performance of High protein Corn coproductFor decades, ethanol production has generated affordable biproducts to feed. A new distilling method has generated a product with ~50% protein. Dr. Billy Brown, assistant professor of dairy science at Kansas State, wanted to understand how this feed would compare to soybean meal in a starter grain.
To test this he developed rations substituting soybean meal 1:1. Graduate student Rachel Skinner measured intake, growth, effiency and metabolic and digestive parameters to best understand if this product would work in post weaning phase of production.
Topics of discussion
1:19 Introduction of Dr. Billy Brooks
3:18 Nutrient composition of high pro...
2025-05-1625 minDairy Science DigestDSD 6.4 | A dynamic rumen, preweaningMost dairy farms are trying to push the envelope from the conventional 4L of milk replacer per day to a higher volume to support lean structural growth of replacement heifers. Concerns of ruminal leakage resulting in fermentation has been cited as a concern, but is that based on an incomplete picture? We know microbial protein offers a nearly perfect alignment of amino acid requirements for the bovine, however nutrition programs have discounted milk replacer to exclusively providing rumen undegradable protein (RUP) – protein that skips the rumen and is absorbed in the abomasum.
Marcos Marcondes, researcher from the Min...
2025-04-1730 minDairy Science DigestDSD 6.3 | Big Picture Management Decisions MatterDSD 6.3 | Big Picture Management Decisions Matter
Timeless dairy management decisions, such as voluntary waiting period & days dry, have recently been the topic of interest across the globe. Scrutiny to illuminate the ideal to maximize productive life has left the industry questioning convention.
Michael Overton, DVM at Zoetis worked with co-author Steve Eicker to tease out the answers to these questions from a a massive dataset of 109,000 cows across 60 herds nationwide. This retrospective, observational research project was recently published in the Journal of Dairy Science titled, “Associations between days open and dry period length versus milk pro...
2025-03-3132 minDairy Science DigestDSD 6.2 | Bump colostrum quality with easeColostrum, the life-giving liquid-gold first milk that builds the calves’ immune function. The dairy industry has made amazing strides on colostrum management, however we’ll always have a small number of cows that come in with enough colostrum, just moderate quality. What can we do to enhance the colostrum to ensure the calf’s success?
Dr. Sandra Godden, from the University of MN Vet Med, and her team of researchers sought to better understand what would happen if they directly added dry colostrum replacer to the moderate quality colostrum? Is it better to reconstitute and feed separately? Listen...
2025-02-1628 minDairy Science DigestDSD 6.1 | Management to create the invisible cowDSD 6.1 | Management to create the invisible cow
If you pause and think about a list of cows – chances are the list that pops into mind is a group of troublemakers that didn’t breed back or need another round of treatment or are on this week’s cull list. What if you could create a herd of unmemorable cows – ones who just do their job; make milk, breed back, no mastitis – the "Invisible Cow".
Dr. Krogstad’s research program’s goal is to create more invisible cows; ones you only see at calving, breeding and dry off. This m...
2025-01-1633 minDairy Science DigestDSD 5.12 | Takes time to Make TimeEver heard the adage, “It takes money to make money”? Well, the research highlighted this month shows that it also takes time, to make time. Dr. Zelmar Rodriguez discusses the importance of parlor training and how to make your on farm training as effective as possible. The featured article summarizes results of pre- and post-training assessments he and his team at MI State Vet Med recently completed.
Listen in to be motivated, a small effort can ultimately create a large impact in parlor performance and BTSCC.
Topics of discussion
1:49 Introduction of Dr. Zelmar Rodriguez...
2024-12-1623 minDairy Science DigestDSD 5.11 | Subtle Sync changes to synergize estrus with ovulationReproductive physiologists are always trying to improve conception rates for the dairy herd. Double ovsync is one of the best tools in our toolbox to submit cows to first insemination. However, as estrus detection technology becomes more affordable and we learn more about physiology, perhaps combining the expression of estrus at insemination may improve fertility through optimizing ovulation timing.
Dr. Julio Giordano and Ana Laplacette worked with their Cornell reproduction team to investigate this theory on over 4600 cows in 2 commercial herds. “We are trying to take advantage of the power of sync of ovulation and the power of...
2024-11-1842 minDairy Science DigestDSD 5.10 | Rumen friendly fatty acids in High Oleic BeansDSD 5.10 | Rumen friendly fatty acids in High Oleic Beans
Soybeans and dairy cows have walked hand for decades. These oil beans are known specifically for the amino acid sequence in their high-quality protein and energy to support lactation. Recent developments in plant breeding has shifted the fat profile of the bean contain a higher amount of Oleic fat, which is easier for the rumen to digest, in certain varieties.
Substituting linoleic acid for higher concentrations of oleic allows nutritionists to increase the inclusion rate in the diet and therefore support the herd during times of h...
2024-10-1629 minDairy Science DigestDSD 5.9 | Undegradable NDF clogging your herd?Despite decades of dedicated research, the rumen still remains a bit of a ‘black box’. This month we feature an article from Dr. Gonzalo Ferreira and his team at Virginia Tech as they try further define how undegradable fiber impacts the rumen's flow rate, and therefore productivity.
Comprehending the kinetics of degradation will assist in identifying the ideal combination of ingredients to create a profitable ration for your herd.
Could this help you make future planting decisions, as the nation is repairing from several rounds of drought? Does the ‘queen of forages’ belong in your cropping...
2024-09-1630 minDairy Science DigestDSD 5.8 | Magnesium mattersSeems like calcium and phosphorus gather up all the attention, but there is growing awareness of the importance of magnesium – the “runner up mineral” in the dairy cow diet. Some sources of magnesium are simply more available than others. This fact has the ignited the interest of ruminant nutritionists looking to focus their research efforts on determining the most available Mg source so you can get the biggest bang for your buck.
This month we featured an article from Dr. Noelia Silva Del Rio, from UC Davis. She describes her research on the rumen availability of different popula...
2024-08-2024 minDairy Science DigestDSD 5.7 |Machine learning to find SARA prevalence in your herdSubacute Ruminal acidosis, commonly referred to as SARA, could be robbing your herd of production. When pH dips too low for too long the biology of the rumen shifts, butterfat slides and overall health of the herd is negatively impacted.
But how can you tell if your herd has SARA?
This month we invite Dr. Eric Paquet and Felix Huot, from Université Laval in Quebec Canada to explain the method of using DHI milk samples to map the prevalence of SARA in the dairy herd of Quebec.
Listen in to learn more - ...
2024-07-1925 minDairy Science DigestDSD 5.6 | Heat stress changes to the Mammary GlandWhen your bulk tank volume takes a plunge through the last bout of heat, do you ever wonder exactly WHY?
What is it in the udder that changes to cause the decline? Why do we also commonly see elevated SCC in our tanks too?
To best understand the why, the Virgina Tech dairy team collected tissue samples from the mammary gland of cows in controlled environmental chambers. This month we invite Dr. Ben Corl to explain the cellular changes observed in the alveoli, epithelial and even immune cells of the mammary gland of cows undergoing a...
2024-06-1629 minDairy Science DigestDSD 5.5 | Avoid generations of production lossesFlorida researchers began a generational study in 2007 that is still years in the making. It all began with the investigation of the impact of heat stress on dry cows to measure changes that might occur to the calf incubating inside the hot dam, like a crock pot.
In addition to seeing negative production impacts on mama, the researchers began to measure numerous changes in the damaged calf coming out of the heat stressed dry cow. This month’s edition, we’ll be interviewing Dr. Jimena Laporta, of the University of Wisconsin, to better understand the physiological changes of t...
2024-05-1632 minDairy Science DigestDSD 5.4 | Reconsider Choline for lasting returnsCholine, a pseudovitamin, is required by all mammals including the dairy cow for many essential functions. Research in supplementing rumen protected choline really took off about twenty years ago, however continues today to best understand how this feed through additive can positively influence profitability.
Dr. Usman Arshad joins the conversation for this episode to highlight his comprehensive summary of all the peer reviewed, published research completed on Choline. Listen in to best understand the assumed mode of action choline uses to help provide an improved efficiency in milk production for the majority of the lactation, even when...
2024-04-2036 minDairy Science DigestDSD 5.3 | Slight modifications of CIDR Sync - help or hinder?DSD 5.3 | Slight modifications of CIDR Sync - help or hinder?
In this time of heifer inventory shortage – getting heifers pregnant (in a timely fashion) is even more important than ever.
Contract heifer growers in California sought the help of Dr. Fabio Lima and his team at UC Davis to best understand the use of a 6-day CIDR sync with variable rates of GnRH could increase pregnancies when bred to sexed semen.
The findings we discuss are published in the recently released Journal of Dairy Science article titled: Effect of 200 μg of gonadorelin hydrochloride at...
2024-03-1527 minDairy Science DigestDSD 5.2 | Stop fresh cow subclinical mastitis in its tracks without withholdGetting the fresh cow off to a strong start has ripple effects for her entire lactation. Subclinical mastitis rarely gets treated due to an unawareness or a lack of interest in pulling her from the tank. Nisin is a naturally occurring antimicrobial that’s been used widely as a food preservative. Dr. Zelmar Rodriguez and his team from Michigan State University looked at using this familiar antimicrobial to treat subclinical mastitis. The result, reduced clinical cases of mastitis.
Listen in to learn more about the return on investment of using Nisin on subclinical mastitis found in the fi...
2024-02-1624 minDairy Science DigestDSD 5.1 | Energy saved is energy earnedEfficient production is the name of the game, and the key to an efficient cow is her rumen microbiome. The highlighted research this month focuses in on the intersection of Genome of the host cow, Microbiome within the rumen and the Intersection of the two.
To best understand the rumen efficiency story we talk this month with Dr. Guillermo Martinez Boggio from University of Wisconsin, about his recently released paper titled: Host and rumen microbiome contributions to feed efficiency traits in Holstein cows. Here they studied how the rumen and the host interact and if that interaction...
2024-01-1619 minDairy Science DigestDSD 4.12 | Mature mamas sail through transition with beef cross calvesBeef on dairy is here to stay. These cross animals generate a revenue stream for dairies as it lubricates the parallel industry of beef production. Much research is being poured into this topic to ensure producers can make wise breeding choices going forward. This month we talk with Bailey Basiel from Penn State University, about their recently released paper titled: The impact of beef sire breed on dystocia, still birth, gestation length, health, and lactation performance of cows that carry beef x dairy calves.
While we all know how desirable this cross calf is to the market...
2023-12-1525 minDairy Science DigestDSD 4.11 | Reproduction RevolutionOver the past 30 years the reproduction status of dairy has improved substantially, largely due to research around reproduction synchronization. This month we talk to Dr. Paul Fricke and Megan Lauber from the University of Wisconsin, about their recently released paper titled: Effect of postpartum body condition score change on the pregnancy outcomes of lactating Jersey cows inseminated at first service with sexed Jersey or conventional beef semen after a synchronized estrus versus a synchronized ovulation.
We discuss the how to maximize the equation of fertility, through management. Once optimized, you’ll find your herd entering the “high fert...
2023-11-1637 minDairy Science DigestDSD 4.10 | Prevent Early Embryonic LossesPregnancy is the key to profitability, ensuring your herd remains in the most profitable phase of production. However, these early embryos are delicate and often are not carried out through the entire 283 days of gestation. This month we talk with Dr. Stephen LaBlanc, from the University of Guelph about quantifying the frequency of early pregnancy loss in healthy animal and his team’s quest to determine the impact of a failed transition on the cow’s ability to carry the pregnancy to term.
Through management, a producer can prevent the spiral of negative events that result in incr...
2023-10-1630 minDairy Science DigestDSD 4.9 | Is your starch locked up by Zein proteins?Corn silage is such piece in your ration. Much work has been done by corn breeders to create the most ideal plant with high yields, digestible forage AND starch to support lactation. This month we talk with Dr. José Varela and feature a foundational silage project he and his team worked on at the University of Wisconsin to better understand specifically how zein proteins around corn starch particles change overtime when fermented.
Corn breeders throughout the Land Grant University system collaborate and work hard to ensure the next line of genetically superior forage will perform on your o...
2023-09-1928 minDairy Science DigestDSD 4.8 | How does grass-based milk impact human nutrition?Research in Ireland is focused around better understanding the intersection of management and cattle nutrition on the quality of the milk produced within a system. This month we talk specifically about three different feeding strategies – TMR, PMR or grass based investigated for an entire lactation.
The vast majority of Irish dairymen attempt to maximize use of grass as the primary feed source for their nation’s dairy herd. Therefore food scientists Dr. André Brodkorb and Mark Timlin and team at Teagasc in Ireland set out to capture quantifiable differences in the milk between systems.
Listen in th...
2023-08-1637 minDairy Science DigestDSD 4.7 | Ketosis and Antioxidant ability - Chicken or the egg?DSD 4.7 | Is there a relationship between Ketosis and antioxidant ability
For years, dairy producers have worked towards best understanding all the challenges a cow experiences as she transitions from dry into lactation. If we can best identify the animals who take this transition in stride, we can work towards improving the single most challenging part of dairy production. This month, we are joined by two Belgium researchers looking to examine the relationship between antioxidant activity and ketotis, specifically BHBA.
Dr. Fievez, ruminant nutritionist at Ghent University - in Belgium, worked with PhD candidate MQ Zhang...
2023-07-1620 minDairy Science DigestDSD 4.6 | Accounting for accelerated genetic improvementProducers are becoming increasingly willing to make strides in the herd’s genetic progress through using embryo transfer (ET). We’ve seen a 12% increase in this management practice. Dr. Asha Miles, a Research Geneticist from USDA, talks with us about the sire evaluation program and specifically about the impact of on farm reporting of embryo transfer on the data set.
Dr. Miles describes a dataset, updated 3x/year, available to all - accessible through the US Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding portal. This dataset can help producers unlock answers to questions about ideal sires for the herd. She...
2023-06-1626 minDairy Science DigestDSD 4.5 | Achieve Efficiency with Low N RationsProtein is expensive. Farms decreasing protein to save cost or save the environment creates a need to tweak a few things to keep your herd’s rumen running smooth. A rumen starved of protein will result in less branch chained volatile fatty acids (BCVFA) production in the rumen. These BCVFAs help fuel fiber degrading bacteria, and when concentrations are right, digestive efficiency improves – unlocking home-grown, fibrous energy for your herd.
This month we talk with Ohio State’s Dr. Jeffrey Firkins about the work he’s done with Zinpro to find the ideal concentration and combinations of isoacids...
2023-05-1621 minDairy Science DigestDSD 4.4 | Early Estrus Settles CowsWhat if you were able to tell within the first 10-14 days of lactation, if a cow would settle to first service – two months later? What tools are being developed to help answer that question?
This month we talk with Dr. Stefan Borchardt about work his research team recently completed using AMS (activity monitoring systems) to track the impact of transition, on estrus expression and corelate that to reproductive success or failure.
Understanding the correlations described in this month’s feature article: “Effect of transition cow health and estrous expression detected by an automated activity monitor...
2023-04-1624 minDairy Science DigestDSD 4.3 | Financial thresholds of successful dairies in NYThe dairy industry is capital intensive. Maintaining strong relationships with your lender, based on YOUR farm’s financial data, will help navigate through all the different market conditions. Specifically, using financial thresholds and benchmarking against similar farms will help your farm’s financial resiliency over time.
This month Dr. Chris Wolf joins us from Cornell to discuss the article is titled, “Financial risk and resiliency on US dairy farms: Measures, thresholds, and management implications”. Listen in to this deep dive into the metrics the Cornell dairy team used to benchmark over a 10-year period.
Additionally, we discus...
2023-03-1635 minDairy Science DigestDSD 4.2 | How to anticipate colostrum changesColostrum: the liquid gold of life for newborn dairy calves. While it’s fairly universally understood how important colostrum is, we occasionally encounter the bizarre situation when a cow comes in with very little or no colostrum. Then, shortly later another cow comes in and nearly overflows the bucket. This situation intrigued researchers out of New York to closely study 19 Holstein herds in attempt to find associations of management to colostrum yield and quantity.
Listen in to Trent Westhoff from Cornell as he discusses the recently published article titled, "Epidemiology of bovine colostrum production in New York Ho...
2023-02-1529 minDairy Science DigestDSD 4.1 | Fueling the appetite of your herdA good rule of thumb many nutritionists work by; when the cow increases intake - every 1 pound of feed increase will result in 2.5 additional pounds of milk. Capturing this “marginal milk” helps increase profits for dairy producers who are already covering all the fixed costs of the herd. For years, Dr. Mike Allen and others have studied the mechanisms that control intake so we can learn how to tweak our diet to maximize intake.
This month Dr. Barry Bradford joins us from Michigan State University to discuss the article is titled, “Fueling Appetite: Nutrient metabolism and the contro...
2023-01-1620 minDairy Science DigestDSD 3.12 | One minute delay is costing youOn-farm data mining from your parlor equipment could help you identify bimodality in your herd. Bimodality refers to delayed milk ejection during the early phase of the milking. Previous research and repeated work by M. Wieland’s team has shown that a delay in milk let down can result in a significant loss of milk. Equipped with this information our guest this month, Dr. Matthias Wieland, would take a sophisticated tool on farms to test parlor efficiency and effectiveness in milkout.
One trip he wondered – Could we reliability use parlor equipment to make similar assessments? This month we l...
2022-12-1623 minDairy Science DigestDSD 3.11 | Ultrasound assessment of pneumoniaBovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a costly concern primarily during the calf phase production. This is especially relevant to veal production, when young and venerable calves are commingled from many farms. However, BVD breakouts can also occur on calf ranches raising dairy x beef calves or even individual dairy farms.
This month Dr. Stan Jourquin joins us from Ghent University in Belgium to discuss his article is titled, “Dynamics of subclinical pneumonia in male dairy calves in relation to antimicrobial therapy and production outcomes”. Listen in to learn how pneumonia might be lurking in your herd without your...
2022-11-1526 minDairy Science DigestDSD 3.10| Fetal programming effects of CholineFetal programming is an emerging topic. This month listen in to learn more about how feeding Choline to your transition pen could transform the metabolism and next generation of the herd. Researcher Dr. Tucker Swartz at the Michigan State University and his team in Bradford’s lab fed choline 24 days prior to freshening and measured the impact on the calf's success through the preweaning phase. These results are in press in the Journal of Dairy Science titled, “Effects of prenatal dietary rumen-protected choline supplementation during late gestation on calf growth, metabolism, and vaccine response.”
They found impacts in the...
2022-10-1613 minDairy Science DigestDSD 3.9| Turn methane from a liability into an assetWhile it is a fairly unpopular topic among most dairymen, the carbon neutrality goal for 2050 has been declared by leaders of the dairy industry to ensure we are meeting the desires of consumers. This month Dr. Frank Mitloehner joins us from UC Davis to discuss his article is titled, “Defining a pathway to climate neutrality for US dairy cattle production”. Listen in to learn how this goal can become an asset to your balance sheet, through carbon credits on the open market.
We discuss the State of California and their relationship with their dairy industry as a case...
2022-09-1623 minDairy Science DigestDSD 3.8 | The high fertility cycleThis month Drs. Keith E. Latham and J. Richard Pursley join us from Michigan State University to discuss their research comparing cows that maintained body condition versus those who lost during the first month of lactation, and the impact that has on reproductive success.
Dairy producers are familiar with the struggles cows have when the transition period fails and cows thin down. Turns out these researchers identified part of the reproductive puzzle, a molecular change on the oocyte which potentially explains poor fertility for those who loose condition.
Listen in as Dr. Pursley describes the “Hi...
2022-08-1622 minDairy Science DigestDSD 3.7 | Is She Settled?How much would you value knowing that she’s bred earlier than convention? Canadian researcher Dr. Jean Durocher and his team at DHI was approached by dairy producers to determine the feasibility of weekly milk PAG testing all the way down to 23 days post insemination, potentially helping resync and rebreed her a week earlier.
The cost of days open can range from $3.00-$5.50/cow/day. Knowing her status sooner will assist in decreasing these costs.
This month’s feature article “Bayesian estimation of sensitivity and specificity of a milk pregnancy-associated glycoprotein ELISA test for pregnancy diagno...
2022-07-1419 minDairy Science DigestDSD 3.6 | Not your Grandfathers SorghumThis timely edition addresses questions about the feasibility of Forage Sorghum and Sorghum Sudangrass for your lactating herd. There have been numerous advances to these forages over time resulting in hybrids. Dr. Luis Ferraretto, from the University of Wisconsin, is featured for this June addition to discuss a retroactive study predicting dry matter intake, milk production, and production’s impact on intake using 11 years of sorghum plot data from Central FL.
Listen in to better understand the effect of planting season and ways to navigate using these "improved” forages in your dairy’s program.
Could this fo...
2022-06-1625 minDairy Science DigestDSD 3.5 | Modeling biometrics benchmarks for a successful transition cow managementThe transition period has been investigated for nearly 4 decades. Over this time, much has changed in dairy industry including herd management and genetics. Dr. Kerwin, from Cornell, joins us today to discuss the robust observational project documenting the management of 72 successful herds in NY and VT. The project involved tracking the same cohort of cows on each farm for 11 weeks to capture the far off, close up, fresh and peak lactation cow over time.
Part 1 of the paper focuses on the management of the herds within the existing farm infrastructure. These topics including grouping dynamics, fresh cow...
2022-05-1642 minDairy Science DigestDSD 3.4 | Under the hoodThe final frontier for ruminant nutritionists - understanding all the intricacies and nuances of the microorganisms in the rumen. We know the rumen is adaptable and must anticipate these changes to better manage our herd. This month we talk with Dr. Mary Beth Hall, US Dairy Forage Research center, who investigated the relationship of non-fibrous carbohydrates and rumen degradable protein in the rumen and on production.
In 2022, we anticipate nutritionists will try out a variety of different energy sources throughout 2022, due to the challenging commodity markets. The research team specifically looked at feeding different rates of molasses...
2022-04-1528 minDairy Science DigestDSD 3.3 | Financial Resilience – the individual cow effectPositive Profit. Every herd is chasing financial resilience. It is especially relevant on our minds having just completed our schedule Fs and planning for 2022 planting season.
Have you ever wondered the lifetime profit of a cow in your herd? How about the average break even for each cow in the herd? Dr. Hadrich was raised on a dairy and questioned the impact of these individual cow differences. To answer these questions, she and her team took on-farm quickbook financials and merged them with individual cattle DHIA data from 67 Minnesota herds. This information maps out the cow-level cumulative...
2022-03-2122 minDairy Science DigestDSD 3.2 | Unleashed EnergyThe hurdles of the transition period were first identified nearly 3 decades ago. Since then, researchers have been working towards improved understanding of adipose tissue metabolism to fuel the dairy cow during this window of time.
This month we interview the author of the Symposium Review titled: The role of adipose tissue in transition dairy cows: current knowledge and future opportunities, Dr. Sabine Mann, DVM from Cornell University.
We discuss the effects of and how to monitor circulating NEFAs during early lactation. Dr. Mann’s article is an extensive review of this topic and provides obtainable ma...
2022-02-1524 minDairy Science DigestDSD 3.1 | Don’t waste your GnRHSettling the problem breeder is an achievement every dairy manager wants to better understand. This month’s topic focuses in on the role of GnRH injections and the relationship with the cow’s activity. Listen in as Dr. Tracy Burnett, from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver Canada, studied this topic and has added to our conventional wisdom about GnRH’s role.
Her work was recently published @JournalofDairyScience is titled: Impact of GnRH administration at the time of Artificial insemination on Conception risk and its association with estrus expression.
This article is found at: https...
2022-01-1618 minDairy Science DigestDSD 2.12 | New Rx for Dehorning?Dehorning, the task no one loves. This month pain expert Dr. Michael D. Kleinhenz, from Kansas State, describes research his team conducted to test the effectiveness of long-acting bupivacaine for pain relief during and following disbudding. Listen in to learn about a novel approach to measure pain levels, to determine the effectiveness of Bupivacaine for FDA approval.
The article highlighted from the @JournalofDairyScience is titled: Effect of bupivacaine liposome suspension administered as a cornual nerve block on indicators of pain and distress during and after cautery dehorning in dairy calves Found at: https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article...
2021-12-1625 minDairy Science Digest2.11 | Measuring Fat During the Transition PeriodAs the dairy cow transitions from dry to lactating, she experiences numerous changes. This month we learn more about the biological details of fat metabolism. Dr. Contreras, from Michigan State University, guides us through a discussion around the project specifically focusing in on what occurs to the fat, at a cellular level, of a cow challenged by disease – specifically ketosis.
Listen in to better understand the 3 major mechanisms to control fat mobilization in your fresh cow pen. This “benchtop” laboratory work has paved the way to brainstorm supportive solutions.
The article highlighted from the @JournalOfDairyScience is tit...
2021-11-1518 minDairy Science DigestDSD 2.10 | Impact of on farm feed in your AMSTo help save feed costs, many producers have turned to on farm feed as a resource. However, what is not well understood is the impact of this choice for dairies using automatic milking systems (AMS), or robots.
Dr. Greg Penner and his team at the University of Saskatchewan researched the feasibility of using home grown, steam-flaked barley versus pelleted barley for guided-flow AMS barns.
Listen in this month to learn what the potential impact of this management choice on your lactating herd. The title of the @JournalofDairyScience article in press is: Comparing steam-flaked and pelleted...
2021-10-1517 minDairy Science DigestDSD 2.9 | Educating ConsumersThis month we’re going to navigate a bit away from production practices and talk about consumers understanding of our products. By better understanding HOW consumers view the image of our industry, we can become better advocates and perhaps sell more products. Dr. Laurel Redding joins us today from the University of Pennsylvania, school of Veterinary medicine. Her Journal of dairy Science article, currently in press, is titled: Educational interventions to address misconceptions about antibiotic residues in milk can alter consumer perceptions and may affect purchasing habits.
She studied the effect of 3 different educational materials on consumer's op...
2021-09-1616 minDairy Science DigestDSD 2.8 | Consider CobaltEssential trace elements are “essential” because the diet is the only source. However, sometimes because they are trace, we tend to forget about the importance.
Listen in this month to learn from Dr. David Casper about the importance of cobalt in energy metabolism of your lactating herd. This specific research project is discussing the difference between sources of cobalt, carbonate vs lactate.
The title of the @JournalofDairyScience: Supplementing additional cobalt as cobalt lactate in a high forage total mixed ration fed to late lactation dairy cows, is currently in press in volume 104.
The impro...
2021-08-1614 minDairy Science DigestDSD 2.7 | Timing of Prefresh Vaccination mattersTiming is everything - by shifting your prepartum vaccination program by one week, can make big difference in the success of your transition program. Dr. Schuenemann, Ohio State’s Extension state dairy veterinarian, investigated the difference between giving prepartum vaccines at day -28 vs -21. Listen in to hear why the industry should consider the shift to 4 weeks out to improve uptake of IgG in the mammary, the site we need it.
This continues our theme of: “Doesn’t cost a thing” – management changes we can make that make a difference. This podcast highlights the two part papers in...
2021-07-2624 minDairy Science DigestDSD 2.6 Doesn't cost a thingHeifer development, one of the most expensive enterprises on the farm, all expense with delayed return. This month, Dr. Jolet Van Niekerk summarizes a comprehensive review of heifer development in the Journal of Dairy Science, titled: New frontiers in calf and heifer nutrition—From conception to puberty.
This article in press is the ADSA Foundation Scholar award recipient for its comprehensive review. While there are many things we can manage that does have cost, surprisingly the most important message Dr. Van Niekerk wanted dairy producers to know, DOESN'T COST A THING!
We hope you'll listen in...
2021-06-1624 minDairy Science DigestDSD 2.4 | Reproductive Success for late calving grazersIn this edition of Dairy Science digest Dr. Matt Lucy, Editor in chief of the Journal of Dairy Science Communication and Reproduction physiologist from the University of Missouri, discusses work he and team published this month about successfully synchronizing late calvers in a seasonal calving system.
Grazers represent a large portion of Missouri's dairy industry. Ensuring a tight calving window helps match cows with ideal forage growth pattern.
Tune in to learn how to effectively "reset" those late calving cows.
Dairy Science digest covers the most current topics being published in th...
2021-04-1619 minDairy Science DigestDSD 2.3 | Fresh Cow Ration - Protein MattersIn this edition of Dairy Science digest Dr. Bill Weiss, from The Ohio State University, discusses work he and his co-author Alex Tebbes recently completed on determining the ideal amount of crude protein for your fresh cow pen. Additionally, they determined the sweet spot for forage for the recently fresh cow to ensure the highest intake - and therefore energy corrected milk.
The INVESTMENT in the first 24 days, showed carryover effects for 11 weeks in lactation - easily supporting the elevated cost.
Here's direct access to the journal article in press titled: "Concurrent and carryover effects of...
2021-03-1618 minDairy Science DigestDSD 2.2 - The Future of Milk testing | pregnancy, disease and efficiencyIn this edition of Dairy Science digest Professor Mike Coffey, a researcher from the Scotland, describes the advancements with inline milk sampling. He explains how improvements in technology allows us to analyze subtle changes in the milk. These subtle changes occur with pregnancy, disease, metabolic disruptions and even to differentiate efficient cattle from the less efficient.
This non-invasive data collection opportunity could radically transform the information we could use to manage our herd.
Dairy Science digest covers the most current topics being published in the Journal of dairy science. Designed to never exceed :20, this podcast...
2021-02-1517 minDairy Science DigestDSD S2E1 Solar Panels in your dairy systemThis episode we learn from Dr. Bradley Heins, from the University of Minnesota, all about integrating solar into your dairy grazing operation. He has learned about construction considerations, cow cleanliness and the shading effect of solar panels added to a rotational system.
His research titled "Evaluation of solar photovoltic systems to shade cows in a pasture-based dairy herd", is in press in the Journal of Dairy Science volume 104.
@journaldairyscience #2xAg2030
Keywords: Dairy, Solar, grazing, heat stress
2021-01-1515 minDairy Science DigestDSD8: Flashmate for Heat DetectionOn this episode of Dairy Science Digest Fayth Kumro, MS Animal Sciences from the University of Missouri discusses Flashmate. This heat detection device uses touch screen technology to determine when your cows are in heat. Her research was conducted in both grazing operations and confinement.
Learn more about how to affordably improve heat detection in your herd to keep your cows in the most productive phase of lactation.
Read the abstract or request the article at: https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(20)30975-9/fulltext
Journal of Dairy Science & JDS Communications
2020-12-1608 minDairy Science DigestDSD7 - No magic body weight target for successDairy Science Digest's Reagan Bluel interviews Dr. Chad Dechow, Geneticist from Penn St., to discuss the sweet spot in heifer development for the 7th episode of Dairy Science Digest.
This 15 year research project supported that the biggest heifers aren't the most profitable for your operation. Heaviest heifers are 49% more likely to be culled at a given time.
Moderate sized heifers that reach between 73-77% mature rate at first calving can produce more milk WITHOUT sacrificing long term milk yield and herd life.
Dechow's Journal of Dairy Science article is in press and f...
2020-11-1516 minDairy Science DigestDairy Science Digest 6: Aspirin for dystociaCan a few bolus' of aspirin really make a difference? Listen here to hear the research of Dr. Adrian Barragan, of Penn State University, discussing how this simple therapy can have a huge impact on inflammation, and therefore productivity of your fresh cows.
Dairy Science digest is a monthly podcast hosted by Reagan Bluel, of MU - Extension Dairy team, designed to bring the latest Dairy Science research to the ears of dairy producers. Targeted to not exceed 22 minutes, its the "need to know info" to base your management decisions on.
More information vi...
2020-10-1622 minDairy Science DigestBeef on Dairy - sire conception rateDairy science digest #5 interviews Taylor McWhorter, from Georgia, to discuss considerations when selecting beef sires for your breeding program. Specifically focusing in on sire conception rates or SCR.
Journal of Dairy Science, Sept 2020. Title: Investigating conception rate for beef service sires bred to dairy cows and heifers.
2020-09-1519 minDairy Science DigestDairy Science Digest - Tricks for workforce developmentIn this edition of Dairy Science Digest, Stan Moore from MI State provides us insight to what employees (both hired and family) need to feel committed to your farm. Quality relationships are easy to develop, as long as your mindful of your approach. Listen in to catch nuggets of critical information to meet your farm where you are in the stage of workforce development.
2020-08-1830 minDairy Science DigestDairy Science Digest - Calves born to Heat stressed dams are preprogrammed for failureIn this edition Reagan Bluel interviews Dr. Jimena Laporta, from the University of Florida, about heat stress in your dry cow herd.
We've learned, from a decade of data, that heat stress on a dam during the dry period causes a change to her calf that last a lifetime and is passed down to her offspring. This change causes decreased milk production, productive life and profitability. Listen in to learn how a small investment in prevention can have a huge return.
2020-07-1526 minDairy Science DigestDairy Science Digest-Does Repro Technologies fit in your herd?Dairy Science digest is a monthly podcast developed to share current research in Dairy Science. The "need to know" info to help manage your herd. This month, Dr. Richard Chebel, from the University of FL discusses the effect of bringing SCR collars into a high producing Holstein herd in FL.This research looked at using the activity collars for conventional AI, TAI and to better refine the window for your ET program. See https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-17892.
2020-06-1530 min
Dairy Science DigestDairy Science Digest - Perfecting the Goldilocks diet, using molassesDairy Science digest is a new podcast developed to share current research published in the Journal of Dairy science. Only the "need to know" info to help you manage your herd.
This edition features an interview with author, Casey Havekes, discussing the how to perfect your transition cow "Goldilocks" diet. To see the full article visit: https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/current
2020-05-1523 min