The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

Hello there!In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Elias Uddin explains the impact of isoacids on rumen bacterial activity, fiber digestibility, and mammary gland efficiency. Learn about the experimental findings on methane production and the unique benefits of isoacid supplementation in dairy diets. Tune in to gain valuable insights!"Isoacids are branched-chain fatty acids that enhance rumen bacterial activity and improve fiber digestibility.Meet the guest: Dr. Elias Uddin, an Assistant Professor at the University of Connecticut, specializes in ruminant nutrition and environmental modeling. With a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, his research emphasizes sustainability in dairy production. Dr. Uddin's work integrates in-vivo experiments and life cycle assessments to explore methane mitigation and nutrient utilization in dairy cattle, aiming to optimize productivity and environmental impact. His achievements include impactful publications in top-tier journals and leadership roles in advanced dairy science education and research. What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:06) Introduction  (02:01) Isoacids: definition and mode of action  (03:18) Experimental design and forage levels  (04:51) Production measurements and results  (06:46) Methane production findings  (07:25) Unique benefits of isoacids  (09:38) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:* Adisseo- Evonik- Volac- Virtus Nutrition

Hello there!In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Jennifer Van Os from the University of Wisconsin-Madison discusses calf housing methods to mitigate cold stress. She explores the benefits of pair housing versus individual housing and shares insights from recent studies on calf behavior and health during Wisconsin winters. Learn how these findings can enhance calf welfare and farm efficiency. Listen now on your favorite podcast platform!"Pair housing allows calves to huddle together, which can help them conserve body heat during cold weather." Meet the guest: Dr. Jennifer Van Os is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Animal Welfare in the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She received her PhD from the University of California-Davis and did postdoctoral research at the University of British Columbia. Her work focuses on improving dairy animal welfare through biological and social science.What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:18) Introduction (01:56) Background on research (02:34) Pair housing vs. individual housing(03:47) Cold stress in Wisconsin(04:49) Behavior measurements and findings(07:57) Pair housing benefits(09:08) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:* Adisseo- Virtus Nutrition- Evonik- Volac

Hello there!In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Katherine Swanson discusses innovative ways to incorporate almond hulls into dairy cattle diets. With California producing 80% of the world’s almonds, this discussion on optimizing almond hulls as a feed source is crucial for improving dairy nutrition and sustainability. Dr. Swanson shares valuable insights into the nutritional benefits, potential quality issues, and practical considerations for feeding almond hulls to dairy cows. Tune in to gain expert knowledge on maximizing dairy production with alternative feed resources."For optimal inclusion, keeping almond hulls around 10 to 15% of the diet is reasonable and can improve milk fat percentage."Meet the guest: Dr. Katherine Swanson, lecturer at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, specializes in dairy science. She holds a Ph.D. from Oregon State University and an M.S. from UC Davis. With over five years of postdoctoral research at UC Davis and industry experience, Dr. Swanson excels in dairy cattle nutrition.What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:15) Introduction(01:55) Almond hulls in the dairy industry(02:55) Nutritional value of almond hulls(04:19) Quality control issues(07:27) Economic considerations(07:52) Potential for export and pelleting(08:50) Optimal inclusion rates(10:02) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:* Adisseo- Virtus Nutrition- Evonik- Volac

Hello there!In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Jeffrey Firkins, a professor with 35 years of experience in rumen microbiology and microbial protein synthesis, discusses the crucial role of microbial protein in dairy nutrition, exploring dietary strategies to enhance its synthesis and the challenges in current modeling approaches. Listen to the full episode on all major platforms."In a typical dairy diet, the majority of the metabolizable protein, typically 60-70%, comes from microbial sources."Meet the guest: Dr. Jeffrey Firkins, a distinguished professor at Ohio State University, has over 35 years of experience in rumen microbiology and microbial protein synthesis. His research focuses on optimizing dairy nutrition through improved protein efficiency. Dr. Firkins has contributed significantly to advancements in microbial protein modeling. What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:05) Introduction (01:53) Importance of microbial protein(02:21) Microbial protein in dairy diets(02:48) Enhancing microbial protein synthesis(04:25) Balancing nitrogen excretion(06:47) Future improvements in modeling(09:55) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:* Adisseo- Volac- Virtus Nutrition- Evonik

Hello there!In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Renee Smith, Western Sales Manager at Virtus Nutrition, explores the importance of omega-3 fatty acids, their impact on reproduction and immune function, and how proper supplementation can significantly reduce pregnancy loss in dairy cows. Listen now on all major platforms!"Omega-3 fatty acids, including EPA and DHA, have significant effects on reproduction and immune function in dairy cows." Meet the guest: Renee Smith, the Western Sales Manager and US Marketing Director at Virtus Nutrition brings over 15 years of experience in the dairy nutrition industry. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Dairy Science and Agricultural Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MBA in Marketing from Walden University. At Virtus Nutrition, Renee focuses on advancing fatty acid technology to enhance dairy cow health, reproduction, and production efficiency.What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:04) Introduction (02:46) Omega-3 in dairy nutrition(03:40) Omega-3 conversion(06:04) Omega-3 and reproduction(09:34) Practical applications (11:44) Immune function and inflammation(12:10) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies: Virtus Nutrition* Adisseo- Volac

Hello there,In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Victor Cabrera, a dairy management specialist, discusses the innovative concept of the dairy brain. This tool integrates data from various dairy farm systems to enhance decision-making and optimize operations. Dr. Cabrera explains how combining data from milking parlors, sensors, and genetic tests can predict diseases and improve precision feeding. Tune in now to gain valuable insights!"The dairy brain concept aims to automate data extraction from different systems on the farm and use this data for decision-making." Meet the guest: Dr. Victor Cabrera is a Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, focusing on dairy farm management and economic decision-making. With over 16 years at UW-Madison, he develops decision-support tools integrating biology, physiology, and economics. He holds a PhD and MS from the University of Florida. Dr. Cabrera’s work enhances data-driven decisions in the dairy industry. What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(00:55) Introduction (03:38) Dairy brain concept overview(07:48) Data integration importance(10:37) Application of integrated data(12:30) Precision feeding techniques(13:51) Precision breeding and selection(14:45) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:* Adisseo- Volac- Virtus Nutrition

Hello there,In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Carla Bittar, an associate professor at the University of Sao Paulo, shares her research on the thermoregulatory responses of dairy calves when fed varying amounts of colostrum. Dr. Bittar discusses the impacts of colostrum feeding on calf metabolism, growth, and immune function, especially under cold stress conditions. Tune in to gain valuable knowledge on colostrum management strategies for dairy calves."We have seen a lot of problems with calves that are born during the winter and wanted to know if feeding more colostrum would protect them against cold stress."Meet the guest: Dr. Carla Maris Machado Bittar graduated in 1994 in Agricultural Engineering from ESALQ/USP. She earned her Master of Science from the University of Arizona in 1997 and completed her Ph.D. in Animal Science and Pastures from ESALQ/USP in 2002. Currently, she is a professor of dairy cattle management and nutrition at the Department of Animal Science at ESALQ/USP. Her research focuses on the nutrition and metabolism of growing dairy cattle, emphasizing the weaning phase. What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(00:52) Introduction (01:36) Research on colostrum feeding(02:15) Experimental treatments and cold stress model(06:12) Post-colostrum feeding and growth rates(06:52) Immune function measurements(07:39) Benefits of increased colostrum feeding(08:42) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:* Adisseo- Virtus Nutrition- Volac

Hello there!In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Timothy Hackmann, an associate professor at the University of California, Davis, explores his research on addressing the root causes of milk fat depression. He discusses microbial protein supply, nutrient digestibility, and potential enzyme inhibitors. Tune in to gain valuable knowledge on innovative dairy nutrition strategies."Milk fat depression occurs when microbes in the rumen produce unusual fatty acids."Meet the guest: Dr. Timothy Hackmann is an Associate Professor at the University of California, Davis, specializing in gastrointestinal microbiology. He received his Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Nutrition from The Ohio State University and an M.S. in Animal Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia. His research focuses on the energetics, physiology, and ecology of gastrointestinal microbes in ruminants, aiming to improve livestock production efficiency. What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:06) Introduction(02:02) Defining milk fat depression(03:17) Root cause of milk fat depression(04:25) Role of buffers in milk fat depression(05:33) Enzyme inhibitors and milk fat depression(07:43) Research needed for enzyme inhibitors(09:41) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:* Adisseo- Volac- Virtus Nutrition

Hello there!In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Marcos Marcondes, a professor of dairy cattle nutrition and management at Washington State University, discusses the productive lifespan of dairy cattle. Dr. Marcondes explores key factors impacting dairy cow longevity, such as reproductive health and advancements in nutrition and technology. Listen to the full episode on all major platforms."The productive lifespan is from the moment the cow calves the first time until her last lactation."Meet the guest: Dr. Marcos Marcondes is a professor of dairy cattle nutrition at Washington State University. He completed his Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate in Animal Science at the Federal University of Viçosa. With a postdoctoral period at the University of Florida, Dr. Marcondes has extensive experience in dairy cattle management and nutrition. His research focuses on feed evaluation, nutrient requirements, and sustainability in dairy operations.What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:00) Introduction (01:48) Defining productive lifespan(02:47) Changes in productive lifespan over time(03:27) Importance of cow longevity for profitability(05:47) Role of new reproductive technologies(08:08) Effects of crossbreeding and sexed semen(09:28) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:* Adisseo- Volac- Virtus Nutrition

Hello there,In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Elias Uddin discusses the significance of nitrate additives and their impact on the carbon footprint of dairy farms. Dr. Uddin explains the method and importance of life cycle analysis in assessing environmental sustainability in dairy production. Tune into this enlightening discussion on major podcast platforms."The true effect of additives should consider all trade-offs and interactions between sources of emissions." Meet the guest: Dr. Elias Uddin, an Assistant Professor at the University of Connecticut, specializes in ruminant nutrition and environmental modeling. With a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, his research emphasizes sustainability in dairy production. Dr. Uddin's work integrates in-vivo experiments and life cycle assessments to explore methane mitigation and nutrient utilization in dairy cattle, aiming to optimize productivity and environmental impact. His significant achievements include impactful publications in top-tier journals and leadership roles in advanced dairy science education and research. What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(00:54) Introduction(01:54) Understanding life cycle analysis(02:57) Functional units' role(03:43) Major carbon sources in dairy(07:42) Interaction feed X regions(08:43) Reductions in carbon footprint with technology(09:46) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:* Adisseo- Virtus Nutrition- Volac