Dr. Javier Alba Mayagoitia: Microbiology Nutrition & Dairy Performance | Ep. 113

In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Javier Alba Mayagoitia from Priority IAC explains how microbial-driven nutrition can stabilize rumen function and support healthier, more efficient dairy cows. He covers targeted strains, rumen fermentation challenges, and practical feeding principles producers can apply on-farm. Learn how microbiology connects with nutrition to strengthen performance. Listen now on all major platforms."Smartbacteria is a concept that includes strains with specific functions for digestion, disease prevention, and cow health."Meet the guest: Dr. Javier Alba Mayagoitia is a veterinary microbiology nutritionist and Director of Priority IAC México. With 32 years in dairy and beef cattle practice across mastitis, herd management, and nutrition, he now focuses on microbiology-based feeding strategies. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:21) Introduction(05:01) Smartbacteria explained(06:21) Preventing acidosis(08:09) Nutrition principles(10:07) Feed management tips(11:26) Protein efficiency(14:15) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:* Priority IAC* Fortiva* Adisseo- Kemin- Virtus Nutrition𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastInstagram: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastLinkedIn: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

In this special rerun episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Jeff Firkins from The Ohio State University explores how nutrient interactions influence fiber degradation in dairy cows. He explains the balance between starch and fiber digestion, the role of rumen pH, and the impact of feed additives on maintaining optimal rumen health. Learn how to maximize fiber utilization and improve energy efficiency in dairy diets. Listen now on all major platforms!"Positive and negative associative effects determine whether nutrients enhance or inhibit fiber degradation, directly influencing rumen function and energy utilization."Meet the guest: Dr. Jeff Firkins is a Professor at The Ohio State University. After earning his Ph.D. and completing a postdoc at the University of Illinois, he joined OSU, advancing to Professor. His research focuses on rumen fermentation, nutrient efficiency, and microbial interactions affecting fiber utilization in dairy cattle. With over 160 journal articles and 200 invited presentations, Dr. Firkins continues to guide advancements in dairy nutrition. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:19) Introduction(01:54) Guest background(02:44) Fiber degradation(04:49) Soluble carbohydrates(06:39) Starch in dairy diets(09:08) Feed additives(12:09) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:* Adisseo* Priority IAC* Fortiva- Virtus Nutrition- Kemin𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastInstagram: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastLinkedIn: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Frank Mitloehner from UC Davis explores the complex environmental impacts of nitrogen excretion in dairy cattle. He breaks down how nitrogen behaves in the environment, compares it to methane, and discusses the role of precision feeding and manure management in reducing emissions. Learn how to balance productivity with sustainability. Listen now on all major platforms!"Each percent of protein that you overfeed beyond what the animal needs can lead to 10% additional nitrogen emissions."Meet the guest: Dr. Frank Mitloehner is a professor and air quality specialist at UC Davis, where he leads the CLEAR Center, focused on the environmental impact of animal agriculture. His work targets air emissions and sustainable practices in livestock systems, with emphasis on nitrogen and methane management. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!Dr. Elliot Neto: Amino Acids & Dairy Efficiency | Ep. 76What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:27) Introduction(02:05) Guest background(03:00) Nitrogen excretion(04:57) Reactive nitrogen(07:15) Precision protein feeding(12:47) Emerging technologies(15:55) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies: Kemin* Adisseo* Priority IAC* Fortiva- Zinpro- Virtus Nutrition𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastInstagram: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastLinkedIn: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Shedrack Omale from Iowa State University shares his research on using red seaweed to reduce methane emissions in dairy cows. He explains how bromoform in seaweed disrupts methane production, its potential on-farm applications, and how it compares with other mitigation strategies. Learn how sustainability and performance can go hand in hand. Listen now on all major platforms!"Red seaweed contains bromoform, which is the active ingredient that can cut down methane emissions."Meet the guest: Shedrack Omale is a Ph.D. student in Nutritional Physiology at Iowa State University and Feed Manager at the ISU Dairy Teaching and Research Farm. His research focuses on strategies to reduce methane emissions from dairy cows, advancing sustainability in cattle nutrition.Click here to read the full research article!Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:21) Introduction(03:19) Guest background(05:11) Red seaweed(06:01) Environmental impact reduction(06:57) Seaweed effects(08:21) Cow health findings(11:47) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:* Priority IAC* Fortiva* Adisseo- Kemin- Zinpro- Virtus Nutrition𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastInstagram: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastLinkedIn: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Gaelan Combs, a PhD student at Iowa State University, discusses the impact of dexamethasone pre-treatment on metabolism and productivity during a systemic immune challenge. He examines how inflammation affects productivity and why immune activation involves more than just inflammatory markers. Listen now on all major platforms!"Inflammation is one of the key responses that happens when the immune system is activated, but it’s not the only factor involved."Meet the guest: Gaelan Combs is a PhD student in Animal Nutrition at Iowa State University, where his research focuses on immune activation and its metabolic effects in dairy cattle. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Dairy Science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he conducted undergraduate research in dairy nutrition. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:24) Introduction(03:31) Immune activation effects(04:06) Inflammation and productivity(04:51) Dexamethasone's role explained(06:19) LPS challenge model(11:19) Inflammation vs immune activation(13:24) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:* Adisseo* Priority IAC* Fortiva- Virtus Nutrition- Kemin- Zinpro𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastInstagram: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastLinkedIn: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of the Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Jeff Tikofsky from Zinpro shares insights on how isoacids support rumen function and microbial protein synthesis. He explains how balanced nutrition strategies can improve fiber digestion, nitrogen use, and overall herd performance, particularly during the transition period. Get practical takeaways to help your herd make the most of every pound of feed. Listen now on all major platforms!"Isoacid supplementation enhances fiber degradation and helps cows extract more energy from feed."Meet the guest: Jeff Tikofsky is a Dairy Technical Nutritionist at Zinpro Performance Minerals, bringing decades of experience in dairy nutrition, technical support, and mentorship. With a Master of Science degree from Cornell University, under the guidance of Dr. Mike Van Amburgh, he has built a career focused on advancing rumen function, microbial efficiency, and producer success. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!Dr. Andrew LaPierre: Isoacids in Cattle Diet | Ep. 79What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:29) Introduction(02:52) Isoacids' role(03:47) Rumen fermentation(04:59) Product benefits(06:29) When isoacids work best(07:50) Microbial synthesis(09:56) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies: Zinpro* Adisseo* Priority IAC* Fortiva- Virtus Nutrition- Kemin𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastInstagram: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastLinkedIn: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. José Eduardo Santos from the University of Florida continues exploring the science behind choline and its role in improving dairy cow performance. He explains the importance of rumen-protected choline, breaks down updated research on bioavailability, ideal dosage, and interactions with nutrients like methionine. Listen now on all major platforms!"The rumen microbes tend to destroy more than 90% of the choline in dietary ingredients or when supplemented as choline chloride."Meet the guest: Dr. José Eduardo P. Santos is a Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Florida, with a DVM from São Paulo State University and graduate degrees from the University of Arizona. His work focuses on improving health and performance in transition cows through nutritional strategies.Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!Dr. Elliot Neto: Amino Acids & Dairy Efficiency | Ep. 76What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:08) Introduction(01:43) Rumen-protected choline(06:19) Measuring bioavailability(09:22) Effectiveness of protected choline(11:14) Optimal choline dose(16:48) Key takeaways on choline(21:02) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:Kemin* Priority IAC* Adisseo- Virtus Nutrition- Zinpro𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastInstagram: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastLinkedIn: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. José Eduardo Santos from the University of Florida explores the science behind choline and its essential functions in dairy cows. He explains its role in lipid metabolism, fatty liver prevention, and reproductive health, with practical insights on supplementation strategies. Listen now on all major platforms!"Choline’s hallmark role is transporting lipids in blood, preventing fatty liver."Meet the guest: Dr. José Eduardo P. Santos is a Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Florida, with a DVM from São Paulo State University and graduate degrees from the University of Arizona. His work focuses on improving health and performance in transition cows through nutritional strategies.Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!Dr. Elliot Neto: Amino Acids & Dairy Efficiency | Ep. 76What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:41) Introduction(02:16) Guest background(03:39) Choline's physiological roles(06:41) Choline’s major role(09:01) Practical outcomes(11:53) Supplementation benefits(13:32) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies: Kemin* Adisseo* Priority IAC- Zinpro- Virtus Nutrition𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastInstagram: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastLinkedIn: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

In this special rerun episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. William Brown from Kansas State University shares his research on high-protein corn co-products as alternatives to soybean meal in dairy calf starters. He explains the nutritional value, digestibility, and economic implications of these innovative feed ingredients. Learn how early calf nutrition impacts long-term performance and discover the potential benefits of using corn co-products. Listen now on all major platforms!"We saw that calves on the high-protein corn product grew more and had greater average daily gain."Meet the guest: Dr. William Brown is an Assistant Professor at Kansas State University, specializing in dairy cattle nutrition. He holds a Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the University of Illinois, where he focused on improving nutritional strategies for dairy production. His research explores feed efficiency, growth performance, and the use of alternative feed ingredients in dairy systems. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:11) Introduction(03:11) Corn co-products for calf starters(04:47) High-protein corn co-product(07:06) Balancing amino acids(08:50) Study results(11:17) Cost-benefit analysis of co-products(13:41) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:* Priority IAC* Adisseo- Zinpro- Virtus Nutrition- Kemin𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastInstagram: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastLinkedIn: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Joao Dorea from the University of Wisconsin–Madison talks about how artificial intelligence is changing the way dairy herds are managed. He shares real-world examples of AI in action, from body condition scoring to virtual assistants that answer farmers’ questions, and explains how these tools can work for both large and small operations. Learn how AI can support better decisions in nutrition, health, and daily management. Listen now on all major platforms!"We are dedicated to developing and implementing AI technologies to monitor animals at scale and improve nutrition, health, and welfare."Meet the guest: Dr. Joao Dorea is an Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, specializing in developing and implementing artificial intelligence technologies for dairy and livestock production. He earned his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Animal Science from the University of São Paulo in Brazil. His work focuses on computer vision, image analysis, and animal-level monitoring to improve nutrition, health, and welfare outcomes.Click here to read the full research article!Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!Dr. Sabine Mann: Protein Feeding in Transition Cows | Ep. 78Jacob Copelin: Managing Milk Fat Depression | Ep. 83What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:03) Introduction(02:59) AI applications in dairy(03:48) Benefits for farmers(06:49) Tools for small farms(09:18) Virtual assistants use(10:35) Training future specialists(13:47) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:* Adisseo* Priority IAC- Kemin- Zinpro- Virtus Nutrition𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastInstagram: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastLinkedIn: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast