The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

Dr. Jeffrey Firkins, a Professor at The Ohio State University and a dairy nutrition expert with over 160 journal articles, dives into the importance of fiber digestibility in optimizing dairy diets. He discusses how balancing starch and fiber impacts rumen health and milk production. The role of dietary protein and quality forages is highlighted as essential for microbial synergy. He also emphasizes the benefits of feed additives like yeast to manage rumen pH and enhance cattle well-being. Tune in for valuable, research-backed insights!

Tales Lelis, Regional Business Director at Evonik and a veterinary medicine expert, discusses the revolutionary role of rumen-protected amino acids in dairy nutrition. He highlights the evolving landscape of the Latin American dairy market and the impact of technology on efficiency and animal welfare. Lelis delves into the challenges posed by heat stress and the importance of tailored dietary strategies. Tune in for insights on market trends and innovative approaches to optimize dairy production!

In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Maurice Eastridge, from The Ohio State University, explores strategies for optimizing dairy cow health during the postpartum period. He shares insights on balancing carbohydrates, protein, and minerals to prevent metabolic disorders like ketosis and hypocalcemia. Dr. Eastridge discusses how feed efficiency and other metrics can guide better nutritional strategies. Tune in for practical takeaways on improving herd health and maximizing productivity."It’s crucial to prepare cows well before parturition. Starting with the dry period and especially the three weeks before calving is fundamental to reducing health risks." Meet the guest: Dr. Maurice Eastridge, a Professor and Extension Dairy Specialist at The Ohio State University, has been a faculty member since 1986. He earned his MS and Ph.D. from Purdue University. His work focuses on teaching, research, and extension programs in dairy cattle nutrition, particularly on fat and fiber sources and milk fatty acid composition. What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:29) Introduction(02:46) Reducing postpartum risks(05:04) Ketosis and hypocalcemia(07:58) Nutrition strategies(10:00) Feed efficiency(13:00) Herd metrics(15:57) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:* Adisseo- Volac- Kemin- Virtus Nutrition- Evonik𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 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, we revisit our conversation with Dr. Jim Drackley, professor of Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois, who approaches the nuances of controlled energy diets versus higher energy diets, discussing their effects on liver inflammation, rumen health, and overall post-partum performance. Listen now on your favorite platform!"Higher energy diets seem to upregulate inflammation-related genes in the liver, which can affect overall productivity."Meet the guest: Dr. Jim Drackley is a Professor of Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he has been teaching and conducting research for over 35 years. He holds a Ph.D. in Nutritional Physiology from Iowa State University, as well as an M.S. and B.S. in Dairy Science from South Dakota State University.What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(00:55) Introduction(02:11) Controlled energy vs. high energy(04:11) Inflammation linked to higher starch(04:59) Controlled energy diets(06:31) Recommendations for nutritionists(09:14) Balancing protein in diets(10:33) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:* Adisseo- Evonik- Volac- 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 episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Cainan Florentino, a veterinarian and also a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Minnesota, shares insights on managing ketosis in dairy cows. He explains its impact on herd health, production, and reproductive success and discusses the effects of acidogenic boluses administered at dry-off. Don’t miss this conversation—tune in on all major platforms!"Cows with ketosis often face challenges like delayed pregnancies and lower production, which can ripple through herd performance."Meet the guest: Cainan Florentino, DVM, PhD Candidate at the University of Minnesota, is originally from Brazil, where he earned his veterinary degree before joining the University of Minnesota. His research focuses on understanding hyperketonemia and its effects on fresh cows and improving the transition of dairy cows to the dry-off phase.What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:05) Introduction(02:16) What is ketosis?(03:57) Monitoring ketone bodies(05:36) Study design and results(06:38) Rumination and recovery(09:01) Challenges in data collection(12:27) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:* Adisseo- Kemin- Virtus Nutrition- Evonik- Volac𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 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. Alexandre Pedroso, a dairy specialist, explores the critical link between animal welfare and the nutritional status of dairy herds. He highlights how factors like heat stress and inadequate bedding can directly affect cow performance, feed intake, and overall health. Tune in for practical advice on optimizing welfare conditions to boost milk production and efficiency on dairy farms!"If a dairy cow doesn't have enough time to rest because the bedding is poor or because they're heat-stressed, then they don’t lie down for enough time."Meet the guest: Dr. Alexandre Pedroso holds a Ph.D. in Animal Science with a focus on dairy cattle nutrition. With over 25 years of experience, he has worked as a consultant for dairy farms and animal health companies. He also specializes in animal welfare using the CowSignals methodology. Currently, Dr. Pedroso is a Senior Consultant at Plenteous Consultoria, helping dairy producers optimize efficiency and profitability. What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:21) Introduction(05:51) Welfare in dairy(06:54) Heat stress(09:09) Welfare & intake(12:54) Cow comfort(14:36) Stocking density(18:21) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:* Adisseo- Volac- Kemin- Virtus Nutrition- Evonik𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 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. Addison Carroll, Research Coordinator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, discusses the critical role of maintenance energy requirements in dairy cattle. Dr. Carroll breaks down how changes in maintenance energy requirements are influencing diet formulation and feed efficiency strategies. Tune in now—available on all major platforms!"What we've seen now is that previously we used .08 make cows per unit of metabolic body weight, now it's increased to 0.10."Meet the guest: Dr. Addison Carroll holds a Ph.D. in Ruminant Nutrition and is currently the Research Coordinator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her research focuses on improving energy utilization in dairy cattle to enhance both production efficiency and sustainability. She also earned her M.S. in Ruminant Nutrition from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and her B.S. in Animal Science from Northwest Missouri State University.What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:10) Introduction(01:47) What is maintenance?(02:39) Energy requirements(03:40) Measuring maintenance(04:37) Diet formulation(05:20) Maintenance & efficiency(06:59) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:* Adisseo- Volac- Kemin- Virtus Nutrition- Evonik𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 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. Addison Carroll from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln shares insights from her research on among-animal variation in energy utilization in dairy cattle. She discusses how factors like genetics and nutrition influence energy efficiency in lactating cows and the impact on overall farm productivity and sustainability. Listen now!"Methane energy at first was high among animal variance by itself, but then it became even higher when we removed the influence of dry matter intake."Meet the guest: Dr. Addison Carroll holds a Ph.D. in Ruminant Nutrition and is currently the Research Coordinator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her research focuses on improving energy utilization in dairy cattle to enhance both production efficiency and sustainability. She also earned her M.S. in Ruminant Nutrition from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and her B.S. in Animal Science from Northwest Missouri State University.Click here to read the full research article!What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(00:56) Introduction(01:36) Energy utilization(02:37) Animal variations(05:07) Energy balance(06:18) Findings on methane(07:30) Key takeaways(08:54) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:* Adisseo- Evonik- Volac- Kemin- Virtus Nutrition𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.Website: Dairy Nutrition Podcast ShowInstagram: Dairy CampusLinkedIn: Dairy Campus

In this holiday episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Heather Dann from William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute shares valuable insights on managing dairy herds during the winter months. Discover practical strategies for optimizing diets, minimizing cold stress, and protecting calf health to maintain a productive herd throughout the season. Don’t miss these helpful tips to keep your herd thriving during the holidays—listen now on all major platforms!"Any time our cows are in winter, they’re trying to maintain their core body temperature by adjusting their metabolic rate."Meet the guest: Dr. Heather Dann, Adjunct Assistant Professor at William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute, holds a B.S. in Animal Science from Cornell, an M.S. from Penn State, and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. With over two decades of experience in dairy cow nutrition and management, her research focuses on sustainable and efficient dairy practices. What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:04) Introduction(03:02) Cold stress(03:47) Adjusting diets(05:50) Silage challenges(08:34) Facility maintenance(10:38) Heifer management(12:21) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:* Adisseo- Volac- Virtus Nutrition- Evonik𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.Website: Dairy Nutrition Podcast ShowInstagram: Dairy CampusLinkedIn: Dairy Campus

In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Lucas Rebelo from Adisseo shares key research on how corn with high alpha-amylase expression affects dairy cattle nutrition. He discusses the trial results, highlighting improvements in dry matter intake, increased milk production, and the nuanced impacts on microbial protein synthesis. Tune in now on all major platforms!"We found that the energy in corn silage treatment increased dry matter intake by about 1.6 kilos and milk yield by about 3.4 kilos."Meet the guest: Dr. Lucas Rocha Rebelo is a Dairy Technical Manager at Adisseo with a strong background in dairy nutrition and environmental science. He earned his Ph.D. from The Ohio State University, where he researched amino acid metabolism in dairy cows. Dr. Rebelo also holds an M.Sc. in Ruminant Nutrition from Universidade Estadual Paulista and a B.Sc. in Animal Science from the Federal University of Mato Grosso.What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:04) Introduction(01:31) Corn silage trial(02:37) Treatment comparisons(03:49) Production responses(05:13) Grain processing issues(06:20) Microbial protein(08:47) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:* Adisseo- Evonik- Volac- Virtus Nutrition𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.Website: Dairy Nutrition Podcast ShowInstagram: Dairy CampusLinkedIn: Dairy Campus