Mental health among veterinarians has been a hot topic in the industry for several years. In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, Dr. Jen Roberts from Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) joins host Kimmi Devaney to discuss the importance of mental health among veterinarians and dairy producers, examine survey data and share some tips for how people involved in agriculture can improve their physical and mental well-being to be their best selves.

Link to BI’s Share the Weight program

Link to Progressive Dairy Podcast episode about nutrition, sleep and optimizing health during busy seasons

Here's a breakdown of the episode:

• [~1:20] About Roberts, her background and her work with veterinarians and dairy producers
• [~2:10] Why mental health matters in agriculture, especially with veterinarians and producers
• [~3:15] The difference between mental health and well-being
• [~4:40] Roberts discusses survey data 
• [~10:50] Some reasons for mental health challenges among veterinarians
• [~12:35] Tips for listeners to be proactive with their physical health and mental fitness
• [~22:55] The importance of implementing boundaries and how to put boundaries in place 
• [~30:15] Resources available 
• [~36:00] Rapid-fire questions

HerdFlex beef embryos are great tool for dairies that are taking advantage of the beef on dairy trend. Embryos offer more than obtaining calves with a higher market value. A number of farms have also found embryos can have a positive impact on dairy herd reproductive performance, especially in the case of cows that have been bred with semen multiple times without conceiving.

This episode is sponsored by Simplot Animal Sciences.

Simplot's Animal Sciences team uses an innovative approach to provide advanced reproductive solutions for beef and dairy cattle producers to improve efficiency, productivity, and profitability in a changing market. Combining extensive experience in agribusiness with the latest in reproductive solutions, the Animal Sciences team developed the innovative SimVitro branded platform for improving genetics and reproductive efficiency in dairy and beef cattle. For more information on beef embryos visit simvitro.com/herdflex

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, Bethany Dado-Senn of Vita Plus joins host Matti McBride to discuss calf care. Learn from Dado-Senn as she discusses the importance of colostrum quality and management, general sanitation, calf management in the winter months, the benefits of pair housing calves and more. 

Here is the episode breakdown:

• 0:50 – Dado-Senn’s background
• 2:15 – The importance of sanitation and plane of nutrition
• 4:20 – Colostrum management
• 5:40 – Feeding colostrum and transition milk
• 8:00 – Feeding quality colostrum
• 11:00 – Testing for passive transfer
• 14:30 – Helping employees buy into calf protocols
• 18:00 – Suggestions for preventive care
• 20:30 – Pair-housed calves
• 23:20 – Calf management in winter
• 28:00 – Dado-Senn’s passion surrounding women in agriculture
• 31:20 – Rapid-fire questions

Join Progressive Dairy Podcast co-hosts Kimmi Devaney, Walt Cooley and Matti McBride – along with special guest David Cooper, who is the managing editor of Progressive Cattle magazine – for a recap of their favorite articles, podcast episodes and some of the biggest dairy news stories of 2024. Stay tuned to the end for an entertaining New Year's-themed round of rapid-fire questions to learn what they want to forget from the last year, New Year’s resolutions and more. 

Listen to the biosecurity episode Devaney mentions here: https://www.agproud.com/articles/59575-podcast-dr-mark-kinsel-what-dairy-producers-should-know-about-biosecurity. 

Join Wisconsin dairy farmer Dan Scheps and agronomist Parker Heise as they discuss the benefits of HarvXtra® Alfalfa. From improved forage quality and harvest flexibility to the potential for increased milk production and feed efficiency, this episode covers why HarvXtra® Alfalfa is a must for modern dairy operations. Tune in to learn how it can help boost your farm's productivity and profitability.

This episode is sponsored by Forage Genetics International.

For more than 30 years, FGI has led the alfalfa industry by breeding, developing and producing premier alfalfa seed and technologies that have advanced farm operations across the country. FGI’s innovative genetic discoveries, variety developments and cutting-edge alfalfa trait technologies have led to the creation of several patented traits and technology in alfalfa, including HarvXtra® Alfalfa with Roundup Ready® Technology, as well as varieties with the UltraCut® alfalfa disease package. Forage Genetics International is the only alfalfa trait provider in the industry that is solely devoted to the relentless pursuit of advancement in the alfalfa industry.

USDA reports indicate that the incidence rate of mastitis has increased from 13% in 1996 to 25% in 2014. Considering the average case of clinical mastitis in the United States costs an average of $569, it’s imperative for dairy producers to adopt protocols to prevent this costly disease. Dr. Craig Louder, Axiota® technical service veterinarian, joins us to discuss the importance of udder health, the role of strategic trace mineral supplementation on milk quality, and how producers can help support trace minerals through increased demand.

This episode is sponsored by Axiota® Animal Health.

This podcast is brought to you by Axiota® Animal Health. Axiota discovers, develops, and commercializes scientifically proven products, such as Multimin® 90 (zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium injection) and Lactipro®. Axiota supports dairy producers’ goals of optimal health, performance, and animal well-being. To learn more, visit www.axiota.com.

Join host Kimmi Devaney as she chats with Oregon dairy producer and Progressive Dairy columnist Dwayne Faber about moving the dairies to another state, how he keeps employees motivated when he cannot always be there, the qualities he looks for in key employees and what has surprised him most during the transition from managing two farms nearby to managing them from afar.

Here is a breakdown of the episode:

• [~1:10] About you and your farms
• [~2:25] What it was like starting a dairy in 2009
• [~3:20] Management differences between having the dairy nearby and having the farm farther away
• [~5:10] Team meetings and trainings
• [~6:40] How Faber keeps employees engaged and motivated
• [~7:30] What Faber is most proud of
• [~8:10] The qualities and characteristics he looks for in dairy managers, herdsmen and other key roles on these farms
• [~8:50] What surprised Faber the most about managing dairies from afar
• [~9:40] Challenges of dairying in the Pacific Northwest
• [~15:20] Advice for dairy producers interested in buying or leasing a dairy in another area when they cannot always be there
• [~16:20] Faber’s inspiration for his regular columns in Progressive Dairy
• [~18:10] Why he started posting on X 
• [~20:40] Posting on X with former Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue
• [~22:00] Faber’s advice for someone interested in diving into social media advocacy
• [~23:20] Rapid-fire questions

Reach out to Faber on X @dfaber84 or [email protected]

It’s the big question. And the one Dr. Todd Bilby is asked most often. What can a dairy do to boost repro efficiency?

In this Progressive Dairy sponsorcast, listen in as Dr. Bilby, Merck Animal Health Director of Dairy Technical Services, discusses his repro philosophy and what solutions move margins. Episode highlights include:

• Using technology to increase hormone effectiveness
• Comparing prostaglandin products
• Management decisions that matter most

This episode is sponsored by Merck Animal Health.

With identification, monitoring and biopharma products fully integrated in one portfolio, Merck Animal Health offers the only true full-solution approach in the dairy industry. Which means you get the tools you need to eliminate guesswork, solve specific problems, let cows be cows and put more milk in the tank. It’s the way you want to work, working better than ever before. Learn more about this unique approach to dairy at M-Power-Dairy.com.

Join Barb O’Brien, CEO of Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), and Marilyn Hershey, a Pennsylvania dairy farmer and Chair of DMI, as they explore the exciting “dairy renaissance” fueled by rising consumer engagement, health professional endorsements, and cutting-edge social media campaigns, the dairy industry is experiencing a powerful revival. O’Brien delves into the “Now, Next, Future” strategy—where the “Now” focuses on delivering immediate results, the “Next” emphasizes continued investment in science and partnerships, and the “Future” outlines sustainable growth for the industry.

Episode 33 - Is There A Dairy Renaissance Coming? YES!

Listen in as they highlight the critical role of both national and local collaboration, ensuring that funds are used efficiently and making the most significant impact for dairy’s future.

This episode is sponsored by Dairy Management Inc.

Fifth-generation dairy farmer from Amelia Court House, Virginia, Jeremy Moyer joins host Matti McBride on this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast. Learn about Oakmulgee Dairy Farm, a new robotic milking facility, the decision to invest in a methane digester, advice Moyer has for producers considering large investments at their dairy and more.

Here is the episode breakdown:

• 0:28 – About Oakmulgee Dairy Farm
• 1:40 – Making the decision to invest in a methane digester
• 4:00 – Unique properties of Oakmulgee’s digester
• 6:00 – Investing in the future of the operation
• 8:50 – Lessons learned since breaking ground
• 11:00 – How management will change once digester is online
• 12:48 – What Moyer is looking forward to with this project
• 14:30 – Using a sand lane
• 16:30 – Managing mastitis while bedding with separated solids
• 18:42 – Moyer’s advice to dairy producers considering investing in a methane digester
• 20:40 – Rapid-fire questions