In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Michael VandeHaar from Michigan State University shares insights on bridging nutrition and genetics to breed more efficient dairy cows. He also discusses the upcoming ADSA meeting, highlighting sessions on applied nutrition, feed efficiency, and milk fat optimization. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Some cows eat less than expected for whatever reason, and those are the cows we want in the future."

Meet the guest: Dr. Michael VandeHaar earned his Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from Iowa State University and has been a Professor at Michigan State University since 1988. With over 35 years of experience, his research focuses on dairy cattle nutrition and improving feed efficiency through genetics. He also teaches mammary physiology and leads major initiatives in the American Dairy Science Association.

Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!

What will you learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:38) Introduction
• (03:58) Applied nutrition sessions
• (06:13) Milk fat and profitability
• (07:30) Overview of the ADSA
• (10:25) Nutrition and genetics link
• (13:28) Methane insights
• (16:05) Closing thoughts

The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:

* Adisseo

- Virtus Nutrition

- Zinpro

- Volac

- Afimilk

- Kemin

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Jacob Copelin, a ruminant nutritionist, discusses strategies to mitigate milk fat depression in dairy cattle. He breaks down how oils, fatty acids, and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) affect milk fat production and rumen health. Jacob also explores how the new CNCPS model and branched-chain volatile fatty acids relate to balancing BCAAs for optimal milk production. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"Increasing acetate production means more butterfat, and in theory, more money for dairy producers."

What will you learn: 

• (00:00) Introduction
• (01:53) Milk fat depression
• (05:03) Isoacids explained
• (06:20) Fiber digestion
• (07:40) Research results
• (12:18) New CNCPS model
• (16:01) Closing thoughts

Meet the guest:

Jacob Copelin, Nutritionist, Consultant, and owner at Arbor-Vale of NDS Consulting, specializes in ruminant nutrition and feeding management. He holds a Master of Science in Animal Nutrition from The Ohio State University. Jacob also teaches as an Associate Faculty at The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute, focusing on cattle nutrition and feeding strategies.

Connect with our guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

Click here to read the full research article!

The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:

* Adisseo

* Kemin

- Virtus Nutrition

- Zinpro

- Afimilk

-Volac

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Marcos Marcondes from the William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute breaks down the science behind milk replacer fat levels for calves and why fat content matters. He explains how milk replacers differ from raw milk in fat concentration, compares the effectiveness of lactose versus fat as energy sources, and highlights the key benefits of high-fat milk replacers for calf health and development. Listen now on all major platforms!

"We’re seeing consistent improvements in calf health when feeding a high-fat milk replacer or raw milk compared to a high-lactose milk replacer."

• (00:00) Introduction
• (02:13) Fat concentration impact
• (03:34) Lactose vs fat energy
• (05:30) Calf health response
• (06:32) Winter feeding strategies
• (10:31) Fatty acid composition
• (14:52) Closing thoughts

Meet the guest:

Dr. Marcos Marcondes earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Animal Science from the Federal University of Viçosa and completed postdoctoral research at the University of Florida. He currently works at the William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute as a Dairy Research Scientist. His work focuses on calf nutrition, methane reduction, microbial protein production, and fat sources in milk replacers.

Connect with our guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

Click here to read the full research article!

The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:

- Zinpro

- Afimilk

* Adisseo

* Kemin

-Volac

- Virtus Nutrition

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Antonio Gallo, Full Professor at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Italy, discusses mycotoxin contamination in dairy feed, its effects on cow health, and strategies for mitigation. Learn how to detect and manage mycotoxins to protect your herd and milk production. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"Contamination can come from multiple sources, even forages, making it essential to monitor quality regularly."

Meet the guest: Dr. Antonio Gallo is a Full Professor in Animal Nutrition and Feeding at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Italy. He holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Science, with research focused on dairy cattle nutrition, feed evaluation, and improving nutrient utilization in dairy production systems. Dr. Gallo has been recognized among the World's Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University.

Click here to read the full research articles:

Review on Mycotoxin Issues in Ruminants

Adverse Effects of Fusarium Toxins in Ruminants

Strategies and technologies in preventing regulated and emerging mycotoxin co-contamination in forage

What will you learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:41) Introduction
• (03:47) Common mycotoxins in dairy feed
• (05:56) Sources of contamination
• (07:50) Effects on cow health and milk
• (10:31) Strategies for mycotoxin mitigation
• (14:36) Future research directions
• (17:09) Closing thoughts

The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:

Volac

* Adisseo

* Kemin

- Virtus Nutrition

- Zinpro

- Afimilk

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Mutian Niu, Assistant Professor at ETH Zurich, explains exhalomics, an approach for assessing rumen fermentation by analyzing volatile organic compounds in cattle breath. He discusses how this technique can provide valuable insights into rumen function and help improve cattle health monitoring, with potential applications in managing methane emissions and optimizing dairy production. Listen now on all major platforms!

"We’re using exhalomics to study the volatile compounds in cattle breath, which provides new insights into ruminant metabolism and health monitoring."

Meet the guest: Dr. Mutian Niu is an Assistant Professor of Animal Nutrition at ETH Zurich, Switzerland, specializing in ruminant nutrition and precision livestock farming. He holds a Master’s in Animal Science from Penn State University and a Master’s in Statistics, along with a Ph.D. in Animal Biology from the University of California, Davis. His research integrates data science to enhance sustainability in dairy farming, focusing on methane reduction and efficient nutrient utilization.

Click here to read the full research articles:

Exhalomics as a noninvasive method for assessing rumen fermentation in dairy cows: Can exhaled-breath metabolomics replace rumen sampling?

Exhaled volatile fatty acids, ruminal methane emission, and their diurnal patterns in lactating dairy cows

What will you learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:33) Introduction
• (01:28) What is exhalomics?
• (03:04) Why study exhalomics?
• (05:28) Research discoveries
• (06:55) Rumen fermentation analysis
• (09:21) Future of exhalomics
• (12:29) Closing thoughts

The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:

* Adisseo

- Afimilk

- Kemin

- Virtus Nutrition

- Zinpro

- Volac

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Andrew LaPierre, Dairy Technical Specialist at Zinpro Corporation, discusses the role of isoacids in improving dairy cattle nutrition. He explores how supplementing isoacids can boost fiber digestibility, enhance dry matter intake, and optimize energy balance, leading to improved lactation performance. Dr. LaPierre also highlights the potential economic benefits for dairy farmers. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Isoacids are prerequisite nutrients for fiber-digesting bacteria in the rumen, improving fiber digestibility and fermentation.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Andrew LaPierre, Ph.D., is a Dairy Technical Specialist at Zinpro Corporation. He completed his post-doctoral work at Cornell University’s Van Amburgh Lab from 2021-2023. Dr. LaPierre’s research focuses on fiber kinetics, rumen function, and isoacid feeding. With a wealth of experience in dairy cattle nutrition, Dr. LaPierre offers valuable insights into optimizing dairy cattle production and health.

Click here to read the full research articles:

Production responses of multiparous dairy cattle with differing prepartum muscle reserves and supplementation of branched-chain volatile fatty acids

Molecular signatures of longissimus dorsi differ between dairy cattle based on prepartum muscle reserves and branched-chain volatile fatty acid supplementation

What will you learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:28) Introduction
• (02:31) Isoacids insights
• (03:25) Transition cow benefits
• (05:37) Post-transition period effects
• (06:10) Effects on milk production
• (07:12) Economic benefits of supplementation
• (08:55) Closing thoughts

The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:

Zinpro

* Adisseo

- Volac

- Afimilk

- Kemin

- Virtus Nutrition

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Sabine Mann from Cornell University discusses the importance of protein feeding during the transition period for dairy cows. She shares new insights on protein metabolism and how it affects postpartum milk production and overall cow health. Learn how diet strategies during this time can improve productivity and resilience in dairy herds. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"In the postpartum diet, cows used the extra protein for milk production, making more milk without major changes in body weight or condition."

Meet the guest: Dr. Sabine Mann is an Associate Professor at Cornell University, where she focuses on dairy cattle nutrition. With a background in veterinary medicine from Germany and a Ph.D. in veterinary preventive medicine from Cornell, her research emphasizes the intersection of metabolism, nutrition, and immunology to improve cow resilience.

What will you learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:16) Introduction
• (02:04) Dr. Mann's background
• (04:06) Transition period strategies
• (05:51) Protein feeding strategies
• (07:40) Prepartum vs. postpartum diet
• (09:40) Protein & colostrum production
• (13:05) Closing thoughts

The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:

* Adisseo

- Virtus Nutrition

- Volac

- Afimilk

- Zinpro

- Kemin

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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As we celebrate Earth Day this month, we’re bringing a special rerun episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast. In this conversation with Dr. Robin White from Virginia Tech, she explores the complex intersection of dairy cattle production and climate change. Dr. White discusses the industry's contributions to greenhouse gas emissions, strategies to reduce environmental impact, and the irreplaceable nutrients provided by dairy products, exploring both challenges and opportunities. Tune in to this episode on all major platforms.

"Eliminating animal agriculture would only reduce agricultural emissions by about 30%, as humans would still require agricultural land for food production."

Meet the guest: Dr. Robin White is an Associate Professor at Virginia Tech with expertise in sustainable livestock systems. With a Ph.D. and B.S. in Animal Sciences from Washington State University, her research focuses on greenhouse gas emissions, nutrient efficiency, and sustainable strategies for ruminants. 

What will you learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:54) Introduction
• (02:30) Climate change in dairy
• (02:66) Minimizing environmental impact
• (04:15) Impact of eliminating cows
• (05:37) Key nutrients in dairy
• (06:41) Byproducts in ruminant diets
• (09:07) Closing thoughts

The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:

* Adisseo

- Kemin

- Virtus Nutrition

- Volac

- Afimilk

- Zinpro

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Elliot Neto from Kemin Industries, discusses the critical role of amino acids in dairy nutrition, emphasizing the importance of optimizing amino acid balancing and rumen-protected amino acids through advanced product technology. He explains how particle size, nutrient delivery, and bioavailability impact milk production, feed efficiency, and sustainability. Learn how innovative solutions can fine-tune amino acid delivery for maximum success in your dairy operation. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The combination of particle size and retention time is crucial to ensure the product bypasses the rumen and releases the amino acid at exactly the right location."

Meet the guest: Dr. Elliot Neto is the Ruminant Technical Services Manager at Kemin Industries, bringing decades of expertise in dairy cattle nutrition. He earned his Ph.D. in Animal Science from Newcastle University, where he also completed postdoctoral research in Animal Nutrition. With over 20 years of global experience in the feed and animal health industries, Dr. Neto has held key technical and research roles across Europe, North America, and Brazil.

Click here to read the full research article!

What will you learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:17) Introduction
• (02:29) Amino acids
• (05:22) Feed efficiency
• (06:34) Rumen transit time
• (08:40) Effective amino acids
• (10:47) Nitrogen excretion
• (14:15) Closing thoughts

The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:

* Adisseo

- Evonik

- Kemin

- Virtus Nutrition

- Volac

- Zinpro

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this second part of our special Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast episode celebrating International Women’s Day, Dr. Jennifer Van Os from the University of Wisconsin-Madison discusses the impact of air speeds on dairy cow welfare. She shares groundbreaking research on how different air speeds influence cow behavior, milk production, and overall comfort, especially in heat-stress conditions. Learn how optimizing barn ventilation can enhance dairy cattle well-being and productivity. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Fans not only reduced thermal regulatory responses but also restored lying time, which had never been documented before."

Meet the guest: Dr. Jennifer Van Os is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Animal Welfare at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She earned her Ph.D. in Animal Behavior from UC Davis and completed postdoctoral research at the University of British Columbia. Her research focuses on understanding and improving the quality of life for dairy animals.

Click to read the full research articles:

Effect of different air speeds at cow resting height in freestalls on heat stress responses and resting behavior in lactating cows in Wisconsin

Consistent stall air speeds in commercial dairy farms are associated with less variability in cow lying times

What will you learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:21) Introduction
• (01:50) Research insights
• (03:43) Effect of different air speeds
• (04:42) Impact on cow behavior
• (05:59) Cow lying times
• (07:07) Practical farm applications
• (09:42) Closing thoughts

The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:

* Adisseo

- Volac

- Evonik

- Kemin

- Virtus Nutrition

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

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LinkedIn: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast