Hello there!

In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Jeffrey Firkins, a professor of animal science at OSU, discusses the latest insights on isoacids and their role in dairy cattle nutrition. The conversation covers fiber digestibility, microbial protein synthesis, and the impact of isoacids across different lactation stages. Tune in to explore how these factors contribute to improved feed efficiency and overall dairy production—listen now on your favorite platform!

"The most consistent benefits we see from isoacids are improvements in fiber digestibility and feed efficiency across different stages of lactation."

Meet the guest: Dr. Jeffrey Firkins, a 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
• (01:18) Introduction
• (02:08) Overview of isoacids
• (03:28) Feed efficiency and lactation stages
• (04:58) Modes of action of isoacids
• (07:03) Adaptation of rumen bacteria
• (09:21) Future research directions
• (10:58) Closing thoughts

The 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, Dr. Kirby Krogstad, from Ohio State University, explores the impacts of acidosis and systemic inflammation, comparing different acidosis challenge models and examining practical methods for monitoring and reducing acidosis in dairy cattle. Dr. Krogstad shares valuable insights into future research directions, including the importance of maintaining a healthy gut barrier and the implications of long-term high-starch diets. Tune in now!

"When thinking of acidosis, always stick to fundamentals: watch your milk fats and manure scores."

Meet the guest: Dr. Kirby Krogstad, an Assistant Professor of Dairy Nutrition and Health at Ohio State University, specializes in improving dairy cow health through advanced nutritional strategies. His research focuses on gut physiology and inflammation, exploring how diet affects dairy cattle's immune response and sustainability. Dr. Krogstad has a rich background in dairy science, holding a Ph.D. from Michigan State University and a Master’s from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Click here to read the full research article.

What will you learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:12) Introduction
• (02:28) Model explanation
• (04:50) Measuring systemic inflammation
• (06:26) Monitoring acidosis
• (06:38) Large intestine acidosis
• (07:34) Reduce acidosis risk
• (10:50) Closing thoughts

The 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. Marcos Marcondes from Washington State University, discusses his study about protein requirements for gestating dairy cows, comparing different models and their implications. Leran how these findings can optimize dairy nutrition strategies. Don't miss out – tune in now and keep your knowledge up-to-date!

"We examined protein deposition in both the body and gestational components over time to determine nutrient requirements."

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
• (01:03) Introduction
• (02:00) Protein requirements study
• (03:43) Comparing nutrient systems
• (04:36) Gestation data points
• (05:33) Metabolizable protein requirements
• (08:31) Amino acids in dairy nutrition
• (09:60) Closing thoughts

The 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. Carla Bittar from ESALQ/USP discusses her research on using flint corn silage for dairy calves. She shares insights on the benefits, challenges, and practical applications of this feeding strategy. If you're looking to enhance your dairy calf nutrition strategy, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Tune in for some valuable insights! 

"Flint corn is the main corn harvested in Brazil, and it has a more dense and compact protein matrix, which leads to decreased digestibility."

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
• (01:04) Introduction
• (01:53) Flint corn insights
• (03:36) TMR composition and results
• (05:13) Calf behavior and well-being
• (07:09) Extrapolation to U.S. practices
• (08:04) Management recommendations
• (08:54) Closing thoughts

The 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. Lucas Rebelo discusses the impact of methionine on milk fat production. Dr. Rebelo elaborates on how methionine upregulates enzymes that promote fatty acid synthesis, particularly in Holstein cows. He also touches on the challenges and future research directions in this area. Tune in to explore cutting-edge insights into optimizing milk fat content through amino acid supplementation.

"Amino acids like methionine exert an effect on milk fat through the upregulation of transcription factors or enzymes associated with de novo fatty acid synthesis."

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
• (01:10) Introduction
• (01:56) Methionine's effect on milk fat
• (02:54) Supplementation rates and responses
• (04:16) Mode of action of methionine
• (06:41) Dietary interactions with methionine
• (08:10) Research on other amino acids
• (09:51) Closing thoughts

The 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. Jacquelyn Boerman, an associate professor at Purdue University, explores the intricacies of protein mobilization, its measurement, and its implications. Learn how understanding and managing protein reserves can lead to more efficient and healthier dairy production. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Cows with a lot of muscle reserves mobilize it at the end of their gestation, resulting in greater calf birth weights."

Meet the guest: Dr. Jacquelyn Boerman completed her BS from Cornell University before continuing on to the University of Illinois for her MS, and Michigan State University for her PhD. Since 2017, Dr. Boerman has been at Purdue University, where she holds a three-way appointment in research, teaching, and extension focused on dairy nutrition and management.

What will you learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:14) Introduction
• (02:04) Protein mobilization insights
• (02:55) Methods to estimate protein mobilization
• (03:43) Quantifying muscle loss in cows
• (05:09) Excessive protein mobilization
• (08:04) Nutritional strategies
• (09:48) Closing thoughts

The 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, 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 thoughts

The 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 thoughts

The 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 thoughts

The 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 thoughts

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

* Adisseo

- Volac

- Virtus Nutrition

- Evonik