In this episode of The Dairy Podcast Show, Richard Breunig, founder, president, and owner of Priority IAC, shares how microbiology and nutrition work together to reshape dairy cattle health. He explores smartbacteria, the importance of pH balance, and challenges in feeding models. Discover how microbial solutions can optimize rumen function and improve herd performance. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Smartbacteria is about identifying the right strain for the right function."

Meet the guest: Richard Breunig, founder, president, and owner of Priority IAC, began his journey on a dairy farm in Wisconsin, where hands-on animal care led him into genetics, nutrition, and microbiology. With experience developing elite herds and pioneering microbial solutions, Richard’s work now integrates novel bacteria strains into feeding systems to improve dairy cattle performance.

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What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:38) Introduction
• (06:22) Microbiology meets nutrition
• (07:13) Defining smartbacteria
• (12:42) Opportunities beyond the rumen
• (17:58) Results from smartbacteria
• (21:12) Leading a successful team
• (23:48) Final three questions

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Priority IAC

* Lallemand

* Adisseo

* Evonik

- dsm-firmenich

- Scoular

- ICC

- AHV

- AGRI-TRAC

- Protekta

- Natural Biologics

- SmaXtec

- Berg + Schmidt

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Dairy Podcast Show, Dr. Johanna Fink-Gremmels, a veterinarian specialized in pharmacology and toxicology, unpacks the complex role of biofilms in dairy cattle health and farm management. She explains how bacterial communities impact antibiotic resistance, chronic infections, and nutrient utilization, offering insight into prevention strategies, such as quorum sensing manipulation. Learn how understanding bacterial communication can optimize herd health and productivity. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The most important nutrient for a cow is water, and biofilms in water systems can severely affect intake and health."

What will you learn: 

• (00:00) Introduction
• (04:28) Understanding biofilms
• (10:20) Antibiotic resistance mechanisms
• (13:20) Biofilms and cow health
• (17:33) Rumen health focus
• (19:56) Quorum sensing explained
• (29:23) Final three questions

Meet the guest:

Dr. Johanna Fink-Gremmels is a veterinarian specialized in pharmacology and toxicology (Dip ECVPT). With over 25 years as a professor and head of department at Utrecht University, her expertise spans antibiotic use, pharmacokinetics, and the toxicity of mycotoxins. Now consulting for the feed and animal health industries, Dr. Fink-Gremmels shares critical insights on biofilms and microbial communication in dairy cattle health.

Connect with our guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

In this episode of The Dairy Podcast Show, Brian Sanford, Eastern US Team Lead at smaXtec, discusses the advantages of bolus technology in dairy herd management. He explains how highly precise, real-time data from the reticulum—such as inner body temperature and water intake—enables early disease detection, improved diagnoses, and better reproductive outcomes. Learn how this technology is helping producers reduce involuntary culling, enhance milk quality, and optimize peak milk production. Listen now on all major platforms!

"By monitoring cows’ internal temperatures in real-time, we can detect health issues days before clinical signs appear, allowing for early intervention and better outcomes."

Meet the guest: Brian Sanford is the Eastern US Team Lead at smaXtec, with over 15 years of experience in dairy nutrition and herd management. Before joining smaXtec, he worked extensively in forage quality and nutrition sales, helping producers optimize dairy herd health and efficiency. Brian’s expertise lies in leveraging technology for precision dairy farming, particularly in early disease detection and reproductive health.

What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:12) Introduction
• (04:47) Early disease detection
• (08:32) Potential influences on data
• (11:18) Improving cow reproduction
• (22:12) Biggest benefits for farms
• (26:12) Using sensor technology
• (33:42) Final three questions

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

SmaXtec

* Priority IAC

* Lallemand

* Adisseo

* Evonik

- Berg + Schmidt

- dsm-firmenich

- Scoular

- ICC

- AHV

- AGRI-TRAC

- Protekta

- Natural Biologics

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Dairy Podcast Show, Lindsay Ferlito and Betsy Hicks from Cornell University Extension explores the complexities of benchmarking in dairy health management. They discuss the challenges of disease recording, the importance of consistent data collection, and how these insights can improve farm management. Don’t miss this episode for valuable knowledge on optimizing herd health practices in dairy operations.

"Benchmarking allows farms to compare themselves to similarly managed farms, driving continuous improvement." - Betsy Hicks

Meet the guests:

Lindsay Ferlito is a Dairy Animal Welfare Specialist at Cornell University PRO-DAIRY, with a Master of Science in Dairy Cattle Behavior and Well-Being from the University of British Columbia. She has led cow comfort assessments nationwide and collaborates with farms to enhance animal welfare and maintain compliance with industry care standards.

Betsy Hicks is an Area Dairy Management Specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension and earned her M.S. in dairy nutrition from the University of Illinois, focusing on nutritional strategies to support herd health and performance.

What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:22) Introduction
• (03:56) Benchmarking in dairy health
• (08:11) Consistent data collection
• (14:31) Uniformity vs. practical farming
• (20:49) Data consistency
• (29:22) Employee training
• (34:48) Final three questions

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Adisseo

* Priority IAC

* Lallemand

* Evonik

- Natural Biologics

- Berg + Schmidt

- dsm-firmenich

- SmaXtec

- Scoular

- ICC

- AHV

- AGRI-TRAC

- Protekta

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Dairy Podcast Show, Tom Woodall, founder of AGRI-TRAC Inc., shares his insights on the evolution of dairy barns, with a focus on addressing lameness in dairy cows through flooring solutions. Tom discusses the importance of proper barn maintenance and how traction milling technology is helping dairy farmers reduce costs and improve cow health. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Traction milling eliminates slip-and-catch, offering a more sanitary surface for cows."

Meet the guest: Tom Woodall is the founder of AGRI-TRAC Inc., a company focused on improving dairy farm flooring systems with innovative traction milling technology. Raised on a dairy farm in Southern Ontario, Tom has been dedicated to modernizing dairy facilities. With a background in Farm Business Management and years of hands-on experience, he has worked across Canada and the northeastern United States, providing solutions to improve dairy cow health and reduce operational costs.

What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:20) Introduction
• (01:46) Reducing lameness
• (03:23) Flooring maintenance evolution
• (07:17) Barn flooring traction
• (14:50) Choosing flooring solutions
• (18:27) Traction milling explained
• (33:12) Final three questions

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

AGRI-TRAC

* Adisseo

* Priority IAC

- Protekta

- Natural Biologics

- Berg + Schmidt

- dsm-firmenich

- SmaXtec

- Scoular

- ICC

- AHV

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Dairy Podcast Show, Dr. Lina Castano-Duque from USDA-ARS explores the critical role of predictive models in managing mycotoxin outbreaks in US corn. She discusses the key environmental factors, soil conditions, and insect pressure that drive fungal growth and toxin production, such as aflatoxins and fumonisins, which impact feed quality and herd health. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Planting in highly acidic soil increases the probability of a mycotoxin outbreak."

Meet the guest: Dr. Lina Castano-Duque is a plant pathologist at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) within the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). She serves as a permanent scientist at the Food and Feed Safety Research Unit, located at the Southern Regional Research Center in New Orleans. She holds a Ph.D. in Botany and Plant Biology from Penn State University and specializes in predictive modeling, fungal interactions, and crop pathology.

What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:28) Introduction
• (06:55) Mycotoxins & fungal growth
• (09:55) Fungal species
• (11:38) Mycotoxin outbreaks
• (14:28) Mycotoxin production
• (23:28) Risks of mycotoxins
• (26:28) Final three questions

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

Volac

* Priority IAC

* Adisseo

- AHV

- Protekta

- Natural Biologics

- Berg + Schmidt

- dsm-firmenich

- AGRI-TRAC

- SmaXtec

- Scoular

- ICC

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Dairy Podcast Show, Dr. Melina Bonato, Global Technical and R&D Manager at ICC Animal Nutrition, shares her expertise on the evolving role of yeast-based products in ruminant nutrition. She shares insights on how yeast products impact rumen health, immune system function, and animal performance. Learn about the different sources of yeast, their benefits, and how they contribute to improved dairy cattle production. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Fermentation processes impact the yeast’s components and their benefits in animal diets."

Meet the guest: Dr. Melina Bonato is the Global Technical and R&D Manager at ICC Animal Nutrition. With over 12 years of experience at ICC, she has played a pivotal role in advancing research and development, focusing on yeast-based products for animal nutrition. Dr. Bonato holds a Ph.D. in Animal Science from Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, where she also completed her Master’s and Bachelor's degrees. She has published 25 papers in peer-reviewed journals, five book chapters, and several abstracts and technical magazine articles.

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

Dr. Michael Ballou: Rumen Health Revelations | Ep. 77

Dr. José Santos: Transition Cow Health | Ep. 128

Dr. Phil Cardoso: Fiber & Energy Balance | Ep. 135

What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:30) Introduction
• (02:36) Guest background
• (04:50) Yeast-based product evolution
• (08:04) Different yeast sources
• (12:12) Ethanol vs. sugarcane fermentation
• (14:15) Gut health and immune support
• (22:24) Final three questions

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

ICC

* Adisseo

* Priority IAC

- Protekta

- Natural Biologics

- Berg + Schmidt

- dsm-firmenich

- AGRI-TRAC

- AHV

- Volac

- SmaXtec

- Scoular

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Dairy Podcast Show, Dr. Adrian Barragan, from Penn State University, discusses essential strategies for workforce management with a focus on animal health training. He emphasizes the challenges of effective personnel training, from ensuring workers understand the "why" behind certain tasks to building a positive, supportive work culture. Tune in for practical tips on creating a skilled, knowledgeable workforce, available on all major platforms!

"Training people on the job is good, but the key challenge is ensuring they understand why they do things, not just how to do them."

Meet the guest: Dr. Adrian Barragan is an Associate Research Professor and Extension Veterinarian at Penn State University. His role combines research with hands-on consulting, focusing on improving dairy cattle health and production. Dr. Barragan holds a PhD in Veterinary Medicine from The Ohio State University and a Master's degree from the same institution. He also earned his DVM from the National University of La Plata in Argentina.

What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:28) Introduction
• (05:28) Personnel training
• (09:52) Training challenges
• (15:48) Communication barriers & solutions
• (22:08) Farm community
• (27:18) Training effectiveness
• (38:31) Final three questions

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

SmaXtec

* Adisseo

* Priority IAC

- Scoular

- Protekta

- Natural Biologics

- Berg + Schmidt

- dsm-firmenich

- AGRI-TRAC

- AHV

- ICC

- Volac

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Dairy Podcast Show, Tom Nauman, Dairy Nutrition and Technical Services Manager at The Wenger Group, explains what microbiology nutrition is, the role of Smartbacteria, how they support digestive efficiency, and why trusting microbiology-driven concepts is key to improving cow health and performance. Listen now on all major platforms!

"When we talk about microbiology nutrition, we're talking about making the most of what specific bacteria can do to enhance what's going on in the cow's rumen."

Meet the guest: Tom Nauman is the Dairy Nutrition and Technical Services Manager at The Wenger Group, bringing over 40 years of experience in dairy nutrition. A graduate of Delaware Valley College, he has spent decades optimizing dairy feeding strategies and advancing technical services in the industry.

What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:37) Introduction
• (04:18) Technical services explained
• (08:56) Smartbacteria in dairy
• (10:21) Feeding smart bacteria
• (11:37) Managing rich diets
• (18:19) Monitoring nutrition
• (19:34) Final three questions

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

Priority IAC

* Adisseo

- Scoular

- Protekta

- Berg + Schmidt

- dsm-firmenich

- AGRI-TRAC

- AHV

- SmaXtec

- ICC

- Natural Biologics

- Volac

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Dairy Podcast Show, Bryan Miller from Volac addresses modern concerns surrounding mycotoxins in dairy production. Dr. Miller shares strategies for identifying and mitigating mycotoxin risks, highlighting their impact on cow health, milk production, and reproduction. Learn how to tackle these hidden challenges and maintain optimal herd performance with effective feed management solutions!

"Mycotoxins make everything just a little bit worse, often without clear symptoms, which makes them challenging to diagnose."

Meet the guest: Bryan Miller, Technical Business Manager at Volac Inc., brings over 30 years of experience in the feed industry, specializing in dairy nutrition and gut health. Holding a Master’s degree in Ruminant Nutrition from the University of Kentucky, Miller’s notable achievements include developing bypass choline for transition cows, and earning recognition as an author of a U.S. patent. His work focuses on providing dairy producers with practical strategies to improve cow health and productivity.

What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (02:09) Introduction
• (04:29) Guest background
• (08:10) Mycotoxins explained
• (12:22) Multiple mycotoxins
• (22:41) Accurate results
• (26:55) Mitigation strategies
• (31:03) Final three questions

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

Volac

* Adisseo

- Scoular

- Priority IAC

- Protekta

- Berg + Schmidt

- dsm-firmenich

- AGRI-TRAC

- AHV

- SmaXtec

- ICC

- Natural Biologics

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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