Farmers are noticing reverse corkscrew claw syndrome in their heifer populations. What causes it and how can we prevent it? We answer those questions and more with the help of a case study to solve a new twist on an old lesion.

How do you know which stall divider loop to purchase? In this episode, we discuss the design and functionality of various types of loops on the market, the pros and cons of each, and the importance of picking a loop that optimizes the cow's ability to rest without the risk of injury.

The freestall divider defines the lateral limits of the resting space, facilitates the lying direction of the cow, permits or prevents side lunge, and determines the height of the neck rail. Dr. Nigel Cook and Courtney Halbach talk about what makes a good stall divider loop.

We welcome our first guest, Dr. Terri Ollivett, to talk about troubleshooting respiratory disease in young dairy calves where she says characterizing the condition is crucial. We can do this by paying attention to who is getting sick, who is dying, and what the clinical and subclinical signs are. Then we can investigate the risk factors ranging from comorbidities, management decisions, and the environment.

We continue our discussion about stall design by talking about brisket locators and neck rails for positioning cows when lying and standing in the stall. While the brisket locator defines the front of the resting space, the neck rail positions the cow in the stall when she is standing. Hear about how to place these key stall components correctly in this episode.

We're diving in to the components of freestall design by kicking off with a focus on facilitating a cow's natural rising and lying movements. One goal of freestall design is to allow the cow to rise and lie down as naturally as possible without obstruction to the lunge and bob of the head or the forward stride of her forelimb. We discuss how stall length, width, and mounting systems influence how a cow can lunge and bob.

What's the ideal footbath and how do you implement footbathing on farm to control for digital dermatitis and foot rot? We cover the research that has shaped current best practices and discuss footbath placement in robotic milking herds.

Thoughtful design and management practices lead to increased milk production and labor efficiency in robotic milking herds. This podcast discusses the factors associated with high performing AMS herds, with topcis ranging from heifer and fresh cow management to pellet allocation and housing considerations.

How long do cows wait to be milked in a AMS? What factors influence how long cows wait to be milked? We look at the milking time behavior of cows in a guided- and free-flow AMS and discuss design strategies to minimize milk wait times.

There are a variety of ways to orient a robot within a pen, but the ideal robot placement will optimize visits to the automated milking system (AMS) by reducing traffic around the robot and providing plenty of space to minimize congestion and competition. This episode outlines the pros and cons of six common robot layouts with a focus on improving cow flow and labor efficiency.