The Moos Room™

Fresh from World Dairy Expo, Brad Heins discusses the newly identified HYAL1 mutation in Holstein cattle and its implications for cow health, longevity, and farm profitability. Research in Switzerland and France links this recessive variant to swollen hocks, joint fluid buildup, impaired mobility, and reduced productive life in cattle that inherit two copies.

Brad explains how researchers uncovered a genetic problem that standard additive analyses missed, why joint abnormalities can appear before first calving, and how affected animals may experience lower production and earlier culling. He also explores the importance of combining genomic data with observations of cattle and how genetic testing and avoiding carrier-to-carrier matings could help prevent affected calves. Tune in for a practical look at what this discovery could mean for dairy breeding decisions and healthier, longer-lived cows.

The reported 4.4% and 8.4% are allele frequencies, not percentages of affected cattle; and affected animals inherit two copies of the variant. 

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Virtual fencing is drawing plenty of questions from grazing dairy and beef producers. In this episode of The Moos Room, Brad shares what the University of Minnesota’s West Central Research and Outreach Center learned from using NoFence collars with heifers during the summer grazing season.

Undergraduate interns observed 27 heifers from June through August and compared their behavior with collar records of audio warnings and pulses. The heifers spent most of their observed time grazing or standing, although grazing increased as the summer progressed. Observations associated with pulses showed less grazing and more walking, while warnings and pulses varied widely among individual heifers. Brad discusses what those patterns might mean, including how heifers respond when a virtual boundary moves.

He also looks ahead to testing additional collars and virtual fencing systems with dairy cattle. Future work will examine animal behavior alongside the labor and economics of managing pasture with virtual fences.

Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> [email protected] or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

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Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
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YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
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Brad begins with an update from the WCROC dairy, where corn silage harvest is complete, fall calving is underway, and new Angus and beef-on-dairy calves are arriving.

The episode then examines a six-year study of approximately 1,300 Holstein bull calves purchased through Wisconsin livestock auctions. Researchers measured serum total protein to evaluate whether the calves had received adequate immunity from colostrum. More than 70% of the calves were classified in the poor or fair categories, while only 16% reached the excellent benchmark. Calves with poor passive immunity were nearly 12 times more likely to die than calves with excellent serum total protein levels.

Brad discusses why male dairy and beef-on-dairy calves should receive the same high-quality colostrum management as replacement heifers. He also explores how serum total protein testing—using a simple blood sample and refractometer—could help farms evaluate their colostrum programs and give calf buyers better information. Verified colostrum management could reduce calf mortality, reward dairy producers for raising healthier calves, and create greater value throughout the beef-on-dairy supply chain.

Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> [email protected] or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

Linkedin -> The Moos Room
Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
Facebook -> @UMNDairy
YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy
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Early calf socialization may deliver long-term benefits

Can housing calves together during their first weeks of life affect how they perform as cows? This episode examines University of Florida research comparing individually housed, pair-housed and group-housed calves through their first lactation.

Socially housed calves grew faster before weaning, producing up to 16% greater average daily gain than individually housed calves. Although differences in growth and reproductive performance largely disappeared after weaning, important benefits emerged after calving. Pair- and group-housed animals produced approximately 1,700 additional pounds of milk during their first lactation and were substantially less likely to be culled.

The findings suggest that early social contact builds behavioral resilience. Calves raised with companions may adjust more easily to the milking parlor, regrouping and competition at the feed bunk—helping them maintain intake, manage stress and remain productive during the demanding transition into the milking herd. The results position social housing as more than a calf-welfare practice; it may also be a long-term investment in productivity and herd retention.

Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> [email protected] or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

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Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
Facebook -> @UMNDairy
YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy
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Can AI turn mountains of dairy data into practical management insights? This episode explores how tools like ChatGPT can analyze bulk tank records, DHI reports, and milking-parlor data. Using examples from conventional and organic herds, we discuss how AI can reveal production and milk-quality trends, identify cows driving somatic cell count, highlight reproductive concerns, and uncover parlor-efficiency problems. AI cannot replace farmers, advisers, or Extension expertise—and its results should always be verified—but it can save hours of spreadsheet work and help dairy managers focus on the issues that need attention.
 
Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> [email protected] or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

Linkedin -> The Moos Room
Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
Facebook -> @UMNDairy
YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
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What is the ideal age at first calving for Holstein heifers? Brad examines a Zoetis study of nearly 130,000 cows from 74 dairy herds. Although heifers calving at 26 months produced slightly more projected first-lactation milk, those calving around 23 months produced more cumulative milk through two lactations, remained in the herd longer, and generated greater modeled net income.

Replacement risk increased substantially as calving age rose, reaching about 35% for heifers calving at 27 months compared with 17% at 21 months. By 27 months, modeled net income was approximately $650 lower than for the 23-month group because the small milk-production advantage did not offset additional rearing costs and earlier removal from the herd.

The findings support targeting 22 to 23 months—but only when heifers are adequately grown. Brad explains why producers should monitor body weight alongside age, evaluate the costly tail of late-calving heifers, and consider cumulative production and survival rather than relying solely on projected 305-day milk.

Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> [email protected] or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

Linkedin -> The Moos Room
Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
Facebook -> @UMNDairy
YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy
Extension Website
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Lameness can quietly reduce milk production, cow welfare, and dairy farm profitability. In this episode of The Moos Room, we examine how a difficult, wet spring prompted our dairy to make routine hoof trimming a priority for both its grazing and confinement herds.

Since 2019, every cow—including lactating and dry cows—has been trimmed twice a year, with hoof problems carefully recorded. The results have been substantial: the percentage of cows with hoof issues declined from 15.6% during the first whole-herd trimming to just 2–3% during the past two spring trimmings. Thin soles and toe ulcers have nearly disappeared, white line disease has declined, and antibiotic use for lameness has fallen.

Learn why grazing cows still benefit from routine trimming, how common hoof lesions affect cattle, and why partnering with a hoof trimmer to establish a consistent maintenance schedule can improve cow longevity, employee satisfaction, and farm profitability.

Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> [email protected] or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

Linkedin -> The Moos Room
Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
Facebook -> @UMNDairy
YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy
Extension Website
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After a busy week showing dairy cattle at the county fair, Brad explores research on the dairy cow’s 12-month biological clock. Using data from 332 Western U.S. dairy herds, the study examined how region, breed, housing, organic management, and BST use influence seasonal patterns in milk production, components, dry matter intake, and feed efficiency.

Despite differences among herds, annual rhythms remained remarkably consistent: milk components peaked in winter, dry matter intake peaked in February, and milk production generally peaked in spring. The findings suggest producers and nutritionists should compare herd performance across seasons—not just from one month to the next—and work with cows’ natural biological rhythms when evaluating production changes and planning diets.

 
Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> [email protected] or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

Linkedin -> The Moos Room
Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
Facebook -> @UMNDairy
YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy
Extension Website
AgriAmerica Podcast Directory 

This episode previews new U.S. dairy genetic evaluations scheduled for release by the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding on August 11, 2026.

Two new calf-health traits will measure genetic resistance to diarrhea and respiratory disease in Holsteins and Jerseys. Positive predicted transmitting abilities indicate greater resistance. Although these traits have relatively low heritability, they may help producers gradually improve calf health, reduce treatment costs, and avoid the long-term productivity losses associated with early-life illness. Continued, accurate recording of calf health events will be essential for strengthening these evaluations
.

The episode also explains revisions to several fertility traits, including daughter pregnancy rate, cow conception rate, heifer conception rate, and early first calving. The updated models better account for modern reproductive management, including longer and variable voluntary waiting periods, synchronization programs, sexed and beef semen, and automated monitoring systems.

A new trait, first service to conception, measures the number of days between a cow’s first breeding and conception. Unlike daughter pregnancy rate, it is independent of a herd’s voluntary waiting period and may be particularly useful on farms that establish breeding eligibility for individual cows.

The host remains skeptical about how dramatically the revised models change historical fertility trends—especially daughter pregnancy rate, which now appears to have improved rather than declined over the past 25 years. Producers are encouraged to examine how the August evaluations affect bulls they currently use, while considering calf-health and fertility traits as additional selection tools rather than replacements for sound management.

Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> [email protected] or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

Linkedin -> The Moos Room
Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
Facebook -> @UMNDairy
YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy
Extension Website
AgriAmerica Podcast Directory 

After sharing how recent heat stress caused an average milk loss of four pounds per cow in his herd, Brad turns his attention to lameness and footbath management. He examines a study of approximately 250 Canadian dairy farms to explore how footbaths are being used, where management gaps exist, and what the future of hoof-health programs may look like.

Most farms sent lactating cows through a footbath one or two times per week, commonly after milking. Copper sulfate was the most widely used product, but Brad discusses its potential to accumulate in soil and affect crop production. He also addresses the health risks associated with formaldehyde and copper sulfate, noting that fewer than half of the surveyed farms reported using personal protective equipment while preparing footbath solutions.

Solution management is another important concern. As manure and other organic matter accumulate, footbath products become less effective—often after 150 to 300 cow passages. Keeping a solution too long may mean that cows passing through later receive much less protection.

The study also identified major gaps among nonlactating animals: 69% of dry cows and 82% of heifers never passed through a footbath. Because hoof problems in heifers can negatively affect first-lactation milk production and reproduction, farms may need to consider hoof health across the animal’s entire life cycle.

Brad concludes by discussing how automated footbaths could improve consistency, shorten solution-retention times, and reduce labor. The key is developing a farm-specific protocol that accounts for cow flow, herd size, chemical safety, solution replacement, and hoof-health challenges across every group of animals.

Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> [email protected] or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

Linkedin -> The Moos Room
Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
Facebook -> @UMNDairy
YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy
Extension Website
AgriAmerica Podcast Directory