The Moos Room™

A case of New World screwworm was recently identified in a three-month-old calf in Zavala County, Texas, near the Texas-Mexico border. In this episode, Brad breaks down what New World screwworm is, why it matters to livestock producers, and what signs to watch for in cattle and other animals. He explains how the larvae infest live tissue, how the pest spreads, and why early detection, reporting, quarantine, and treatment are key to preventing further spread.

The episode also clears up common myths, including whether screwworm spreads animal-to-animal or person-to-person, whether whole herds must be culled, and whether recovered animals can enter the food supply. Brad also discusses past eradication efforts using sterile flies, current treatment options, and the importance of producer awareness, especially for those in areas at higher risk. 

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 

Brad discusses new research comparing dairy heifers raised on pasture versus in confinement, focusing on studies from Wisconsin and Minnesota. Both studies found that pasture-raised heifers were slightly lighter and gained less before calving, but they reached calving at a similar age and showed advantages after freshening. Pasture-raised animals had higher dry matter intake, fewer health issues in the Minnesota study, and stronger first-lactation milk production, especially under rotational grazing systems.

Brad also highlights the economic upside: pasture systems reduced heifer feed costs and, in the Wisconsin study, improved income over feed cost during lactation. The episode makes the case that raising dairy heifers on pasture can be a practical strategy to lower rearing costs without sacrificing, and potentially improving, future milk production.
 
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 

 Brad shares updates from the University of Minnesota Morris dairy herd, including cows heading out to spring pasture, a recent Holstein classification, and highlights from several high-scoring cows. He then revisits University of Minnesota crossbreeding research comparing Holsteins with Viking Red and Montbéliarde crosses. The results show that crossbred cows often had better fertility, lower health treatment costs, improved survival to later lactations, and higher daily profitability, even when milk volume was sometimes lower than Holsteins. Brad also connects these findings to current beef-on-dairy calf research showing health advantages from crossbreeding, especially fewer scours and digestive problems.

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 

In this episode of The Moos Room, Brad discusses spring pasture challenges in western Minnesota, including dry conditions, temperature swings, and slowed grass growth. With summer heat on the horizon, the focus shifts to heat stress in dairy cows and how precision technologies, especially internal bolus sensors, can help farmers identify problems earlier.

Brad shares observations from cows monitored with Smaxtec boluses, including rumination, internal body temperature, and water intake data. He also reviews research from the University of Minnesota herd showing that rumination may start dropping at lower temperature-humidity index levels than traditional industry thresholds suggest. Conventional cows showed rumination declines around a THI of 64, while pasture-based organic cows showed declines closer to 58.

The episode highlights why waiting for milk production losses may be too late when managing heat stress. Instead, rumination, body temperature, water intake, shade, cooling systems, and feeding strategies can all play a role in protecting cow comfort and performance before visible signs of heat stress appear.

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 

Brad takes a closer look at FerAppease, a synthetic analog of the maternal bovine appeasing substance that is gaining attention in both the dairy and beef industries. He explains how the product is designed to reduce stress in cattle during events like breeding, weaning, dehorning, transportation, calving, and dry-off.

The episode highlights recent research in lactating Holstein cows showing that applying FerAppease at the time of artificial insemination increased pregnancy per AI from 47.7% in control cows to 60.2% in treated cows. Brad also walks through the potential economics, estimating a strong return on investment when improved pregnancy rates are valued at the farm level.

Brad then discusses a calf study looking at FerAppease use around disbudding. Treated calves showed signs of reduced stress, including lower cortisol measures, and had improved average daily gain shortly after disbudding. While more research is needed, Brad notes that FerAppease may be a useful non-antibiotic, non-hormonal tool for reducing stress and improving outcomes during key management events.

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 

Virtual fencing is gaining attention in livestock production, and this episode breaks down what dairy producers need to know before trying it. Brad explains how virtual fencing uses GPS-enabled collars or ear tags, audio cues, and electrical cues to manage grazing animals within digital boundaries. He also shares lessons from training heifers with virtual fence collars, including the adjustment period, the importance of using a physical fence during training, and how animals typically learn the system within about a week.

The episode also compares several virtual fencing systems available to U.S. producers, including Vence, Gallagher, Halter, and Nofence. Brad walks through major considerations such as collar weight, cellular versus base station connectivity, battery life, subscription fees, and upfront costs. He also discusses how virtual fencing may compare financially with traditional physical fencing and why more research is needed to understand its fit in dairy grazing systems.

Brad also previews upcoming virtual fencing work at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center, where multiple systems will be tested with dairy cattle to better understand labor needs, cost, practicality, and overall performance in real grazing conditions. 

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 highlights new research on Salmonella Dublin in dairy-beef systems and what it means for calf health and farm management. 

The disease is a major threat to young calves, causing severe illness and high mortality, while often spreading silently through carrier animals and contaminated environments. New PCR testing shows the pathogen is far more common than traditional methods suggest.

Key risk factors include frequent introduction of new calves, mixing animals post-weaning, and human movement (boots, equipment) spreading contamination between areas.

Bottom line: Salmonella Dublin isn’t random—it reflects management. Strong biosecurity, better calf flow, delayed weaning, and improved monitoring are critical to reducing risk.

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 

Spring may be slow to arrive in Minnesota, but research season is heating up. In this episode of The Moos Room, Brad revisits a large Minnesota-based study exploring the true cost of health events in dairy cows—and why tracking cost, not just disease incidence, could transform genetic selection and farm profitability.

Using data from thousands of Holstein cows across multiple herds, the team found that health costs are heavily concentrated in the first 30 days of lactation, when cows face metabolic stress from calving and high milk production. However, issues like lameness and mastitis continue to accumulate costs throughout the lactation, especially in older cows. In fact, total health costs more than double from first to later lactations, reflecting wear, immune fatigue, and management differences.

A key takeaway: management determines cost, but genetics influence risk. While some high-cost conditions (like reproductive disorders) are difficult to improve genetically, others—such as mastitis and metabolic disease—show stronger heritability.

The breakthrough insight is that total health cost itself is moderately heritable (~0.25)—much higher than traditional “sick vs. not sick” measures. This means selecting animals based on overall health cost could drive faster genetic progress than current methods.

Brad also highlights important genetic and phenotypic relationships:

•  Higher milk production is linked to increased health costs 
•  Lower somatic cell count strongly reduces total health costs 
•  Taller, more angular cows tend to have higher health costs 
•  Shallower udders are associated with better health outcomes 

From a practical standpoint, the episode emphasizes:

•  The need for consistent, detailed health and cost recording
•  Moving beyond binary disease tracking to full economic impact
•  Incorporating total health cost into sire selection decisions

Bottom line: Selecting for lower total health cost can improve profitability, extend cow longevity, and enhance animal welfare—potentially saving tens of thousands of dollars at the herd level in just one generation.

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 of The Moos Room dives into new research on agrivoltaics—specifically how forages perform when grown under solar panels in grazing systems. Brad shares results from a recent study evaluating multiple grass and legume species across different solar array designs compared to a traditional pasture.

Overall, forage production depended heavily on species and shade level. Cool-season grasses like meadow fescue and orchardgrass performed well under solar panels, sometimes even producing more biomass than in open pasture. In contrast, warm-season species like sorghum-sudangrass struggled under shaded conditions. Legumes such as red clover maintained strong performance and contributed to improved forage quality.

One of the biggest takeaways was that while heavier shade can reduce total biomass, it often improves forage quality. Grasses grown under solar panels showed higher crude protein and greater fiber digestibility, especially in more shaded systems. This suggests agrivoltaic systems can still produce high-quality feed, even when yield is slightly reduced.

The episode highlights that selecting the right species—particularly shade-tolerant cool-season grasses and legume mixtures—is key to success in grazing-based solar systems. Ultimately, agrivoltaics offers a promising opportunity to combine livestock production with renewable energy, providing both high-quality forage and an additional revenue stream for farmers.

Agrivoltaic arrays and effects of forage biomass and nutritive value of grasses and legumes for grazing dairy cattle
https://www.jdscommun.org/article/S2666-9102(26)00073-6/fulltext

Agrivoltaics Webinar Cattle and Kilowatts 4/14
Sponsored by University of Minnesota Extension

Our first webinar is April 14th, 2026 5pm CT.

Register for the zoom link: z.umn.edu/cattlekilowatts

Cattle and kilowatts webinar: Real-world solar grazing in practice

Join the University of Minnesota Extension for an in-depth webinar featuring pioneers of cattle solar grazing. This session moves beyond theory and into the pasture, focusing on the practical management, infrastructure, and animal welfare considerations of running cattle on solar sites. Guest speakers include Will Harris and Dale Caldwell (White Oak Pastures) leaders in regenerative agriculture who have integrated solar grazing into their multi-species operation in Bluffton, Georgia. Josh Bennett (HUWA Enterprises), an agrimation expert at the forefront of cattle-ready solar design will also join the discussion.

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 

 In this episode of The Moos Room, Brad shares insights from a recent study at the University of Minnesota Morris dairy focused on reducing mastitis and improving behavior in first-lactation heifers. The research tested a simple, low-labor strategy: bringing heifers into the parlor once per week for three weeks before calving, gently acclimating them, and applying a 1% iodine teat dip. Results showed that trained heifers were calmer, easier to milk, and significantly less likely to kick during milking, improving both animal welfare and milker safety. While overall clinical mastitis rates did not differ, the treatment notably reduced Staphylococcus aureus infections, with untrained heifers having five times greater odds of infection shortly after calving. The episode highlights how small, proactive management steps before calving can break the cycle of stress, poor behavior, and disease—offering a practical approach to improving transition success in dairy heifers.

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