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65B. Cornell Conference: New Revelations in Transition Cow Nutrition with Dr. Santos Mar 16, 2023

Show notes

Guests: Dr. Jose Santos, University of Florida

Joining together for the second episode of the New Revelations in Transition Cow Nutrition from the 2022 Cornell Nutrition Conference four-part mini-series to discuss animal nutrition requirements are remarks from Dr. Jose Santos, University of Florida and topical insights from Dr. Clay Zimmerman from Balchem.

Bringing forward the most recent research on choline supplementation, Dr. Santos began the second in the series focusing on nutritional mechanisms and their essential benefits in animal growth and performance. 3:45

Choline was first introduced in the 1700s by chemists and pharmacists. Still, it wasn’t until about 40 years ago that Derek Lindsay from England discovered that most phospholipids in ruminants are synthesized de novo.

Dr. Santos mentioned that studies show more than 90% of choline in feeds doesn’t show up past the rumen, adding to the lag in understanding when the essential nutrient shows up in the small intestine. 5:32

As a required nutrient, Dr. Santos shared that choline is required for the structural integrity of cell membranes, neural tissue and the components of phospholipids and sphingolipids. 7:01

As cows approach calving and during the first two weeks of lactation, Dr. Santos suggests that it is the optimum time to provide choline as a building block for phosphatidylcholine. 17:35

Sharing a heat map study on the effects of choline in hepatic tissue, Dr. Santos said it ultimately shows that supplementing choline reduces glycerol and increases the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine. He added that as studies focus on hepatic triglyceride, acid basis or dry matter basis, the benefits of choline at different dosage levels benefit the same. 22:30

But do low-body condition cows react to choline supplementation the same as high-body condition cows during the transition period?

Dr. Santos shifted directions, adding that he’s found low body conditions cows responded to choline with more milk and energy. He added that studies show supplying choline to nutrient-deficient animals enhances their ability to transport and absorb nutrients from the gastrointestinal tract. 41:55

Dr. Santos mentioned not only does choline facilitate phospholipid synthesis and plays a large role in the transportation of fatty acids, he believes it’s an unquestionable supplementation that fits the requirements as a required nutrient. 46:35

Wrapping up the conversation, Dr. Zimmerman highlighted key points from Dr. Santos and summarized consistent responses the industry continues to see in the meta-analysis of added choline in a range of production levels. 49:15

If you would like to review Dr. Santo’s webinar from the 2022 Cornell Mini Symposium, you can view all four webinar series at balchem/com/realscience.

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Cornell Conference: Implications for understanding Essential vs. Required with Dr. Van Amburgh Mar 14, 2023

Show notes

Guests: Dr. Mike Van Amburgh, Cornell University

Here is the first episode of the New Revelations in Transition Cow Nutrition from the 2022 Cornell Nutrition Conference four-part mini-series. Essential versus required nutrition requirements is the subject matter from Dr. Mike Van Amburgh of Cornell University. Dr. Clay Zimmerman from Balchem adds his comments in this podcast as well.

Laying out a new way to think about essential and non-essential nutrients, Dr. Van Amburgh began the series by highlighting the value of understanding nutritional equivalencies such as amino acids and carbohydrates and reframing the function of energy. 2:28

While microbial proteins are made of both essential and non-essential amino acids, the key factor is remembering synthesis is energy intensive.

Mentioning the adaptability of the organ, Dr. Van Amburgh shares that not only do the nutrient sources allow a cow to manipulate blood flow, but it allows for the ability of groups to form to maximize efficiency. 8:51

Beginning with the general understanding of optimal supply, Dr. Van Amburgh shifted his discussion to anabolic output responses. He shared that when considering the extraction of branched chains, lysine tends to undergo obligate metabolism in the mammary gland. 11:09

Ultimately milk protein synthesis requires key metabolic pathways, but how does an optimal supply of amino acids affect anabolic output?
When analyzing shifts in nutrient profiles, Dr. Van Amburgh shared the transparency that occurs when building fatty acid diets. He mentioned he’s researching the value of pushing methionine up to 1.19 grams and then nearly 2.7 times for lysine. 17:25

So what does the future of nutrition modeling look like? Based on a meta-analysis, Dr. Zimmerman added the biggest goal in nutritional modeling continues to be focused on the differences between essential and required nutrients. 38:31

Wrapping up the conversation, Dr. Zimmerman shared key takeaways from Dr. Van Amburgh’s webinar and briefly mentioned the meta-analysis highlight of choline as a required nutrient in transitional dairy cows. 42:39

If you would like to review Dr. Van Amburgh’s webinar from the 2022 Cornell Mini Symposium, you can view all four webinars in the series at balchem/com/realscience.

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Legacy Series: Dr. Temple Grandin; Colorado State University Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

Guests: Dr. Temple Grandin, Betsy Lerner and Kari Estes.

Gathering for another Legacies Series to honor a true industry leader and pioneer are, Dr. Temple Grandin, Betsy Lerner and Kari Estes.

Dr. Grandin, an animal science professor at Colorado State University and a well-known author and speaker, has been featured on national public radio stations, Time Magazine, The New York Times, Discover Magazine, Forbes, USA Today and others. In fact, her movie titled Temple Grandin sharing much of her life story is an Emmy Award-winning movie.

While Dr. Grandin’s career has been nothing shy of exceptional, she led the conversation by explaining how her trials and tribulations at a young age with autism ultimately led her to where she is today. 8:40

After not speaking until the age of four, Dr. Grandin mentioned she began questioning how people think and their behaviors in her mid-twenties. 10:28

Scott Sorrell, podcast host and director of global marketing for Balchem, then asked about any new research on autism and what niche skills the autistic brain gives people. 14:37

Sharing a few stories and examples, Dr. Grandin mentioned that attention to detail, thinking in specific instances and extreme object visualization are all key characteristics of autism. 17:34

Also joining the conversation is Betsy Lerner, an author who previously worked with Dr. Grandin. She described the questionnaire for people to find out what kind of thinker they are, adding that Dr. Grandin scored 16 out of 18 in the visual thinker category, and she scored four out of 18. 18:41

Not only has Dr. Grandin focused her career on understandpeople's behavior, but animals as well.

Opposite of humans, Dr. Grandin added that animals live in a sensory-based world. She mentioned Betsy gave her the book “The Immense World,” which solely focuses on animal sense and living in a sensory-baked world. 28:12

With decades of knowledge and research, Sorrell asked Dr. Grandin what advice she would have for pet or animal owners. 30:20

Dr. Grandin shared it’s no surprise that animals have emotions like fear, anger, separation anxiety and a few others. She went on to add her experience helping producers understand why certain behaviors trigger cows while handled. 36:40

Dr. Grandin said her big career breakthrough started after working with an Arizona farm magazine to write firsthand experiences from ag events and cattle topics that eventually led to speaking opportunities. 43:58

As the industry continues to shift, so does the future of animal handling and behavioral studies. Dr. Grandin shared the story of touring a new cattle handling facility with a slick floor just this last year, adding this is just one of the things she shares in her resources about the basics of cattle behavior and safety. 48:11

Betsy closed by sharing she truly believes Dr. Grandin is an inspiration to everyone she meets. She added that while traveling to Colorado, Dr. Grandin was honored for her years of service and Betsy met many of Dr. Grandin’s students. While it was no surprise, Betsy mentioned each student said Temple truly changed their lives and believes she has made the world a better place. 55:08

Life is all about helping people and finding practical solutions, and Dr. Grandin closed by adding that’s truly what makes her happy. 59:13

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Changing of the Guard Feb 14, 2023

Show notes

Guests: Chris DuBois and Melissa Rodriguez (IRI)

Joining together to discuss the changes in customer-driven expectations are Chris DuBois and Melissa Rodriguez, both with IRI, a leading provider of big data and analytics.

Rodriguez led the conversation, describing IRI’s integration into data and technology innovation. She shared that IRI not only integrates retainer and media data, but also consumer and manufacturer data. 4:21

As inflation continues trending upward, Rodriguez added IRI is watching customer trends closely and finding shopping habits decreasing as prices continue to rise. 9:30

Multiple shifts have caused a change in spending habits for food consumption. From the changes of COVID-19 to an increase in the work-from-home community, DuBois said food consumption at restaurants has decreased. He went on to say that many restaurants sit empty as locations added drive through and to-go options. 13:25

Scott Sorrell, podcast host and director of global marketing for Balchem, asked if the IRI team had seen any shifts in protein consumption and what cuts of protein consumers are now consuming. 17:32

DuBois said ultimately, each protein is serving a different category of consumers, adding trends are shifting towards creativity for all kinds. Rodriguez then went on to say she’s seen a large shift to chicken thighs and chicken wings because of the consumer's option to smoke, grill or even use the air fryer for the cuts. 18:02

One of the largest innovations to the protein sector has been boneless thighs, DuBois mentioned, adding they are now one of the biggest products in the supermarket. 22:54

Without a doubt, the Ukrainian war has had a significant impact on both consumers and suppliers in the U.S. The largest impact came from the cost of feed for the west coast, DuBois said. He added that when grain comes from overseas, unless there is a form of vertical integration, managing the cost on the wholesale side becomes a large factor. 27:30

Shifting the conversation, Sorrell asked the IRI team what they believed the five biggest trends for the future might be. 28:45

For consumers, there isn’t a one size fits all approach. Rodriguez added that no two consumer generations are alike - the boomers, millennials, Gen Z, etc. She went on to say that 2030 looks to be a turning point for the U.S. population. The next ten years anticipate trend shifts towards product innovation, digital engagement, sustainability, consumer engagement and generational exposure. 32:10

As IRI continues to focus on the generational impact of food consumption and trends, DuBois said they had found generational trends to cycle, and now they are seeing some of the same items reoccur. For example, he mentioned that Asian cooking oils are on the rise versus vegetable oils and others, adding the focus is now on the buyer groups. 38:15

Trends are on the rise in the U.S., but are there the same trends and changes globally?

DuBois said if he were to walk the supermarkets in Europe, he would see the same merchandising tactics and product marketing. He went on to say there seems to be a more open door in product communication between the processors, market and customers as the U.S. often lacks in the producer-to-consumer relationship. 48:21

Wrapping up the conversation, Rodriguez said she encourages the industry to focus on studying the response rate for key categories and how each generation responds to those changes. She added that these statistics would ultimately give direction as to what to expect for the next few years. 50:30

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Reviewing the Updates to the CNCPS v7 Model with Dr. Van Amburgh Jan 31, 2023

Show notes

Gathering around the pub to discuss the latest version of the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) version seven is Dr. Mike Van Amburgh, Dr. Robb Bender and Dr. Mike DeGroot.

Extension expert and professor of animal science at Cornell University, Dr. Van Amburgh guided the conversation by briefly touching on the history of the system and the changes to the latest version. He mentioned what has now evolved to a software platform with many equations, essentially began as a 30 year old spreadsheet. 5:45

For nearly three decades the dairy industry has been using various CNCPS versions to formulate rations and create management plans. While each version brings an added level of accuracy, Scott Sorrell, podcast host and director of global marketing for Balchem, asked what the dairy industry can expect from this improved version update. 8:42

Dr. Van Amburgh mentioned ultimately it’s all about finding a balance between the cow and the model. He added the new version moves away from the crude protein concept, but brings forward a three pool model of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility and gathers all the nitrogen recycling pools to improve nitrogen efficiency. 12:11

While the publishing timeline is yet undetermined, the last major difference between version six and version seven is resolving the amino acid requirements through fill and flux efficiency, Dr. Van Amburgh went on to mention. 14:51

Joining to discuss how his team utilizes CNCPS is Dr. Robb Bender, Manager Partner Consultant at GPS Dairy Consulting. He mentioned his team leverages the opportunity to fulfill rations through the system using the NDS platform and asked about the impact that variable criterias of forage selection has. 22:55

Dr. Van Amburgh said the most important number for forage moving forward is the 12 hour number given the labs are as efficient as possible. Ultimately, he added with high quality forages the earlier the time to estimate the length it takes to fill the fast pool the better. 24:31

While NDF is correlated to feed intake, uNDF is in fact forage remaining after digestibility within 240 hours. Dr. Mike DeGroot, owner at EDGE Dairy Consulting asked about the impact of uNDF in various rations. 30:15

The impact stems from cow performance changes, mentioned Dr. Van Amburgh. Adding to the research that version seven includes are several evaluations on forage fiber and the inversely related digestible and indigestible pool. 31:20

Within version seven, understanding the chemistry of feed additives and the nutrient values they offer is also a high level factor. In fact, Dr. Van Amburgh mentioned the updated version includes a 2015 study over water soluble carbohydrates, the extended study of starch and also the impact of sugars in any diet formulation. 44:42

So what does the future of CNCPS look like?

Short term, Dr. Van Amburgh said he is working on a database that offers a full calf, heifer model and transition calf phase. He added working to frame the fatty acid and amino acid requirements is the next goal. 55:15

Dr. DeGroot wrapped up the conversation, mentioning he is looking forward to the new version of the CNCPS because he believes that as new models get better, science also gets better.

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Managing for Both Fat and Protein in a Tiered Pricing System Jan 17, 2023

Show notes

While maximizing milk production and improving feed efficiency continues to be top of mind, joining together around the pubcast to discuss the various factors are Dr. Kevin Harvatine and Dr. Yves Boisclair.

A leading expert in metabolic and energy nutrition and professor at Penn State University, Dr. Harvatine began the conversation by introducing his guest, Dr. Boisclair. He mentioned the collaboration between the two first began when he was finishing his doctorate degree at Cornell University under Dr. Boisclair. 1:30

Focused initially on regulating hormones, Dr. Boisclair said he quickly acknowledged the importance of shifting his research to better understand molecular mechanisms in dairy cows. 3:11

In a recent Real Science webinar, Dr. Harvatine said nutrition and management are the best practices. While higher production levels result in more milk pounds Scott Sorrell, podcast host and director of global marketing for Balchem, asked about the importance of dairy cow synthesis and pathways. 11:00

Dr. Harvatine said he likes to think of the three assembly lines as lactose, fat and protein. Within milk, he added the assembly lines would be novo synthesized fatty acids and the preformed fatty acids. He then added that in milk fat depression, the minimum a dairy cow can produce is a 50% decrease. 11:25

Based on the basic endocrine regulation, researchers have been able to adjust basic nutritional factors. In fact, Dr. Boisclair mentioned the prolactin cycle is not only essential during the last few weeks in pregnancy but also in lactation performance. 14:50

It’s not just about one enzyme. Metaphorically, the nutritional system works as a factory. When we think about making the assembly line of milk fat, it’s a series of enzymes we have to turn on, and when turned on, they go into molecular biology level. Dr Harvatine went on to mention the importance of understanding the correlation between the different components. 16:61

On the protein side, Dr. Harvatine believes there is a limiting factor causing a minimized response. In fact, when thinking about nutritional factors, he added it’s hard to have a 50-pound cow make as much fat protein as a 100-pound cow. Adding the main factor always isn’t nutrition, oftentimes it’s the lactation stage and endocrinology history. 34:30

What are some key suggestions for nutritionists in terms of increasing milk fat on the dairy, Scott asked? 48:37

Dr. Harvatine suggested nutritionists tailor goals to fit various budgets and individual operations, adding a few scenarios where various fat levels can be accepted. 50:54

Wrapping up the conversation, Dr. Harvatine emphasized the importance of understanding the complete system when it comes to producing more milk fat. He added the physiology component and hormonal responsiveness are just as important as increasing nutrition and feed efficiency. 1:04:01

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2022 Favorites Countdown Jan 03, 2023

Show notes

Since 2020, the Real Science Exchange has provided in-depth conversations throughout a variety of webinar series. Joining around the pub to recap and reflect on the amazing guests and great conversations from 2022 are Dr. Clay Zimmerman and Scott Sorrell where they reflect on each of their top three favorite episodes of 2022.

The pubcast has a growing audience of over 56,000 views and listeners in all 50 states. In 2022, the podcast created 24 events featuring top dairy science topics through the lens of widely known dairy researchers.

Dr. Zimmerman’s third favorite episode was Episode 44 that aired on May 24, 2022. The May Journal Club featured guests Dr. Bill Weiss, Dr. Chanhee Lee and Haley Zynda. 4:00

The episode highlighted different topics, including the impact of reducing DCAD in lactating cows and the multiplication of these diets in different environmental elements and nutrient digestibility. 5:10

Episode 44: https://balchem.com/animal-nutrition-health/resources/may-journal-club-dr-bill-weiss-the-ohio-state-university/

Scott Sorrell said his third favorite was Episode 53, which aired on September 27, 2022. The episode featured the Kooler Kids program with guests including Stephanie Walsh, Melissa Malcolm-Cullison and Mark Inkrott. 8:29

He mentioned the episode features Dairy Farmers of America and Cooler Management and the significant work they are doing in bringing dairy products to the less fortunate. 9:01

Episode 53: https://balchem.com/animal-nutrition-health/resources/real-science-exchange-kooler-kids/

In partnership with last year’s Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference, Dr. Zimmerman said his second favorite episode from 2022 was Episode 43 that aired on May 10, 2022 and included Dr. Jack Britt, Dr. Jimena LaPorta, Dr. Eric Ciappio, Dr. Pete Hansen and Dr. Clay Zimmerman as guests. 17:41

Dr. Zimmerman mentioned this episode featured the mini-symposium, highlighting utero influences on transgenerational challenges and performance in dairy cattle. 18:31

Episode 43: https://balchem.com/animal-nutrition-health/resources/may-journal-club-dr-bill-weiss-the-ohio-state-university/

Ranking second for Scott Sorrell was Episode 38. This episode is one of the Legacy Series, where we celebrate industry pioneers and their impact on the industry. Specifically, this Legacy Series episode honored Dr. Peter J. Van Soest and his impact in the animal nutrition world. The episode aired on March 1, 2022 and featured guests Dr. Mary Beth Hall, Dr. Mike Van Amburgh and Dr. David Mertens. 25:30

Episode 38: https://balchem.com/animal-nutrition-health/resources/legacy-series-dr-peter-j-van-soest/

Dr. Zimmerman said his top episode pick for the year was Episode 48. The episode aired on July 19, 2022 and featured guests Dr. Turner Schwarz and Dr. Joe McFadden. 35:17

He said the episode was recorded at the American Dairy Science Association’s Annual Meeting (ADSA) and featured graduate and research students. Additionally, he added his favorite part of the episode was experiencing the talented future industry leaders. 37:15

Episode 48: https://balchem.com/animal-nutrition-health/resources/american-dairy-science-association-balchem-highlighted-research/

Scott Sorrell said his top pick was Episode 56 that was recorded at the World Dairy Expo and aired on November 8, 2022. The episode featured the Bateman family from Utah and highlighted their virtual farm tour presentation. Joining in for Episode 56 and its discussion was guests Brad Bateman, Jason Bateman, Steve Bateman and Laun Hall. 38:21

He added that not only was Wayne Bateman a patriarch of the family and industry, but overall the family represents strong dairy values and a love of their livestock and land. Beyond the podcast being extra special, Scott also mentioned the process of videotaping their family farm was just as memorable. 39:40

Watch the Virtual Farm Tour: https://youtu.be/ccs9gVbUiOg

Episode 56: https://balchem.com/animal-nutrition-health/resources/virtual-farm-tour-batemans-mosida-farms/

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Recent Developments in Performance Horse Health & Nutrition Dec 20, 2022

Show notes

Gathering around the pubcast to discuss equine nutrition in the performance horse arena are Dr. Joe Pagan, Dr. Laurie Lawrence and Dr. Steve Jackson.

Expert in equine nutrition and founder of Kentucky Equine Research (KER), Dr. Pagan led the conversation by explaining the company's history, his academic background and KER’s innovative philosophy in looking ahead into equine nutrition. 7:27

Also joining in on the conversation was leading equine nutritionist Dr. Jackson who described his leadership at Bluegrass Equine Nutrition and his experience in one of the largest breed industries, the thoroughbreds. 10:28

He acknowledged that with his background and horsemanship experience, most of his clients are usually thoroughbred owners or trainers ranging from central Kentucky to Japan. 12:47

Dr. Jackson added he believes good horses often come by happenstance, mentioning most folks making feed or giving recommendations read from the same book giving management the upper hand in success. 13:45

Innovation and science, the driving force behind equine nutrition success.

Dr. Pagan mentioned when he first started, the industry was focused on sweet feed and straightforward programs. He added that it wasn’t until he was in graduate school the emphasis switched to the alternative energy source of feeding fat as a performance source. 18:16

However, he added that many in the industry are uncovering the consequences of feeding extremely high fat diets. Dr. Pagan then mentioned that current studies are taking place on polyunsaturated fats as a solution to help correct some of the diet concerns. 20:12

Professor at the University of Kentucky, Dr. Laurie Lawrence, also joined in on the discussion. She added that from her academic perspective, she believes a lot of nutritional horse practices have been modeled by those of other species. 27:52

What are some examples of low, moderate and high-performance horses? Dr. Estes, podcast co-host and Balchem Research Associate, then asked. 28:47

Giving a few examples, Dr. Pagan said racehorses are in the high category, while polo ponies would fit into the middle, and recreational horses would fit into the low level. He then added that he and his team are focused on utilizing technology to alert horse owners on their typical riding time and a nutritional program that would work for them. 30:20

While many factors fit into the nutritional space, Dr. Lawrence mentioned the importance of selecting long-stem and clean hay for the average horse rather than the suggested green, leafy and fresh hay quality. 31:15

Education is a large factor when it comes to accurate equine nutrition, she added. Suggesting the importance of university research, local agents and the potential that an educational pathway can have in this space. 36:20

Dr. Jackson mentioned that he believes the industry, in general, does a poor job of educating practitioners on nutritional needs and recommendations. He added the importance of continuing education for practitioners on various forage types, fat requirements and more. 43:29

Making sure the body condition is appropriate for the horse type and the condition is necessary, noted Dr. Jackson. He added the importance of communicating with your nutritionist about the horse's GI tract and forage types. 58:57

Dr. Lawrence rounded out the conversation by mentioning that as nutritionists, there is a lot of room for growth in educating horse owners, veterinarians and farriers. Additionally, she added that the industry has enough information to solve nearly 80% of the current nutritional concerns in the recreational horse industry. 1:02:42

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22 Journal Club December Dec 06, 2022

Show notes

Guests: Dr. Bill Weiss, The Ohio State University; Dr. Michel Wattiaux, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Co-Host: Dr. Jeff Elliott

Joining around the pub at World Dairy Expo to discuss the latest research about environmental factors and the effects it has on specific dairy cattle breeds are Dr. Bill Weiss and Dr. Michel Wattiaux.

Dr. Michel Wattiaux, Dairy Systems Management Professor at the University of Wisconsin led the conversation by introducing the recent publication in the Journal of Dairy Science and authors M.E. Uddinn, O.I. Santana and K.A. Weigel. 2:28

What was the main reasoning behind the research and the treatments selected? Dr. Wattiaux said with help from the entire research team, they wanted to measure and compare methane emissions from two cattle breeds and evaluate the nutritional consequences between various fiber sources and concentrations. 3:55

He noted that another key motivation was an earlier research paper showing that jersey cows may in fact, be more environmentally friendly when compared to environmental impact per unit of cheese yield. 4:30

With breeds, forage levels and various forage sources at a focus, Dr. Wattiaux said they first looked to see if there was any interaction between variable fiber types, level of fiber on methane emissions, cow performance and digestibility. 5:30

He said the research encompassed only first lactation cows, adding the various forage NDF and alfalfa silage corn NDF rations used. 6:45

Given methane is a major contributor to the carbon footprint, Dr. Wattiaux said they first measured and compared methane emissions between the holstein and jersey breeds and then evaluated the green feed system, its specifics and system measurements. 9:45

Dr. Bill Weiss, Professor Emeritus at The Ohio State University, asked about the production impact the two breeds had from the various diet treatment studies. 16:18

Dr. Wattiaux added there was no variability between the two breeds in terms of production differences. He added that the more cows consume, the more fermentation and, ultimately, the more methane produced. 18:45

But how can we know we are standardizing our comparison between the two breeds? Dr. Bill Weiss then asked that question. 20:10

Dr. Wattiaux mentioned the research paper showed methane emission as the only factor affecting the overall carbon footprint. He added that animal efficiency is ultimately not related to methane production per day but rather an energy law ideally used to make milk. 21:15

Additionally, he mentioned the study showed very little difference in manure composition between the two breeds as well. Emphasizing that media and consumers are focused on methane intensity and the carbon footprint, which ultimately is an extension of digestive system studies. 26:51

Dr. Jeff Elliott, podcast co-host and technical services representative for Balchem, asked how much the industry has improved feed production management in the last 10 years. 28:23

Dr. Wattiaux said when talking about production intensity, yield or even greenhouse gas emission there was a high level of variation. Adding when making an impact on reducing emissions, manure and crop management is just as important as the cow or environmental effects. 32:05

Wrapping up the conversation, Dr. Wattiaux mentioned despite the research showing differences between the jersey and holstein breeds; it emphasized the importance of a forage diet variability and nutritional options for all breeds and their environmental factors.t 42:14

Read the articles here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32389470/ and https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34955248/

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World Dairy Expo Producer Panel Nov 22, 2022

Show notes

Our podcast is recorded at World Dairy Expo in Madison, WI. At the 55th Annual World Dairy Expo we were celebrating FFA day. We have a star-studded guest panel today to discuss the latest ideas and trends in animal nutrition.

Jeff King is one of our guests from Kings-Ransom Farm in New York. Their operation includes registered holsteins and row crops, and they have a marketing program with registered holsteins.

Kelly Reynolds is originally from Wisconsin but now lives in New York and works on Reyncrest Farm with her husband's family, which also has registered holsteins and row crops.

Joey Ariosa comes from Airosa Dairy, his family’s operation in California with holsteins, jerseys and row crops.

When asked about philosophy, Kelly said as they have grown each person has been able to focus on their passion, which they hope trickles down to their entire team (7:52)

Joey spoke about one of their biggest hurdles in California: regulations from the state. California has one of the highest minimum wages and requires overtime pay. So it is important to strike a balance between caring for your animals and putting their needs first, but living within the regulations the state of California requires (12:07)

Jeff mentioned communicating with consumers is always an area for growth. A lot of consumers visit their operation and make assumptions. Spending 15 minutes chatting with that consumer and answering questions is necessary. (29:20)

Kelly said that the global demand for dairy is real, with a growing demand for high-quality proteins. When they are making decisions about the future of their business, they keep that in mind. Our population isn’t getting smaller, and everyone has to eat. (40:35)

Looking to the future, Joey said you have to work together to deal with your problems and fix them because basic things in life are important; clean air, clean water and safe food. In California, Airosa Dairy is trying to do its part with water management and use less water. (46:34)

In summary, Jeff wrapped up by emphasizing you should never stop learning. The key to setting yourself up for success starts with the more you can open your horizons and learn at every turn. Look at someone who is successful and ask how did they accomplish what they are doing? (49:13)

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