Dairy Video Archive

Contents

• Business and Labor Management
• Calf and Heifer Management
• Facilities
• Genetics
• Health and Diseases
• Heat Stress
• Lameness
• Mastitis and Milking Management
• Nutrient Management on Dairy Farms
• Nutrition of Milking and Dry Cows
• Reproduction

 

Business and Labor Management

An Overview of Work Safety and Health Issues on Dairy Farms

Dr. Dennis Murphy, The Pennsylvania State University

Dairy farming can be a hazardous occupation! In this presentation from Dr. Dennis Murphy, you can learn about potential hazards and how to mitigate risk on farms. Dr. Murphy will discuss safe animal handling practices, working in and around confined spaces, tractor and machinery safety, and respiratory hazards. He’ll also spend some time talking about safety and health regulations as well as how to manage worker safety and health on dairies.

Watch the video on YouTube.
View Dr. Murphy’s PowerPoint presentation.

 

Defining a Compensation Structure for the Dairy Workforce

Felix Soriano, APN Consulting

In this video, Felix discusses both the importance of having well-defined compensation packages and how you can achieve this for your farm. He covers compensation structure, including direct pay and other benefits, some different methods of determining bonuses, and tips on how to make these strategies work for you.

Watch the video on Youtube.
View Felix’s PowerPoint presentation.

 

Economic Benchmarks for Dairies: Eight Rules You Cannot Break

Gary Sipiorski, Vita Plus

There are many financial benchmarks and ratios a lender will use to evaluate a dairy farm’s financial position and progress. During this webinar, Gary sorted out and discussed 8 key items that are critical for a dairy producer to monitor.

View the recorded webinar.
View Gary Sipiorski’s PowerPoint presentation.
 

Effective Management of Farm Employees

Phil Durst and Stan Moore, Senior Extension Educators with Michigan State University Extension

Here, Durst and Moore discuss the results of phone interviews with 158 employees from 11 dairy farms, including:

• Employee turnover rate and employee engagement
• Management makes a difference
• Focus employees on achieving performance standards
• Providing opportunities to learn and develop
• Language and cultural barriers

View the recorded webinar.
View Phil Durst and Stan Moore’s PowerPoint presentation.

 

Farm Confined Space Safety

Davis Hill, Penn State University

In this presentation, Mr. Hill will define confined space and help identify some of the spaces on farms that may qualify, as well as discuss some specific hazards of common farms spaces. You’ll also learn about permits and best management practices, as well some strategies to safely manage confined space issues.

Watch the video on YouTube.
View Davis Hill’s PowerPoint presentation.

 

Human Resource Management: Being a Boss or Building Relationships

Bob Milligan, Dairy Strategies
Hear from Dr. Bob Milligan, Cornell University Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management Professor Emeritus and Senior Consultant at Dairy Strategies, LLC, as he discusses the current thinking in human resource management. Current research substantiates that great leaders and supervisors focus on relationship building, communication, clarity and feedback rather than command and control.

This handout was used as part of the presentation; feel free to print it out and use it as you watch the recording.
View the recorded webinar here.
 

Managing Worker Safety and Health on Dairy Farms

Dr. Dennis Murphy, Penn State University

Dr. Murphy rejoins us to elaborate on worker safety and health. First you’ll learn why it’s important to maintain a safe environment, then Dr. Murphy will walk you through how you can implement a worker safety program. From policies to training, hazard identification to prevention and control, learn how to make a safer farm environment for everyone!

Watch the video on YouTube.
View Dr. Murphy’s PowerPoint presentation.

 

New Insight Into the People Side of Milk Quality

Susan Schexnayder, University of Tennessee
In collaboration with Southeast Quality Milk Initiative.

From attitudes and perspectives to the relationship between employer and employee, Susan Schexnayder discusses new insights into the roles people can play in milk quality.

Watch the video on YouTube.
View Susan Schexnayder’s PowerPoint Presentation.

 

Public Perception of Dairy Farms

This webinar included success stories of how extension educators have organized programs to educate the public, how they have used media/social media successfully, and how producers have reached out to communities.

Breakfast on the Farm
Faith Cullens
Faith discussed how MSU Extension has developed a statewide program to address bridging the gap between the producer and the public via educational farm tours entitled “Breakfast on the Farm.” She also talked about some strategies for successfully hosting an educational event with large crowds on a working farm.

Connecting with Your Community
Darin Mann
Darin discussed his efforts to engage and educate the local community about his family’s heifer raising operation.

Reaching Out Through Social Media
Andy Kleinschmidt
Andy, an extension educator for The Ohio State University, discussed his use of social media in reaching out to the public.
 

View the recorded webinar here.
View and download Faith Cullens’s PowerPoint presentation.
View and download Andy Kleinschmidt’s PowerPoint presentation.
 

Using Social Media to Deliver Extension

Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam, UC Davis

The use of social media in public engagement and extension is a relatively new phenomenon, and many scientists are cautious about using it professionally. Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam joined us to discuss the prevalence of social media in extension work, how she and her colleagues at UC Davis have used it, and some of the potential risks and pitfalls of using various platforms.

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Eenennaam’s PowerPoint Presentation.

Calf and Heifer Management

Automated Calf Feeders on US farms: How do They Work?

Dr. Marcia Endres, University of Minnesota

During this webinar, Dr. Endres summarized some results of a field study with 38 farms that use automated calf feeders. She also addressed some key housing and management practices used on these farms and how they might influence calf health and welfare.

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Endres’s PowerPoint Presentation.

 

Avoiding Disease in Dairy Calves

Dr. Geof Smith, North Carolina State University

Your calves are the future of your dairy, so isn’t it important to keep them healthy? In this webinar, Dr. Smith discussed best practices for preventing diseases in calves. As disease in calves is controlled mainly by management factors, he focused on managing the calf’s environment, some critical control points to pay close attention to, and early detection of calf diseases.

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Smith’s PowerPoint presentation.

 

Critical Economic Decisions when Raising Heifers

Jason Karszes, Cornell University

Here, Jason Karszes discussed some key items every dairy farmer should consider in heifer raising. He covered the costs involved, factors that influence those costs, the economic impact of the replacement program on the dairy farm’s performance, and several other factors to consider in a replacement program.

View the recorded webinar.
View Jason Karszes’s PowerPoint Presentation.
 

Economic Considerations Regarding the Raising of Dairy Replacement Heifers

Dr. Michael Overton, Elanco

Dr. Overton joins us to discuss heifer raising costs. In this presentation, he focuses on the differences in conventional vs. intensive heifer systems. Within this framework, he’ll walk you through an analysis of costs incurred in different growth stages, compare models, and touch on the impact that heifer rearing programs can have on later lactation.

Watch the video on YouTube.
View Dr. Overton’s PowerPoint presentation.

 

Feeding Systems for Group-Housed Dairy Calves

Dr. Mark Thomas, Countryside Veterinary Clinic

Nutrition is a vital part of calf health and development, and making sure that calves get the nutrients they need in an efficient manner is an important job! In this session, Dr. Thomas reviewed feeding systems for dairy calves in a group-housed setting. Watch this recording to learn about how to optimize nutrition, some practical concepts for ad libitum, acidified group feeding, to see comparisons of other available systems, and for a review of possible health benefits and challenges of feeding calves in a group setting.

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Thomas’s PowerPoint presentation.

Meeting Heifer Nutrition Goals

Dr. Bob James, Virginia Tech

It can be difficult to keep an efficient and effective heifer nutrition program. In this webinar, Dr. James discussed the challenges of meeting goals in heifer nutrition programs. Some of the critical control points he addressed are:

• optimizing pre-weaning growth
• optimizing post-weaning growth
• achieving puberty at the desired age

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. James’s PowerPoint Presentation.

Facilities

How Dairy Cattle Facilities May Contribute to Lameness

Dan McFarland, Penn State University

Dan McFarland discusses how dairy facilities can contribute to lameness problems. Learn about resting and flooring surfaces, slip hazards, and how heat stress and heifer rearing can factor in.

Watch the video on YouTube.
View Dan McFarland’s PowerPoint presentation.

 

Optimizing Facilities for Transition Cow Success

Ken Nordlund
During this session, Ken Nordlund reviewed field studies using Transition Cow Index (TCI) that suggest that limitations in housing are the primary risk factors for transition cow problems in freestall dairy herds.

View the recorded webinar here.
View and download Ken Nordlund’s PowerPoint presentation.

Genetics

An Overview of Genomic Selection and Fertility

Dr. Pete Hansen, University of Florida

In this video, Dr. Hansen joins us to discuss genomic selection as it relates to fertility traits. Learn about single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), the challenges in selecting for reproductive traits, and some of the current work in overcoming those challenges.

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Hansen’s PowerPoint presentation.

 

Current Research in Genomic Selection

Dr. Joe Dalton, University of Idaho
Dr. Jose Santos, University of Florida

Drs. Dalton and Santos are each participating in research projects which are investigating the use of genomics in dairy cattle, both of which aim to improve fertility in the dairy cow. In this video we first hear from Dr. Dalton, then Dr. Santos, on the goals and progress of their respective AFRI-funded research projects.

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Dalton’s PowerPoint presentation.
View Dr. Santos’s PowerPoint presentation.

 

Finding More Value with Genomic Testing

Dr. Albert De Vries, University of Florida

Dr. De Vries discusses how to find the value in genomic testing – and which situations it may be valuable in – as well as how some reproductive program decisions can affect profitability.

Watch the video on YouTube.
View Dr. De Vries’s PowerPoint Presentation.

 

Potential and Pitfalls for Genomic Selection

Dr. Chad Dechow, Pennsylvania State University

In this session, Dr. Dechow reviewed genomic technology and implementation, comparisons of early genomic predictions to actual daughter proofs, a discussion of inbreeding, and how genomics can be used as a herd management tool.

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Dechow’s PowerPoint presentation.

 

Sire Selection Considerations for Dairy Producers

Dr. Chad Dechow, Pennsylvania State University

Choosing sires is one of the more important decisions on a dairy, affecting herd health and productivity in future generations. In this webinar, Dr. Dechow joined us to discuss some key points you should consider when selecting sires. He covered:

• genetic progress and lag in commercial populations
• the use of young vs. daughter-proven sires
• selection indexes to simplify selection criteria
• breeding for healthier cows

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Dechow’s PowerPoint presentation.

 

Uterine Health and Potential Connection with Genetic Variation

Dr. Klibs Galvão, University of Florida

Dr. Galvão joins us to discuss uterine diseases, their effects on fertility, and a possible genetic connection. Learn about his research methods, the detrimental effects of metritis on fertility, and which genes could be related to uterine diseases.

Watch the video on YouTube.
View Dr. Galvão’s PowerPoint presentation.

Health and Diseases

Animal Welfare Certification Options

Dr. Jim Reynolds, Western University

In this session, Dr. Reynolds, Professor of Large Animal Medicine and Welfare at Western University College of Veterinary Medicine, discussed current options in animal welfare certification. He also covered the value of certification and how to determine if you should become part of one of these programs.

View the recorded webinar here.
View Dr. Reynolds’s PowerPoint presentation.
 

Appropriate Drug Use and Residue Avoidance Practices

Dr. Michael Apley, Kansas State University
Dr. Craig Shultz, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

In this webinar, Drs. Apley and Shultz discussed the why and how of drug residue avoidance, as well as appropriate usage of medications on dairy farms.

View the recorded webinar.
View and download Craig Shultz’s PowerPoint presentation.
View and download Mike Apley’s PowerPoint Presentation.

Here is an example record sheet for recording treatments given to cattle.
 

Basic Vaccinology: Why Vaccines Work or Don’t Work

Dr. Dan Grooms, Michigan State University

Vaccines are a vital part of maintaining the health and well-being of a dairy herd, but have you ever wondered about what makes them work? Dr. Grooms covered some of the basics of vaccinology. He included basic immunology and how vaccines work, as well as the different types of vaccines and important considerations for designing and implementing a vaccine program for your farm.

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Grooms’s PowerPoint presentation.
 

Bovine Leukosis Virus: What is It and What Does It Mean for Me?

Dr. Ray Sweeney, University of Pennsylvania

During this presentation, Dr. Ray Sweeney discussed some of the big questions people have about bovine leukosis virus. The questions Dr. Sweeney covered are:

• What is BLV?
• How is it spread?
• What happens when cows are infected with BLV?
• How is an infection diagnosed?
• Is there a treatment?
• How do we prevent infection?

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Sweeney’s Powerpoint presentation.

 

Diagnosing and Monitoring Ketosis in Dairy Herds

Dr. Gary Oetzel, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Ketosis is the most common metabolic disease in dairy cattle, and it’s important to be able to identify individual cows with ketosis as well as monitor herd prevalence. Dr. Oetzel discussed the testing process, including which tests can be used, the pros and cons of different tests, and testing strategies you may be able to use.

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Oetzel’s PowerPoint presentation.

 

Diagnosis and Treatment of Metritis in Dairy Cows

Dr. Stephen LeBlanc, University of Guelph

Dr. LeBlanc discusses various aspects of metritis in dairy cows. He discusses some of the contributing factors, such as lowered feed intake, bacteria loads, and various stressors, as well as diagnostic methods. He also covers the impact of metritis and efficacy of some of the available treatment options.

Watch the video on Youtube.
View Dr. LeBlanc’s PowerPoint presentation.

 

Far Off to Fresh Cow – Opportunities to Improve Transition Performance

Dr. Mike Overton, Elanco

A successful lactation starts well before calving. Going back to the completion of her previous lactation and entry into the far dry cow pen, how we manage and feed the cow well before she approaches calving contributes to the likelihood of her achieving a high level of milk production and conceiving in a timely manner.  In this presentation Dr. Overton walked through the opportunities and challenges in the far dry, close-up, and fresh pen, including nutritional and housing management, and discuss a few of the key monitoring approaches for evaluating performance.

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Overton’s PowerPoint presentation.
 

Hyperketonemia Treatment at the Individual Cow and Herd Level

Dr. Jessica McArt, Cornell University

In this webinar, Dr. McArt briefly reviewed the physiology of hyperketonemia development as well as β-hydroxybutyrate concentration cut points to use in treatment decision making. Dr. McArt discussed common treatments, including:

• medication
• method of action
• dose
• duration
• effect

Herd-level testing and treatment strategies were presented as well as action recommendations following herd prevalence estimation.

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. McArt’s Powerpoint presentation
 

Standard Operating Procedures for Non-Ambulatory Cattle

 

Dr. Jan Shearer, Iowa State University

Dr. Jan Shearer will walk you through how to create a standard operating procedure for non-ambulatory dairy cattle. He starts with some information on what an SOP is and what it does, then goes on to define “non-ambulatory cattle” and some of the causes and contributing factors. He wraps up with some example SOPs and suggestions for creating an effective SOP for your operation.

Watch the video on YouTube.

 

The Importance of Good Handling Skills for Dairy Cows

Dr. Katy Proudfoot, The Ohio State University

In this session Dr. Proudfoot discussed why using appropriate animal handling practices is so important for dairies! She talked about cow memory and how that can influence fear responses to handlers, as well as how you can determine whether your farm or your client’s farm could benefit from a handling training program.

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Proudfoot’s PowerPoint presentation.
 

Troubleshooting Design-Based Cow Comfort Issues

Dan McFarland, Agricultural Extension Educator

The space a dairy cow lives in can have a significant influence on her health and performance. During this webinar, Dan McFarland discussed dairy housing features that can influence cow comfort, methods to evaluate critical areas, and suggestions for improving those areas.

View the recorded webinar.
View Dan McFarland’s PowerPoint presentation.

The handout referred to in the webinar can be found here.

Heat Stress

Cooling Strategies During Heat Stress

Dr. Pete Hansen, University of Florida

Cooling dairy cows is the most important strategy to improve both milk production and reproduction during summer months. During this session, Dr. Hansen discussed opportunities that dairy farms can utilize to evaluate the effect of heat stress on their dairies. He also covered various environmental modifications that can be employed to improve cow performance. 

View the recorded webinar here.
View Dr. Hansen’s PowerPoint presentation.
 

Economics of Heat Stress: Implications for Management

Dr. Albert DeVries, University of Florida.

Heat stress costs the American dairy industry approximately 1 billion dollars annually in production losses.  In this session, Dr. Albert DeVries discussed the economic consequences of employing various strategies to reduce the effects of heat stress and how this affects the dairy farm’s profitability.  Novel economic evaluation and approaches were discussed to educate producers on cost effective strategies to improve summer fertility.

View the recorded webinar here.
View Dr. DeVries’s PowerPoint presentation.
 

Nutrition Programs for the Heat Stressed Herd

Dr. Jose Santos, University of Florida

Proper dietary programs are essential to cow health and performance during heat stress. Understanding what dietary changes can be made prior to and during summer heat stress are important for assisting thermoregulatory mechanisms of our modern high producing lactating dairy cows to aid in reducing the negative effects of heat stress. During this session, nutritional changes were presented for producers and consultants to make informed decisions on the proper dietary changes necessary to reduce the severity of summer heat stress.

View the recorded webinar here.
View Dr. Santos’s PowerPoint presentation.
 

Strategies to Improve Reproduction During Summer Heat Stress

Dr. Todd Bilby, Texas A&M

Reproductive failure is the number one reason dairy cows involuntarily leave the dairy farm and summer heat stress amplifies this costly issue. However, managerial, hormonal and novel reproductive technologies are available which will reduce the severity of summer heat stress on reproduction. The various strategies were presented in detail to educate both producers and consultants to be able to implement reproductive program changes to mitigate summer’s negative effects.

View the recorded webinar here.
View Dr. Bilby’s PowerPoint presentation.

Lameness

Can I Really Prevent My Cows from Becoming Lame?

Dr. Ernest Hovingh, Pennsylvania State University

Lameness is a painful, costly, common and complex problem – a problem with which too many dairies struggle. Dealing with a lameness problem not only involves identifying and dealing with lame cows in the herd, but trying to prevent new cases from occurring in the first place. This webinar is focused on a number of best management practices that farms can utilize to try to minimize the number of cows that become lame – even when milk prices and profit margins are low.

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Hovingh’s PowerPoint Presentation.

 

Foot Rot and Digital Dermatitis

Dr. Dave Van Metre, Colorado State University

Hear from Dr. Dave Van Metre on bovine foot rot and digital dermatitis! He covers some anatomy and explains why foot rot and digital dermatitis develop, as well as discussing ways to prevent and treat both conditions.

Watch the video on YouTube.
View Dr. Van Metre’s PowerPoint presentation.

 

How Dairy Cattle Facilities May Contribute to Lameness

Dan McFarland, Penn State University

Dan McFarland discusses how dairy facilities can contribute to lameness problems. Learn about resting and flooring surfaces, slip hazards, and how heat stress and heifer rearing can factor in.

Watch the video on YouTube.
View Dan McFarland’s PowerPoint presentation.

 

Lameness, Hoof, and Leg Issues in Dairy Cattle

Dr. Ernest Hovingh, Pennsylvania State University

During this webinar, Dr. Hovingh discussed some of the main causes of lameness and reviewed some ways to prevent production & well-being concerns.

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Ernest Hovingh’s PowerPoint presentation: Part 1 and Part 2.

 

Preventing Lameness in Dairy Cattle

Dr. Ernest Hovingh, Penn State University

Learn about lameness prevention in dairy cattle with a focus on footbaths! Dr. Hovingh discusses infectious and non-infectious lameness conditions, ideal design and placement of foot baths, appropriate solutions and handling, and more tactics to help you get the most out of this prevention tool.

Watch the video on YouTube.
View Dr. Hovingh’s PowerPoint presentation.
 

Nutritional Causes of Lameness

Dr. Robert Van Saun, Penn State university

Nutrition affects lameness and hoof health in a variety of ways. Learn about both direct and indirect impacts of nutrition, such as acidosis and metabolic diseases, as well as how interactions between nutrition and environment can play a part.

Watch the video on YouTube.
View Dr. Van Saun’s PowerPoint presentation.
 

Recognizing Lame Cows Early

Dr. Kathryn Proudfoot, The Ohio State University

Dr. Proudfoot joins us to discuss early identification of lameness in dairy cattle. Learn about how the prevalence of lameness is often underestimated, how you can improve detection, and some automated tools to aid in early detection that are currently in development.

Watch the video on YouTube.
View Dr. Proudfoot’s PowerPoint Presentation.

Mastitis and Milking Management

Better Milk Quality from Better Mastitis Therapy Decisions

Dr. Ron Erskine, Michigan State University

Mastitis is one of the biggest chronic problems facing the dairy industry- it is ever present. In this session, Dr. Ron Erskine discussed how to better identify cases of mastitis through tools such as milk culturing, somatic cell count records, and treatment records.

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Erskine’s PowerPoint presentation.

 

Implementing and Evaluating a Selective Dry Cow Therapy Program

Dr. Pamela Ruegg, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Dr. Ruegg joins us to discuss selective dry cow therapy. Learn about implementing and evaluating a program, as well as how to decide whether selective therapy might be a good fit for your operation.

Watch the video on YouTube.
View Dr. Ruegg’s PowerPoint presentation.

 

Managing Mastitis in Bred Heifers

In this webinar, Dr. Nickerson discusses the prevalence and treatment of mastitis in bred heifers, as well as several strategies for prevention. Learn about using teat seals, controlling horn fly populations, vaccinations, and feed additives that might help reduce the incidence of new infections.

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Nickerson’s PowerPoint Presentation.

 

Managing Somatic Cell Counts

This webinar deals with somatic cell counts: a brief overview of SCC, methods for identifying trouble areas and problems cows, ways to reduce SCC, and changes in acceptable bulk tank SCC.

An Introduction to Somatic Cells
Ron Erskine
Origin of somatic cells and the importance of a cow’s immunity

How to Control Mastitis and Lower Herd Milk Somatic Cell Count
Larry Fox
Keys in prevention of mastitis and practices to lower and maintain lowered SCC.

Using Records for High SCC and Mastitis Problem-Solving
Jeff Reneau
Learn to use records to identify herd mastitis trends, herd SCC trends, and individual problem cows to improve udder health and milk quality.

View the recorded webinar here.
View and download Ron Erskine’s PowerPoint presentation.
View and download Larry Fox’s PowerPoint presentation.
View and download Jeff Reneau’s PowerPoint presentation.
 

Milking System Design and Analysis

Roger Thomson, DVM, Milk Quality Consultant

The milking system is the heart of any dairy operation, and requires a lot of consideration! Dr. Thomson discussed the design and analysis of a milking system, including some reasons a producer might consider changing the milking system, frequency of evaluation, and basic system design. He also covered regular maintenance concerns and discussed the National Mastitis Council’s analysis fundamentals and goals.

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Thomson’s PowerPoint presentation.
 

New Insight Into the People Side of Milk Quality

Susan Schexnayder, University of Tennessee
In collaboration with Southeast Quality Milk Initiative.

From attitudes and perspectives to the relationship between employer and employee, Susan Schexnayder discusses new insights into the roles people can play in milk quality.

Watch the video on YouTube.
View Susan Schexnayder’s PowerPoint Presentation.

 

On-Farm Milk Culture Training Workshop

Dr. Christina Petersson-Wolfe, Virginia Tech
In collaboration with Southeast Quality Milk Initiative.

Christina Petersson-Wolfe joins us to discuss on-farm milk culturing from deciding which cows to test to using results. Learn about collecting and plating samples, identifying types of pathogens, and treatment recommendations for different types of infection.

Watch the video on YouTube.
View Dr. Petersson-Wolfe’s PowerPoint Presentation.

 

Proper Dry-Off Procedures to Prevent New Infections and Cure Existing Cases of Mastitis

Dr. Stephen Nickerson, University of Georgia

During this presentation, Dr. Nickerson discussed the keys of proper dry-off procedures for dairy cows, including:

• When to dry off
• Intermittent milking vs. complete cessation of milking
• Teat sanitation and infusion procedures
• Use of nonlactating cow therapy and/or  teat seals

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Nickerson’s PowerPoint presentation.

 

Selective Dry Cow Therapy- It’s Complicated!

Dr. Ron Erskine, Michigan State University

Dr. Erskine joins us to discuss selective dry cow therapy. Learn about some of the research around selective and blanket dry cow therapy. He also discusses tactics for implementing selective therapy, from identifying and monitoring candidates to ensuring a clean environment.

Watch the video on YouTube.
View Dr. Erskine’s PowerPoint slides.

 

“Udder”standing Mastitis from the Outside In

Dr. Robert VanSaun, Pennsylvania State University

Watch as Penn State’s Dr. Robert VanSaun uses dissection to show the physical anatomy of the mammary gland and how mastitis comes about.

Watch the video on YouTube.

Nutrient Management on Dairy Farms

Impact on Air Quality and Climate Change- Where the Dairy Industry Stands

Frank Mitloehner
John Fiscalini

During this session Dr. Frank Mitloehner discussed scientific findings as they relate to the impacts of dairy industry on environmental quality. He also summarized national and regional efforts to quantify and mitigate emissions, as well as developments in air quality regulation and litigation. John Fiscalini, a California dairy producer, discussed the more practical aspects of these issues.

View the recorded webinar.
View and download Frank Mitloehner’s PowerPoint presentation.
View and download John Fiscalini’s PowerPoint presentation.
 

How Low Can We Go: Nitrogen in Dairy Rations

Mike Van Amburgh
Mike McMahon

Dr. Mike Van Amburgh of Cornell University discussed how low we can formulate dairy rations for nitrogen, and what this means for the cost of the ration and for environmental impact. We also heard from Mike McMahon, a dairy producer, on the practical side of on-farm nitrogen management.

View the recorded webinar.
View and download Mike Van Amburgh’s PowerPoint presentation.
View and download Mike McMahon’s PowerPoint presentation.
 

Precision Phosphorus Feeding for Dairy Farms

Katharine Knowlton
Jimmy Huffard

During this session, Katharine Knowlton of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and Jimmy Huffard, a dairy producer in Virginia, discussed recent research into phosphorus requirements for dairy cattle, the bioavailability of different phosphorus sources, and how these impact the dairy farm and the environment.

View the recorded webinar.
View and download the PowerPoint file here.

Nutrition of Milking and Dry Cows

Causes and Implications of Subclinical Hypocalcemia

Jesse Goff, DVM, Ph.D.

In this session held on November 11, 2014, Dr. Goff defined subclinical hypocalcemia and its causes. He also discussed the implications of subclinical hypocalcemia on cow health, with some emphasis on immune suppression.

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Goff’s PowerPoint presentation.
 

Diagnosing Problems in Nutrition Programs Through Records

Dr. Greg Bethard, North Carolina State University

There are numerous points in a nutrition program where problems may arise, especially when you’re dealing with transition cows. In this webinar held on November 20, 2012, you can learn how to use records to track performance of transition and early lactation cows to diagnose problems in your nutrition program.

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Bethard’s PowerPoint presentation.
 

Discovering Hidden Feed Costs for the Milking Herd

Dr. Micheal Brouk, Kansas State University

Unsure of where your dairy’s feeding program might be leaking money? On November 7, 2013, Dr. Brouk discussed how you can do a little detective work to identify some common sources of unseen feed costs in a dairy herd. Just a few areas he covered included commodity shrink, mixer errors, refusals, and expense of inventory.

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Brouk’s PowerPoint presentation.
 

Feeding Lower Energy Diets to Transition Dairy Cows

Dr. Heather Dann, The Miner Institute

Hear from Dr. Heather Dann on the importance of transition cow management, and how feeding lower-energy transition diets could benefit a herd. From monitoring intake to coordinating various diets, Dr. Dann offers insights into setting cows up for success in their next lactation.

Watch the video on YouTube.
View Dr. Dann’s PowerPoint presentation.

 

Forage Fermentation: How to Make Good Silage

Limin Kung, University of Delaware

With so many variables affecting the quality of silage, it can be difficult to manage the fermentation process to produce an optimal feed. Dr. Kung covered the general factors which affect forage quality, the basic types of silage fermentation, factors that affect fermentation and silage stability, and some management practices to help in attaining high feeding value.

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Kung’s PowerPoint presentation.

 

Formulating Diets for Groups of Lactating Cows

Dr. Bill Weiss, The Ohio State University

Formulating accurate diets for lactating dairy cows requires users to input body weight, milk production, milk composition and perhaps other factors such as days in milk and parity. If you are only feeding one cow, those numbers are easy to get, but if you are formulating for a group of cows, what numbers should you use? 

This webinar covered:

• Proper cow specification inputs for various nutrients
• Factors affecting those inputs
• Grouping criteria that result in more accurate diets

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Weiss’s PowerPoint Presentation.
 

Handling High Commodity Prices

Normand St-Pierre, The Ohio State University
Dr. St-Pierre discussed how to control feed costs using various methods. These methods include: getting the full value of forage crops, purchasing ingredients that are favorably priced, inventory management, producing things that you are being paid for, managing the herd structure, cow grouping, and feed additives.

View the recorded webinar.
View and download Normand St-Pierre’s PowerPoint presentation.
 

Managing TMR Variability

Dr. Tom Oelberg, Diamond V

In this session Dr. Tom Oelberg discussed managing TMR variability through the use of TMR audits. He covered what a TMR audit is, as well as factors that affect TMR consistency such as bunker face management, overfilling, under-processing of hay, improper loading of liquid supplements, worn equipment, and under-mixing.

View the recorded webinar.
View and download Dr. Oelberg’s PowerPoint presentation.

 

Nutritional Causes of Lameness

Dr. Robert Van Saun, Penn State

Nutrition affects lameness and hoof health in a variety of ways. Learn about both direct and indirect impacts of nutrition, such as acidosis and metabolic diseases, as well as how interactions between nutrition and environment can play a part.

Watch the video on YouTube.
View Dr. Van Saun’s PowerPoint presentation.

 

Optimizing Production by Managing How Dairy Cows Eat

Dr. Trevor DeVries, University of Guelph

Despite many advances in the nutritional management of dairy cows, we know that dry matter intake is not always maximized, nor is the way feed is consumed always ideal for the cow. In this dairy video, you can learn about the role that feeding behavior has on ensuring dairy cow health and productivity, including how, when, and what cows eat of the feed provided to them. Dr. DeVries will also discuss how we use that knowledge to evaluate feeding systems, including the management of feed and the feeding area. Strategies may then be implemented that allow cattle to have good access to the feed provided to them, and consume it in manner which is conducive to good health, productivity, and welfare.

Watch the video on YouTube.
View Dr. DeVries’s PowerPoint presentation.

 

The Role of Nutrition in Reproduction

Dr. Milo Wiltbank, University of Wisconsin-Madison

In this webinar, Dr. Wiltbank discussed some studies on the effects nutrition can have on reproduction for high-efficiency dairy cattle. He talked about some important time periods to focus on, the effect of vitamin E on reproductive performance, dry period nutrition and post-partum body condition, and more,

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Wiltbank’s PowerPoint presentation.

 

Treatment and Prevention of Subclinical Hypocalcemia

Garret Oetzel, DVM

Dr. Oetzel covered various aspects of treating and preventing subclinical hypocalcemia. In addition to the efficacy of dietary means of prevention, he discussed oral calcium supplements and how the calcium source can affect response.

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Oetzel’s PowerPoint presentation.

Reproduction

Dairy Reproduction: Identifying Problems and Solutions for Your Herd

Ray Nebel, Select Sires

Many dairies experience difficulty in their reproduction programs, and a wide range of factors can affect reproductive success in a herd. In this session, Ray Nebel took a look at some of the factors that affect reproduction on dairies, including labor, nutrition, environment, and the cow herself. He also discussed how you can find and fix problems that could be affecting the success of your reproduction program.

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Nebel’s PowerPoint presentation.
 

Economic Analysis Tools for Dairy Reproduction Programs

Dr. Victor Cabrera, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Drs. Cabrera and Fricke of the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed some new economic analysis tools for dairy reproduction programs. During this session, Dr. Cabrera discussed three main decision support systems, including the UW-DairyRepro$Plus and the Dairy Reproductive Economic Analysis. These tools are openly available at http://dairymgt.info/tools.php under the Reproduction heading.

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Cabrera’s PowerPoint presentation.
 

New Tools for Dairy Reproduction Programs

Dr. Paul Fricke, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Dr. Fricke covered two areas of reproductive research that have investigated new tools for reproduction and conclude each with an economic analysis of the data. The first new tool will be the use of accelerometer systems combined with various levels of synchronization for submitting cows for first AI service. The second tool will be new methods for nonpregnancy diagnosis coupled with strategies for resynchronization of ovulation.

View the recorded webinar.
View Dr. Fricke’s PowerPoint presentation.

 

Uterine Health and Potential Connection with Genetic Variation

Dr. Klibs Galvão, University of Florida

Dr. Galvão joins us to discuss uterine diseases, their effects on fertility, and a possible genetic connection. Learn about his research methods, the detrimental effects of metritis on fertility, and which genes could be related to uterine diseases.

Watch the video on YouTube.
View Dr. Galvão’s PowerPoint presentation.