In this episode of The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Gerard Cramer, Professor at the University of Minnesota, discusses dairy cattle lameness and hoof health. He explores the impact of chronic cases, the importance of strategic trimming, and how veterinary professionals can manage lameness more effectively. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The chronic cases, especially ones that have had hoof lesions like sore ulcers and white lines, need to be trimmed more regularly, about every 3 to 6 months."

Meet the guest: Dr. Gerard Cramer is a Professor of Dairy Production Medicine at the University of Minnesota. He holds a DVM and a DVSc in Ruminant Health Management from the University of Guelph. With a strong focus on hoof health, Dr. Cramer has led numerous studies and initiatives on dairy cattle lameness. He is deeply committed to advancing the diagnosis and management of lameness through both preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:00) Introduction
• (01:45) Getting into lameness
• (03:36) Trimming schools
• (04:47) Preventative vs. therapeutic trimming
• (06:50) Chronic vs. new lameness
• (09:19) Managing chronic cases
• (10:26) Closing thoughts

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast

Instagram: The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast

LinkedIn: The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Benjamin Enger from Ohio State University explains how understanding the cow's innate immune response is key to managing mastitis more effectively. He discusses when intervention may do more harm than good and the impact of early anti-inflammatory use. Get practical insights on host-pathogen interactions and evidence-based treatment timing. Listen now on all major platforms!

"If you intervene and it blights the cows' effectiveness with her neutrophil response, you're going to potentially prolong the disease."

Meet the guest: Dr. Benjamin Enger earned his M.S. in Animal Sciences from Washington State University and a Ph.D. in Dairy Science from Virginia Tech. He now serves as an Associate Professor at The Ohio State University, where his research focuses on mastitis pathology and mammary gland development in heifers and cows.

Click here to read the full research articles:

Effects of oyster glycogen intramammary challenge on primiparous cow milk somatic cell counts, milk yields, and milk composition

Localized mammary gland changes in milk composition and venous blood metabolite concentrations result from sterile subclinical mastitis

Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:56) Introduction
• (01:36) Guest background
• (04:03) Mastitis treatment timing
• (04:51) Innate immune response
• (06:07) Evidence-based protocols
• (08:10) Steroid impact discussion
• (09:59) Closing thoughts

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast

Instagram: The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast

LinkedIn: The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Stephen LeBlanc from the University of Guelph explores the latest on metritis, discussing advancements in diagnosing and treating uterine infections. Dr. LeBlanc also explores the role of timed AI programs and multiple prostaglandin treatments in managing uterine health and their impact on the reproductive tract. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Any cow that goes through metritis or other fresh cow health problems is paying a price, with pregnancy rates dropping by 10 to 15 percentage points."

Meet the guest: Dr. Stephen LeBlanc is a Professor at the University of Guelph and Director of the Centre for Dairy Research & Innovation. His research primarily focuses on dairy cattle health, particularly in reproductive performance and metabolic diseases. Dr. LeBlanc's work integrates animal science, applied physiology, and veterinary medicine to improve dairy cattle management and productivity.

Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:30) Introduction
• (01:51) Diagnosing uterine infections
• (03:44) Fever vs. diagnosis
• (06:03) Treatment strategies
• (08:54) Impact of timed AI protocols
• (09:57) Prostaglandins and reproductive health
• (11:41) Closing thoughts

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast

Instagram: The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast

LinkedIn: The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Kirby Krogstad from The Ohio State University shares strategies to improve bunk management in dairy operations. He explains how feed timing, push-up frequency, and written protocols directly impact rumen health and herd productivity. Learn practical tools like feed audits and camera monitoring to evaluate consistency. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Every dairy should implement basic bunk audits using cameras and particle separators to identify feeding consistency and performance gaps."

Meet the guest: Dr. Kirby Krogstad is an Assistant Professor of Dairy Nutrition at The Ohio State University. He holds a BS from South Dakota State University, an MS from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and a PhD from Michigan State University. His research focuses on dairy cattle nutrition, gut health, and inflammation, while his extension work supports sustainable and efficient feeding practices.

Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:46) Introduction
• (01:47) Bunk management strategies
• (02:51) Feed push-up timing
• (03:53) Feed audit recommendations
• (06:11) Monitoring feed delivery
• (08:21) Final management advice
• (09:32) Final Questions

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast

Instagram: The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast

LinkedIn: The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Geoff Dahl from the University of Florida shares the long-term impact of late gestation heat stress in utero on dairy calves and dry cow productivity. He discusses management strategies to reduce stress effects and improve herd longevity. Learn how nutritional approaches like choline supplementation may influence immune and reproductive organ development. Listen now on all major platforms!

"There are some significant negative effects on calves when they experience heat stress in utero."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Geoff Dahl is the Harriet B. Weeks Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Florida. He holds a Ph.D. in Animal Science from Michigan State University, an M.S. in Dairy Science from Virginia Tech, and a B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Massachusetts.

Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:02) Introduction
• (02:33) Heat stress impact
• (02:41) In utero losses
• (04:04) Dry cow exposure
• (07:09) Choline supplementation
• (08:40) Research results insights
• (10:44) Closing thoughts

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast

Instagram: The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast

LinkedIn: The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Stephen Wadsworth from the University of Vermont shares how the CREAM program helps shape future dairy veterinarians through hands-on experience and community building. He highlights the value of early exposure to large animal care, personal development, and applied herd management in dairy education. Learn how experiential learning is shaping the future of dairy health. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Students learn that being on time for 3:30 a.m. milking teaches responsibility, commitment, and the value of hard work."

Meet the guest: Dr. Stephen Wadsworth is a longtime dairy veterinarian and currently serves as a lecturer and director of the CREAM program at the University of Vermont. With over 40 years of field experience, his focus includes herd management, student education, and community leadership in dairy health.

Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:57) Introduction
• (01:52) Experiential student learning
• (03:07) Dairy herd management
• (04:17) Workforce development skills
• (05:06) Community and character building
• (08:23) Animal handling basics
• (10:50) Closing thoughts

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast

Instagram: The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast

LinkedIn: The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Anne-Marieke Smid shares insights on what outdoor access means for dairy cattle. She talks about how cows respond to different environments, what farmers think about letting cows outside, and how weather, infrastructure, and public opinion all play a role. Learn how these factors affect both animal welfare and milk production. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"Cows want to work as hard to go outside to pasture, even though they still have their TMR and all their water inside."

Meet the guest: Dr. Anne-Marieke Smid earned her Ph.D. in Animal Welfare from the University of British Columbia and holds an M.Sc. in Animal Production Systems from Wageningen University. She is a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Calgary, where her research focuses on dairy farmers' perspectives and the welfare impacts of outdoor access for dairy cattle.

Click here to read the full research articles:

Dairy cow preference for different types of outdoor access

Dairy cow preference for access to an outdoor pack in summer and winter

Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:34) Introduction
• (01:26) Career pathways
• (02:50) Cattle's outdoor preference
• (03:66) Impact of environment
• (05:44) Barn vs pasture feeding
• (09:10) Public vs farmer views
• (13:00) Closing thoughts

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast

Instagram: The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast

LinkedIn: The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Kirby Krogstad from The Ohio State University discusses the complexity of rumen health and its relationship to dairy cow performance and systemic inflammation. He outlines the current research on rumen tissue and immune cell behavior and shares practical strategies for evaluating gut health on-farm. Listen now on all major platforms!

"A healthy rumen is effectively and efficiently digesting feed, producing VFA and microbial protein while maintaining its protective barrier function."

Meet the guest: Dr. Kirby Krogstad is an Assistant Professor of Dairy Nutrition at The Ohio State University. He holds degrees from South Dakota State University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Michigan State University. His research explores dairy cattle nutrition, ruminant gut health, and systemic inflammation. Focused on improving dairy sustainability and efficiency, he brings practical and research-based insights to the field.

Click here to read the full research articles:

Associations of body condition score, body condition score change, and hyperketonemia with mastitis, reproduction, and milk production

Investigating ruminal resident immune cells in dairy cattle before and after a subacute ruminal acidosis challenge

On-farm supplementation of rumen-protected niacin: A randomized clinical trial

Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:36) Introduction
• (01:56) Defining rumen health
• (02:66) On-farm assessments
• (05:03) Health and nutrition link
• (06:63) Latest research topics
• (09:36) Final recommendations
• (10:12) Closing thoughts

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast

Instagram: The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast

LinkedIn: The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast