The Dairyland Initiative Podcast

Epizodai

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  Episode 46: Batch Milking 01.09.2026 27min

  What's the buzz about batch milking? Do these systems make economical sense for your herd? In this episode, we run through the numbers and discuss the pros and cons to consider when deciding if batch milking is right for you.
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  Episode 45: Revisiting Calf Housing 04.08.2026 45min

  Calf barn design and ventilation seems to be the hot topic these days, according to Courtney's inbox. This episode explores current challenges when it comes to refreshing and replacing the air in the calf microenvironment while showcasing a fresh perspective on future calf barn builds.
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  Episode 44: Transition Cow Facility Planning 07.07.2026 41min

  Successful housing and management of the cow from 21 days before and after calving is critical to the overall success of the dairy herd. The transition cow facility impacts the lactations of all of the cows in the herd, thus its design and layout warrants particular emphasis. This episode covers how to size the transition cow facility and discusses different pen management strategies to optimize cow performance and herd profitability.
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  Episode 43: Planning Large Dairy Herds 02.06.2026 31min

  Which parlor milks more cows in an hour? A rotary 72, 80, or 100? We answer that question and explore how large dairies design a farmstead plan by taking a deep dive into parlor sizing, group sizing, and barn layout to maximize parlor efficiencies and cow lying time.
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  Episode 42: Cow Comfort from The Great White North to America's Dairyland 05.05.2026 43min

  Join us as Dr. Laura Solano shares her journey from Costa Rica to Canada and then Wisconsin, and her impactful research in cow comfort, hoof care, and the human element in dairy farming. Discover insights on housing and management to improve cow welfare and farm efficiency.
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  Episode 41: How to Combat Lameness in AMS Herds 07.04.2026 35min

  Why is lameness more common in AMS herds? This episode explores the challenges and solutions for managing lameness in robotic dairy herds with specific focus on cow handling, footbath placement, and barn design to optimize rest.
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  Episode 40: Key Takeaways from the First US Dairy Welfare Roundtable 03.03.2026 36min

  For the first time in the US, 20 top researchers, farmers, and stakeholders discussed the current trends in dairy cattle welfare and looked ahead to what's next. Courtney and Nigel summarize their key takeaways from the roundtable, with timely insights on lameness, social housing, and calves.
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  Episode 39: Animal Outcome Measures 03.02.2026 36min

  How do we measure dairy cattle welfare on-farm? Simple - by looking at animal outcomes such as lameness, hocks, knees, hygiene, and other injuries to assess physical well-being. We discuss the why, the how, and the solutions to these common and observable animal-based outcome measures. 
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  Episode 38: Dairy Cattle Culling Reasons 06.01.2026 30min

  Why do dairy cows leave the herd? We answer that question and more as we explore the challenges faced by dairy farmers in making culling decisions, the importance of accurate record keeping, and the correlation between health events and culling reasons.
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  Episode 37: The Evolution of Dairy Cattle Welfare 09.12.2025 40min

  We dive into the evolution of dairy cattle welfare, tracing its roots from the 1960's to today, and explore how legislative approaches in Europe contrast with consumer-driven changes in North America, sparked by undercover videos and industry responses like the FARM and ProAction programs. The discussion highlights major milestones, including the end of tail docking, improved handling of down cows, and the growing emphasis on pain management and enrichment. Looking ahead, we examine how we can balance science, ethics, and consumer expectations as the industry shifts towards more process-based welfare standards.
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  Episode 36: Claw Horn Lesion Development 11.11.2025 33min

  This episode touches on one of the famous five hoof lesions in dairy cattle - sole ulcers, also known as "standing up disease." From the early misconceptions of sole ulcers being caused by nutritional deficiencies to our current understanding of the role of the environment on sole ulcers, Dr. Cook digs through the research to discover that standing time leads to increased lameness.
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  Episode 35: Flooring Options for Dairy Barns 14.10.2025 33min

  The standing and walking surfaces that cows are exposed to between lying bouts have a significant impact on their well-being, especially when it comes to their risk for lameness. In this episode, we look at the variation between flooring types, the pros and cons of concrete and rubber, and how to ensure that the flooring isn't slippery, abrasive, or traumatic to cows' hooves.
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  Episode 34: Digital Dermatitis and Artificial Intelligence 16.09.2025 34min

  Dr. Dörte Döpfer sits down with us for a conversation exploring the intersection of digital dermatitis (DD) and artificial intelligence (AI) in dairy cattle. We begin by talking about how not all lesions are created equal and ways to prevent and treat DD before discussing how we can leverage AI to enhance the detection and management of DD.
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  Episode 33: How to Cool Cows with Water 02.09.2025 31min

  Depending on the situation and location, water can be an effective way to cool cows by enhancing cooling through soaking the cow directly or using a fine mist or evaporative cooling pad to cool the air before it reaches the cow. This episode discusses the various ways to cool cows with water and the pros and cons of each so that you can use water strategically and efficiently on farm.
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  Episode 32: Cooling Cows with Water - Myth vs. Fact 19.08.2025 28min

  Dr. Jennifer Van Os is back to help us bust some myths about using water to cool cows specifically focusing on the difference between soaking vs. misting, water droplet size, and how cows behave around water.
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  Episode 31: Summer PPTV Systems 05.08.2025 36min

  Is summer PPTV the next "hot" topic? Our opinion may be a bit "inflated," but we think you’re going to be a big "fan" of these systems! This episode highlights the latest heat abatement research using PPTV to provide fast moving air to calves with tips on how to design the PPTV system. 
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  Episode 30: Calf Heat Stress 22.07.2025 41min

  Heat stress in cows has long been recognized, but what about in calves? Dr. Jimena Laporta opens our eyes to the importance of cooling calves and discusses on farm heat abatement strategies and how to know if they're working.
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  Episode 29: Thermodynamics of Cow Cooling 08.07.2025 35min

  Dr. Jennifer Van Os joins us to talk about dairy cow welfare as it relates to heat stress with specific focus on the limitations of using the temperature humidity index (THI) to assess individual cow responses. Understanding thermal comfort and how cows respond individually to heat stress allows us to intervene and better manage our cow cooling strategies.
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  Episode 28: Extreme Makeover - Freestall Edition 24.06.2025 31min

  Dr. Cook takes a walk down memory lane, reminiscing about the days when herds were moving out of tiestall facilities and into freestall barns and expanding herd size. As herds got larger, mature cows didn't perform as well as relative to the heifers. But why? Poor cow comfort was holding these herds back so Dr. Cook got into the remodeling business. Hear how to remodel barns so that cow comfort doesn't hold back milk production.
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  Episode 27: Productive Life 10.06.2025 31min

  Do cows need to live for five lactations? It's a question being asked around the world. We look for answers to that question by exploring current trends in cow longevity and turnover rates, and discuss the impact of breeding and management decisions on culling strategies.