The Moos Room Podcast
Persistent link for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/11299/218781
Hosted by members of the University of Minnesota Extension Beef and Dairy Teams, The Moos Room discusses relevant topics to help beef and dairy producers be more successful. The information is evidence-based and presented as an informal conversation between the hosts and guests.
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Item Episode 276 - Cracking the Coccidiosis Code: A Calf’s Story and What We Learned - UMN Extension's The Moos Room(2025-01-06) Heins, Brad; Armstrong, Joe; Krekelberg, EmilyIn the first episode of 2025, Brad dives into a real-life case study of a calf that succumbed to coccidiosis at the University of Minnesota's research center. Learn about the symptoms, causes, and prevention of this parasitic disease, along with insights on how early detection and better management practices can make all the difference. This episode is packed with valuable tips for improving calf health and leveraging technology to catch illness early. Don’t miss it! Coccidiosis of Cattle (https://www.merckvetmanual.com/digestive-system/coccidiosis/coccidiosis-of-cattle)Item Episode 277 - Cold Weather, Hot Risks: Winter Barn Fire Safety - UMN Extension's The Moos Room(2025-01-13) Heins, Brad; Armstrong, Joe; Krekelberg, EmilyIn this episode, Emily and Brad discuss winter barn fire prevention, highlighting common causes such as outdated wiring and heating equipment. They share real-life stories, practical tips for maintaining safety, and the importance of annual inspections, clean barns, fire extinguishers, and emergency action plans. Don’t let a preventable fire impact your farm—tune in for actionable advice to keep your barns and animals safe this winter! Barn Fire Statistics (https://awionline.org/content/barn-fires); Barn Fire Report 2025 (https://awionline.org/sites/default/files/publication/digital_download/AWI-Barn-Fires-2025.pdf)Item Episode 278 - Frozen but Focused: Staying Safe on the Farm This Winter - UMN Extension's The Moos Room(2025-01-20) Heins, Brad; Armstrong, Joe; Krekelberg, EmilyIn this solo episode of The Moos Room, Emily discusses essential cold weather safety tips for farmers and agricultural workers. With below-zero temperatures in Minnesota, Emily emphasizes the importance of recognizing cold stress symptoms like hypothermia and frostbite, dressing in proper moisture-wicking layers, and using safe heating practices. She shares practical advice on layering clothing, protecting extremities, and managing tasks during extreme cold. Emily also highlights winter safety resources from the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center and the UMN Extension. Stay safe and warm this winter! Dress for Winter Success-UMASH (https://umash.umn.edu/spotlight-dress-for-winter-success), Cold Stress Toolkit-UMASH (https://umash.umn.edu/coldstress/)Item Episode 279 - Cracking the Code: Dairy Genetics, Net Merit Updates, and Cold-Weather Cows with Katie Schmitt - UMN Extension's The Moos Room(2025-01-27) Heins, Brad; Armstrong, Joe; Krekelberg, EmilyIn this episode of The Moos Room, Brad and Emily are joined by Katie Schmitt from the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) to discuss the organization's role in managing genetic evaluations and the National Cooperator Database. Katie, a Minnesota native, shares insights into the CDCB's work, including their transition from USDA oversight to an independent nonprofit, ensuring the stewardship of dairy cattle data. Key topics include the upcoming April 2025 updates to Net Merit, which will adjust economic weights to better reflect the current dairy market, and the base change, which will shift genetic evaluations to reflect progress based on cows born in 2020 rather than 2015. The episode covers the importance of data collection for genetic improvement, how farmers can contribute valuable performance data, and exciting new traits on the horizon, such as milking speed and calf health.Listeners also enjoy some fun moments with the classic Moos Room “super secret” questions, where Katie reveals her favorite beef and dairy breeds, adding to the ongoing tally. For more information, listeners are encouraged to visit the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) website at uscdcb.com and subscribe to their newsletter for regular updates.Item Episode 280 - Navigating H5N1: What Dairy Farmers Need to Know About Upcoming Milk Testing - UMN Extension's The Moos Room(2025-02-03) Heins, Brad; Armstrong, Joe; Krekelberg, EmilyIn this episode of The Moos Room, hosts Emily and Brad tackle the latest updates on H5N1 (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) and its impact on the dairy industry. With raw milk testing set to begin in Minnesota, they break down what dairy producers need to know about the testing process, quarantine protocols, and potential impacts on farm operations. Key Topics Covered: Delays in Minnesota's milk testing rollout and what it means for producers; Overview of the USDA’s national milk testing program and its implementation in Minnesota; Current H5N1 status across the U.S., with a focus on California and Minnesota; Step-by-step look at how raw milk samples are collected and tested; Quarantine measures and biosecurity protocols if a positive case is detected; Human health precautions and the availability of PPE for dairy workers. Whether you're in Minnesota or another state, this episode provides valuable insights into H5N1 monitoring efforts and how to keep your dairy operation running smoothly amidst evolving challenges. Tune in to stay informed and prepared! Beef on Dairy Raw Milk Testing Update (https://www.mda.state.mn.us/business-dev-loans-grants/h5n1-avian-influenza-dairy-cattle), MN Board of Animal Health Website (https://www.bah.state.mn.us/)Item Episode 281 - Beef-on-Dairy Crossbreeding: What Every Dairy Farmer Should Know (Part 1) - UMN Extension's The Moos Room(2025-02-10) Heins, Brad; Armstrong, Joe; Krekelberg, EmilyBrad takes the mic solo this week to dive into a hot topic in dairy farming—beef on dairy crossbreeding. In this first part of a two-part series, he breaks down current market trends, semen sales data, and recent research on how beef genetics are being used in dairy herds. Key highlights include: The growth of beef-on-dairy crossbreeding and its impact on both the dairy and beef industries; Market insights, including beef inventory trends and projected shifts in cattle slaughter; The economics behind beef-cross calves—why dairy farmers are seeing higher prices and how this impacts profitability; A look at breed selection: Is Angus really the best choice, or should dairy farmers consider other breeds?; Recent studies from Wisconsin and Penn State on how different beef sire breeds affect carcass quality, feed efficiency, and marbling. Next week, Brad will share findings from Minnesota’s own beef-on-dairy research, including carcass data from five different breeds. Stay tuned!Item Episode 282 - Beef on Dairy: Which Breed Performs Best? Growth, Efficiency, and Carcass Insights - UMN Extension's The Moos Room(2025-02-17) Heins, Brad; Armstrong, Joe; Krekelberg, EmilyIn this episode of The Moos Room, Brad continues the deep dive into beef-on-dairy research, focusing on data collected in Minnesota. This is the second installment of a three-part series, where we examine how different beef breeds perform when crossed with dairy cattle. Beef on Dairy Key highlights include: Beef on Dairy Pre-Weaning Performance: Limousin crossbred calves showed greater growth efficiency than Holstein calves, consuming less milk while gaining more weight. Beef on Dairy Breed Comparisons: Angus, Simmental, Charolais, Hereford, and Limousin crosses were evaluated from birth through harvest. Hereford calves had the highest weaning weights, while Charolais and Simmental showed strong growth through finishing. Beef on Dairy Carcass Data: Charolais and Hereford yielded the heaviest carcasses, while Limousin crosses had the largest ribeye areas. Angus and Hereford crosses finished the fastest, reaching market weight in fewer days. Beef on Dairy Meat Quality & Economics: Most animals graded Choice, with some achieving Prime. Economic analysis showed that Charolais and Hereford crosses brought in the highest total revenue due to their larger carcass sizes.Next week, we’ll wrap up the series by exploring the role of genomics in beef-on-dairy systems. Tune in to find out if genomic testing is worth it for terminal animals!Item Episode 283 - Beef on Dairy: Unlocking Genomics, Genetics, and Sire Secrets - UMN Extension's The Moos Room(2025-02-24) Heins, Brad; Armstrong, Joe; Krekelberg, EmilyIn this final episode of The Moos Room’s three-part Beef on Dairy series, Brad dives into the genetics and genomics of beef-on-dairy crosses. He breaks down the results of genomic testing on 50 crossbred animals, highlighting how breed composition influences carcass traits, marbling, and growth rates.Brad explains how new genomic tools, such as Neogen’s identity profile, can help farmers predict carcass weight, average daily gain, and marbling potential early in an animal’s life. While the test worked well for supported breeds like Angus and Simmental, results for Charolais and other breeds were inconsistent due to database limitations.The episode also covers sire differences, showing how genetic selection significantly impacts final carcass quality. Brad discusses his own approach to selecting beef sires for dairy cows—prioritizing calving ease and ribeye area over growth rate. He emphasizes that understanding sire variability is key to optimizing beef-on-dairy performance. Finally, Brad explores how genomic testing could help feedlot management, allowing producers to sort and feed cattle based on their genetic potential, potentially increasing profitability. However, the cost-effectiveness of testing for terminal animals remains an open question. Beef on Dairy Tune in to learn how genomics is shaping the future of beef-on-dairy production!Item Episode 270 - How Sensors Are Revolutionizing Calf Care- UMN Extension's The Moos Room(2024-12-02) Heins, Brad; Armstrong, Joe; Krekelberg, EmilyIn this episode of The Moos Room, we dive into the world of dairy calf monitoring with cutting-edge sensor technologies. We explore how tools like CowManager, ST Genetics FarmFit, and Merck's SenseHub Dairy are transforming calf health management. Plus, we share insights from the latest research at the University of Minnesota WCROC Dairy, highlighting how these technologies are being applied in real-world settings. Tune in to learn how these innovations are shaping the future of calf care! Cowmanager Lifetime Monitoring (https://www.cowmanager.com/lifetime-monitoring/); Merck SenseHub Dairy Younstock (https://merck.sensehub.global/dairy-youngstock/); ST Farmfit (https://stfarmfit.com/)Item Episode 271 - H5N1 Update - USDA Begins National Milk Testing Strategy - UMN Extension's The Moos Room(2024-12-07) Heins, Brad; Armstrong, Joe; Krekelberg, EmilyUSDA Announces New Federal Order, Begins National Milk Testing Strategy to Address H5N1 in Dairy Herds Beef on Dairy New Federal Order Will Require National Milk Testing and Support State Officials and Dairy Regulators; Builds on Actions to Protect Farms, Farmworkers and Communities from H5N1 Avian Influenza. USDA Press Release (https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2024/12/06/usda-announces-new-federal-order-begins-national-milk-testing); National Milk Testing Strategy (https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-livestock/testing); Roadmap: National Milk Testing Strategy (https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/national-milk-testing-strategy-5-stages.v2.pdf); Enhance Biosecurity (https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock/enhance-biosecurity); USDA APHIS Website (https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock); FDA Updates Page (https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/updates-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-hpai); MN Board of Animal Health Website (https://www.bah.state.mn.us/)Item Episode 272 - ManureDB: Updating the Science of Manure, One Sample at a Time - UMN Extension's The Moos Room(2024-12-09) Heins, Brad; Armstrong, Joe; Krekelberg, EmilyWe’re diving into the creation and purpose of ManureDB, a groundbreaking database developed to modernize and enhance the accuracy of manure book values in the U.S. With most current values dating back to pre-2003 samples, researchers at the University of Minnesota, led by Drs. Melissa Wilson and Erin Cortus, received a NIFA grant to address this gap. ManureDB is a dynamic tool built in partnership with the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, allowing users to sort and analyze manure data by year, animal type, storage method, and region. ManureDB database (http://manuredb.umn.edu/)Item Episode 273 - Seeing Lameness: How Camera Technology is Changing Dairy Cow Care - UMN Extension's The Moos Room(2024-12-16) Heins, Brad; Armstrong, Joe; Krekelberg, EmilyIn this episode of The Moos Room, we dive into cutting-edge research on a camera-based technology for detecting lameness in dairy cattle. Lameness is a significant issue impacting animal welfare and the economic sustainability of dairy farms. We discuss a recent study that evaluated how autonomous locomotion scoring aligns with hoof health data, highlighting its potential for early lesion detection. Tune in as we explore what this means for improving dairy herd health and minimizing labor-intensive monitoring on farms. Descriptive evaluation of a camera-based dairy cattle lameness detection technology (https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(24)01017-8/fulltext); Evaluating cow identification reliability of a camera-based locomotion and body condition scoring system in dairy cows (https://www.jdscommun.org/article/S2666-9102(24)00186-8/fulltext)Item Episode 274 - Chillin' Through the Holidays: Beating Winter Blues and Stress on the Farm - UMN Extension's The Moos Room(2024-12-23) Heins, Brad; Armstrong, Joe; Krekelberg, EmilyThe holiday season can be a joyful time, but it also brings unique challenges for farmers managing livestock and family life in the depths of winter. In this episode of The Moos Room, we tackle the stress and winter blues that often accompany shorter days, colder temperatures, and holiday demands. Join us as we share practical tips for staying resilient, maintaining mental health, and finding joy during this bustling time of year—both in the barn and at home. Stress and Crisis: Get Help Now (https://www.mda.state.mn.us/about/mnfarmerstress/copingstress); Coping with Farm and Rural Stress (https://www.mda.state.mn.us/about/mnfarmerstress)Item Episode 275 - Cows, Chaos, and Chuckles: 2024 in Review - UMN Extension's The Moos Room(2024-12-30) Heins, Brad; Armstrong, Joe; Krekelberg, EmilyJoin us for The Moos Room's epic year-end wrap-up! We’re looking back at 2024’s biggest highlights, revisiting key episodes, and sharing what’s ahead for the world of agriculture. From exciting research on dairy-beef crossbreeding and agrivoltaics to breakthroughs in calf and heifer feed efficiency, methane emissions, and fatty acid profiles, we’ve got plenty to explore. Plus, we tackle important topics like mental health in farming communities. And, of course, you won’t want to miss the hilarious outtakes featuring Brad, Emily, and Joe—because what’s The Moos Room without a little chaos and laughter? Tune in for a moo-velous mix of insight, fun, and reflection!Item Episode 262 - Cover Crops & Virtual Fences Unleashed with Miranda Meehan (NDSU) on The Moos Room!(2024-10-21)In this episode of The Moos Room, we’re joined by Miranda Meehan from North Dakota State University (NDSU) to explore an innovative project that evaluates how virtual fencing technology can enhance grazing efficiency on annual forages. Tune in as we discuss the benefits of these emerging grazing tools, how they work, and their potential to optimize pasture management for farmers and ranchers. Dr. Ryan Reuter - Oklahoma State University Virtual Fence Cost Comparison (https://reuter.shinyapps.io/vfcostr/)Item Episode 263 - Calf Rearing: The Ultimate Showdown Between Individual, Pair, Group, and Dam-Raised Housing!(2024-10-28)Brad Heins dives into an insightful calf-rearing project at the University of Minnesota Morris dairy herd, exploring the impacts of different rearing methods: individual housing, paired housing, group housing, and calves raised directly on cows. Heins discusses the benefits, challenges, and key findings from each approach, offering valuable insights for dairy farmers seeking to optimize calf health, social development, and growth performance. Group Rearing of Calves at the UMN WCROC (https://wcroc.cfans.umn.edu/research/dairy/group-feeding-calves); Calf Rearing Systems at the WCROC - Youtube Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbkCzV99gR4); Calf Rearing for Organic Dairy Herds - YouTube Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmzyP7mADXc); Basic care practices for healthy calves (https://extension.umn.edu/dairy-youngstock/healthy-calves)Item Episode 264 - Low Colostrum Yield in Holstein and Especially Jersey Cows: Seasonal Concern or Common Challenge?(2024-11-04)If you have Jersey or Holstein cows, have you noticed that they tend to produce less colostrum during the fall and winter months? In some cases, this reduction is reported as a complete lack of colostrum. Despite these observations, the causes remain largely unknown. Join Brad and Emily along with Pete Erickson, from University of New Hampshire and Tess Stahl from Rutgers University to discuss colostrum yield in cows.Housing?? Could it just be that simple. Listen to end to here thoughts that it may just be about keeping cows indoors in the winter! Creating models for the prediction of colostrum quantity, quality, and immunoglobulin G yield in multiparous Jersey cows from performance in the previous lactation and environmental changes - Journal of Dairy Science article (https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(24)00049-3/fulltext)Item Episode 266 - Forage Focus: The Role of Red Clover in Diets and Herd Health(2024-11-11)Today, we’re diving into the lush world of red clover and its game-changing impact on dairy rations. We talk with Juan Romero, Forage Specialist at the University of Maine, and recurring guest, Glenda Pereira, University of Maine Dairy Extension Specialist. We’ll explore how Freedom Red Clover boosts forage quality, why hitting that sweet spot of at least seven layers for baleage wrapping is non-negotiable, and the consequences of jumping the gun on opening your silo or pile. Plus, we’ll break down the fascinating role of phytoestrogens in your herd’s diet. Don’t miss this clover-packed episode—let’s get started! Maine Farmcast - Glenda Pereira's Podcast from The University of Maine Cooperative Extension (https://extension.umaine.edu/podcasts/maine-farmcast/); Juan Romero Nutrition Research (https://umaine.edu/animal-pfas/)Item Episode 265 - H5N1 Update - H5N1 in Pigs and Additional Bulk Milk Tank Surveillance and Biosecurity Practices(2024-11-07)H5N1 virus found in a pig and USDA announces more bulk tank milk surveillance for H5N1. Remember biosecurity practices are the best way to limit the spread of H5N1. Enhance Biosecurity (https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock/enhance-biosecurity); Dairy Herd Status Program (https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/vs-hpai-dairy-herd-status-program.pdf); MN FAQ Document (https://www.bah.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/documents/H5N1inDairyFrequentlyAskedQs.pdf); UMN Extension News (https://extension.umn.edu/animals-and-livestock/animals-and-livestock-news); USDA APHIS – Website (https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock); FDA Updates Page (https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/updates-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-hpai); MN Board of Animal Health – Website (https://www.bah.state.mn.us/)Item Episode 269 - Beyond the Basics: Unlocking DHIA’s Hidden Insights – Fatty Acids, RFID, and More!(2024-11-25)Dive into the evolving world of DHIA! This episode explores milk fatty acids, ELISA testing for Johne's and Leukosis, new RFID tags for official ID, cutting-edge DHIA meters, and more. Discover how DHIA is more than just milk, fat, protein, and SCC—it's the future of herd management! Minnesota DHIA (https://www.mndhia.org/); National DHIA (https://dhia.org/)