In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Gaelan Combs, a PhD student at Iowa State University, discusses the impact of dexamethasone pre-treatment on metabolism and productivity during a systemic immune challenge. He examines how inflammation affects productivity and why immune activation involves more than just inflammatory markers. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Inflammation is one of the key responses that happens when the immune system is activated, but it’s not the only factor involved."

Meet the guest: Gaelan Combs is a PhD student in Animal Nutrition at Iowa State University, where his research focuses on immune activation and its metabolic effects in dairy cattle. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Dairy Science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he conducted undergraduate research in dairy nutrition.

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What will you learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:24) Introduction
• (03:31) Immune activation effects
• (04:06) Inflammation and productivity
• (04:51) Dexamethasone's role explained
• (06:19) LPS challenge model
• (11:19) Inflammation vs immune activation
• (13:24) Closing thoughts

The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:

* Adisseo

* Priority IAC

* Fortiva

- Virtus Nutrition

- Kemin

- Zinpro

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of the Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Jeff Tikofsky from Zinpro shares insights on how isoacids support rumen function and microbial protein synthesis. He explains how balanced nutrition strategies can improve fiber digestion, nitrogen use, and overall herd performance, particularly during the transition period. Get practical takeaways to help your herd make the most of every pound of feed. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Isoacid supplementation enhances fiber degradation and helps cows extract more energy from feed."

Meet the guest: Jeff Tikofsky is a Dairy Technical Nutritionist at Zinpro Performance Minerals, bringing decades of experience in dairy nutrition, technical support, and mentorship. With a Master of Science degree from Cornell University, under the guidance of Dr. Mike Van Amburgh, he has built a career focused on advancing rumen function, microbial efficiency, and producer success.

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Dr. Andrew LaPierre: Isoacids in Cattle Diet | Ep. 79

What will you learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:29) Introduction
• (02:52) Isoacids' role
• (03:47) Rumen fermentation
• (04:59) Product benefits
• (06:29) When isoacids work best
• (07:50) Microbial synthesis
• (09:56) Closing thoughts

The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:

Zinpro

* Adisseo

* Priority IAC

* Fortiva

- Virtus Nutrition

- Kemin

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. José Eduardo Santos from the University of Florida continues exploring the science behind choline and its role in improving dairy cow performance. He explains the importance of rumen-protected choline, breaks down updated research on bioavailability, ideal dosage, and interactions with nutrients like methionine. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The rumen microbes tend to destroy more than 90% of the choline in dietary ingredients or when supplemented as choline chloride."

Meet the guest: Dr. José Eduardo P. Santos is a Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Florida, with a DVM from São Paulo State University and graduate degrees from the University of Arizona. His work focuses on improving health and performance in transition cows through nutritional strategies.

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Dr. Elliot Neto: Amino Acids & Dairy Efficiency | Ep. 76

What will you learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:08) Introduction
• (01:43) Rumen-protected choline
• (06:19) Measuring bioavailability
• (09:22) Effectiveness of protected choline
• (11:14) Optimal choline dose
• (16:48) Key takeaways on choline
• (21:02) Closing thoughts

The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:

Kemin

* Priority IAC

* Adisseo

- Virtus Nutrition

- Zinpro

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. José Eduardo Santos from the University of Florida explores the science behind choline and its essential functions in dairy cows. He explains its role in lipid metabolism, fatty liver prevention, and reproductive health, with practical insights on supplementation strategies. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Choline’s hallmark role is transporting lipids in blood, preventing fatty liver."

Meet the guest: Dr. José Eduardo P. Santos is a Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Florida, with a DVM from São Paulo State University and graduate degrees from the University of Arizona. His work focuses on improving health and performance in transition cows through nutritional strategies.

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Dr. Elliot Neto: Amino Acids & Dairy Efficiency | Ep. 76

What will you learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:41) Introduction
• (02:16) Guest background
• (03:39) Choline's physiological roles
• (06:41) Choline’s major role
• (09:01) Practical outcomes
• (11:53) Supplementation benefits
• (13:32) Closing thoughts

The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:

Kemin

* Adisseo

* Priority IAC

- Zinpro

- Virtus Nutrition

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this special rerun episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. William Brown from Kansas State University shares his research on high-protein corn co-products as alternatives to soybean meal in dairy calf starters. He explains the nutritional value, digestibility, and economic implications of these innovative feed ingredients. Learn how early calf nutrition impacts long-term performance and discover the potential benefits of using corn co-products. Listen now on all major platforms!

"We saw that calves on the high-protein corn product grew more and had greater average daily gain."

Meet the guest: Dr. William Brown is an Assistant Professor at Kansas State University, specializing in dairy cattle nutrition. He holds a Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the University of Illinois, where he focused on improving nutritional strategies for dairy production. His research explores feed efficiency, growth performance, and the use of alternative feed ingredients in dairy systems.

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

What will you learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:11) Introduction
• (03:11) Corn co-products for calf starters
• (04:47) High-protein corn co-product
• (07:06) Balancing amino acids
• (08:50) Study results
• (11:17) Cost-benefit analysis of co-products
• (13:41) Closing thoughts

The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:

* Priority IAC

* Adisseo

- Zinpro

- Virtus Nutrition

- Kemin

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Joao Dorea from the University of Wisconsin–Madison talks about how artificial intelligence is changing the way dairy herds are managed. He shares real-world examples of AI in action, from body condition scoring to virtual assistants that answer farmers’ questions, and explains how these tools can work for both large and small operations. Learn how AI can support better decisions in nutrition, health, and daily management. Listen now on all major platforms!

"We are dedicated to developing and implementing AI technologies to monitor animals at scale and improve nutrition, health, and welfare."

Meet the guest: Dr. Joao Dorea is an Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, specializing in developing and implementing artificial intelligence technologies for dairy and livestock production. He earned his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Animal Science from the University of São Paulo in Brazil. His work focuses on computer vision, image analysis, and animal-level monitoring to improve nutrition, health, and welfare outcomes.

Click here to read the full research article!

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Dr. Sabine Mann: Protein Feeding in Transition Cows | Ep. 78

Jacob Copelin: Managing Milk Fat Depression | Ep. 83

What will you learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:03) Introduction
• (02:59) AI applications in dairy
• (03:48) Benefits for farmers
• (06:49) Tools for small farms
• (09:18) Virtual assistants use
• (10:35) Training future specialists
• (13:47) Closing thoughts

The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:

* Adisseo

* Priority IAC

- Kemin

- Zinpro

- Virtus Nutrition

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Victoria Ramos from Cornell University shares the results of a study evaluating the effects of dietary fatty acids on methane emissions and milk production in dairy cows. She explains how different fat sources interact with fiber and starch in both isoenergetic and non-isoenergetic diets. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The purpose of the research was to look at different dietary fatty acid products to see the effects of methane emissions."

Meet the guest: Victoria Ramos is a Master’s student in Animal Science at Cornell University with research focused on reducing methane emissions through diet manipulation in dairy cows. Her academic and research experience spans animal behavior, nutrition, and physiology. Victoria explores how different fatty acid sources influence milk yield and sustainability.

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What will you learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:44) Introduction
• (02:08) Fat sources comparison
• (03:47) Feeding challenges across regions
• (06:04) Isoenergetic vs non-isoenergetic
• (07:29) Impact of dietary fat
• (10:52) Research gaps and future
• (12:11) Closing thoughts

The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:

Virtus Nutrition

* Adisseo

* Afimilk

* Priority IAC

- Kemin

- Zinpro

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Felipe Peña Mosca from Cornell University shares his research on H5N1 virus infection in dairy cows during an outbreak in Ohio. He explains risk factors, production losses, and herd health impacts, along with the role of early detection technology and biosecurity measures. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Automated monitoring systems identified cows showing changes in rumination, milk yield, and conductivity before clinical diagnosis."

Meet the guest: Dr. Felipe Peña Mosca, originally from Uruguay, is a Postdoctoral Associate at Cornell University specializing in dairy cattle health, mastitis control, and epidemiology. With a DVM, MS, and PhD in Veterinary Medicine, his research explores disease risk factors, production losses, and control strategies in dairy herds.

Click here to read the full research article!

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

What will you learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:18) Introduction
• (01:55) Outbreak detection
• (05:49) Milk loss
• (07:34) Mortality rates
• (10:42) Economic impact
• (11:56) Closing thoughts

The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:

* Afimilk

* Adisseo

* Priority IAC

- Virtus Nutrition

- Zinpro

- Kemin

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

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LinkedIn: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast