In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Melissa Cantor from Penn State University unpacks new research on beef-on-dairy calves and their long-term performance. She explains the surprising impacts of early-life respiratory disease, what it means for marbling and carcass traits, and how management practices can reduce risks. Learn how dairy calf health decisions carry lasting value for beef outcomes. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Very early lung consolidation, often invisible to farmers, was linked to reduced growth for weeks after diagnosis."

Meet the guest: Dr. Melissa Cantor is an Assistant Professor of Precision Dairy Science at Penn State University, where her work focuses on calf nutrition, health, and precision management practices. With over 30 scientific publications, she leads extension efforts such as the Penn State Dairy Nutrition Workshop and supervises graduate research on calf health and dairy-beef systems.

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What will you learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:34) Introduction
• (03:14) Early lung disease
• (06:59) Carcass performance
• (09:24) Energy efficiency
• (10:29) Liver abscesses
• (13:52) Final remarks
• (15:19) Closing thoughts

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

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