In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Pedro Melendez from City University of Hong Kong discusses the genetic and nutritional factors behind abdominal adiposity and hypocalcemia in dairy cows. He shares research findings on metabolic health risks, prevention strategies, and the importance of monitoring nutritional management. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Abdominal adiposity significantly increases the risk of developing metabolic disorders such as mastitis, ketosis, and fatty liver."

Meet the guest: Dr. Pedro Melendez, DVM, MS, PhD, DABVP (Dairy), serves as Clinical Full Professor in Bovine Production Medicine at City University of Hong Kong. With a DVM from the University of Chile and an MS and PhD from the University of Florida, his work focuses on dairy production medicine, nutritional management, and metabolic diseases in dairy cattle.

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What will you learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:26) Introduction
• (01:00) Guest background
• (02:16) Abdominal adiposity risks
• (05:27) Genetic factors role
• (07:00) Preventing hypocalcemia
• (09:26) Calcium bolus use
• (10:50) Closing thoughts

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

* Adisseo

* Kemin

* Priority IAC

- Zinpro

- Afimilk

- Volac

- Virtus Nutrition

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Chris Chase, Professor Emeritus at South Dakota State University, breaks down the critical link between gut health and immune function in dairy cattle. He covers how diet, water quality, and stress impact gut integrity and the pro-inflammatory response, plus practical strategies to support a healthy microbiome. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The gut microbiome and immune system are deeply connected. Maintaining this balance through diet and management is key to animal health."

Meet the guest: Dr. Chris Chase, Professor Emeritus at South Dakota State University, has dedicated his career to veterinary immunology and virology. He earned his DVM from Iowa State University and his MS and PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Chase co-founded RTI (Research, Technology Innovation LLC), now ClinVet-South Dakota, an animal health research organization. Dr. Chase is the Past-President of the American College of Veterinary Microbiology and the Conference of Research Workers in Animal Disease.

What will you learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:46) Introduction
• (03:12) Gut health and immunity
• (05:51) Role of water quality
• (07:06) Stress and gut integrity
• (09:33) Additives for gut health
• (13:35) Key takeaways
• (16:16) Closing thoughts

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

Volac

* Adisseo

- Virtus Nutrition

- Zinpro

- Afimilk

- Kemin

- Priority IAC

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

In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Duarte Diaz from the University of Arizona tackles the complex issue of mycotoxins in dairy feeds. He explores how mycotoxin contamination levels vary by region, season, and climate and how different feedstuffs, besides corn silage, are at high risk. Dr. Diaz also shared insights on testing frequency for mycotoxins and strategies for preventing contamination and growth in stored feed. Additionally, he discusses the role of feed additives and binders in mitigating the harmful effects of mycotoxins. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Mycotoxins interact with the plant, soil, and environment. Depending on the mold, climate, and competition, certain species dominate in different regions."

Meet the guest: Dr. Duarte Diaz holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Nutrition and Toxicology from North Carolina State University. With over 15 years of research on mycotoxins, Dr. Diaz has made significant contributions to understanding how mycotoxins affect agriculture. He is currently a Professor and Dairy Extension Specialist at the University of Arizona. Dr. Diaz’s work focuses on feed quality, mold interactions, and mycotoxin control.

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

Dr. Marcos Marcondes: Protein Requirements of Gestating Cows | Ep. 44

Dr. Jim Drackley: Nutrition & Transition Cows - Part 1 | Ep. 52

Dr. Maurice Eastridge: Nutrition & Cow Health | Ep. 69

What will you learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:47) Introduction
• (03:06) Mycotoxins by region
• (05:44) Common contaminated feeds
• (08:46) Diagnosing mycotoxin issues
• (10:54) Testing for mycotoxins
• (12:07) Dietary interventions
• (15:37) Closing thoughts

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

* Adisseo

- Kemin

- Virtus Nutrition

- Zinpro

- Volac

- Afimilk

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