This week on The Moos Room, Brad shares updates from the University of Minnesota’s dairy research center, where staff have been on strike and he’s been back in the barn doing chores, milking, feeding, and even pulling calves late at night. With calving season underway, Brad shifts the focus to a new review article on weaning practices in young ruminants, authored by Heather Nave at Purdue University.

The discussion explores the stress calves, lambs, goat kids, and beef calves experience when transitioning from milk to solid feed, and how management decisions—such as weaning age and milk removal method—impact long-term health, growth, and welfare. Brad breaks down the pros and cons of abrupt versus gradual weaning, highlights the benefits of later weaning, and shares practical strategies to reduce stress, from nutritional management and water access to social housing and avoiding stacked stressors.

Key takeaways include:

• Later and gradual weaning generally improves growth, gut health, and reduces stress.
• Early access to palatable solid feed and free-choice water is essential for rumen development.
• Environmental enrichment and positive human contact can help ease the transition.
• Veterinarians and farmers should balance short-term economics with long-term animal health and productivity.

Tune in for research-backed insights and practical tips to improve calf and herd outcomes during one of the most critical stages of development.

Improving the Welfare of Ruminants Around Weaning in Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice

Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

Linkedin -> The Moos Room
Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
Facebook -> @UMNDairy
YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy
Extension Website
AgriAmerica Podcast Directory

In this episode, Brad dives into the growing interest in milk fatty acid profiles and what they can tell us about cow health, nutrition, and management.

Brad explains the three main groups of milk fatty acids—de novo, mixed, and preformed—and how they are shaped by diet, stage of lactation, seasonality, and even genetics. He highlights how monitoring these fatty acid trends through routine milk testing can help farmers fine-tune rations, detect health challenges like subclinical ketosis or mastitis, and make more informed feeding decisions.

Brad also shares findings from two recent University of Minnesota research projects:

• Commercial herd study: Comparing Holsteins and crossbreds, as well as feeding strategies (higher starch diets vs. fat supplementation). Results showed small but meaningful differences in fatty acid profiles, with crossbreds showing slightly healthier rumen indicators.
• University herd study: Comparing organic pasture-based cows to conventional TMR-fed cows, and looking at breed influences (Holsteins, Viking Reds, Jerseys, and Normandy crosses). Pasture cows had higher preformed fatty acids, while Jerseys and Normandy crosses stood out for more favorable fatty acid compositions.

The takeaway: fatty acid testing is a valuable management tool for nutrition, genetics, and herd health monitoring—and could even open new opportunities for niche milk markets.

Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

Linkedin -> The Moos Room
Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
Facebook -> @UMNDairy
YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy
Extension Website
AgriAmerica Podcast Directory

In this Labor Day episode, Brad highlights the history of the holiday in the U.S. and Canada before diving into a brand-new genetic evaluation for Holstein dairy cattle: milking speed. Released in August 2025, this trait provides an objective way to measure how quickly cows milk—expressed in pounds of milk per minute—with the Holstein breed average set at 7 lbs/min.

Brad explains how this evaluation was developed using parlor sensor data (not robot milking systems) from over 165 herds and 43,000 cows, making it more accurate than traditional subjective scoring methods used in other breeds. With heritability at 42%, milking speed is a promising selection tool for improving parlor efficiency and labor use.

The episode also covers:

• How milking speed correlates with traits like somatic cell score and mastitis.
• The range of variation in bulls and what that means for selection decisions.
• Why milking speed isn’t yet included in the lifetime merit index.
• Practical implications for farmers considering faster vs. slower milking cows.

Brad wraps up by reflecting on how this new tool could impact herd management at the Morris research herd and encourages producers to watch for milking speed in future bull proofs.

Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

Linkedin -> The Moos Room
Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
Facebook -> @UMNDairy
YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy
Extension Website
AgriAmerica Podcast Directory

In this episode of The Moos Room, Brad shares updates from a busy summer and fall kickoff at the Minnesota State Fair, where his kids showed cows and he helped with 4-H dairy programming. After reflecting on the fair, he dives into the latest research and extension projects happening at the University of Minnesota’s West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris.

Brad covers a wide range of studies, including:

• Virtual fencing trials with heifers, lessons learned from training, and future plans to test with milking cows.
• Horn fly vaccine research, tracking fly counts across hundreds of cows to evaluate effectiveness.
• Agrovoltaics and portable solar shade, examining how cows use shade structures to reduce heat stress and the impact on pasture regrowth.
• Parasite monitoring and exploring connections between genetics and parasite load.
• Heifer feed efficiency, using precision feeders and methane collectors to measure intake, weight gain, and greenhouse gas output.
• Mastitis management, including trials with alternatives to antibiotics.
• Genetics-focused projects on inbreeding effects in Holsteins and the potential of polled genetics.
• Milk processing exploration, with plans to begin producing value-added products like ice cream and butter from the university herd.

From innovative technology like virtual fencing to on-farm challenges like mastitis, Brad shares insights into ongoing research aimed at helping dairy farmers improve efficiency, sustainability, and profitability.

Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

Linkedin -> The Moos Room
Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
Facebook -> @UMNDairy
YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy
Extension Website
AgriAmerica Podcast Directory

In this episode of The Moos Room, Brad shares updates on the University of Minnesota’s ongoing work with bovine leukosis virus (BLV), a retrovirus that weakens the immune system, reduces production, and costs dairy farmers hundreds of dollars per cow each year.

Brad walks through the latest herd testing results, where prevalence has held steady at around 30%, but with new infections continuing to appear—especially in older cows. He digs into the role of biting flies in BLV transmission, highlighting research showing that nearly all previously negative cows became suspect or positive after just one summer on pasture.

The discussion covers:

• How BLV spreads within herds.
• The economic and animal health impacts of infection.
• Management strategies like testing, culling, colostrum protocols, and breeding decisions.
• Why fly control may be one of the most important tools for reducing BLV spread in grazing herds.

Tune in to hear how the UMN Morris dairy herd is tackling this challenge, what the research says about seasonality and transmission, and what steps farmers can take to manage BLV on their own operations.

Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

Linkedin -> The Moos Room
Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
Facebook -> @UMNDairy
YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy
Extension Website
AgriAmerica Podcast Directory

Brad records solo during a busy fair season. But behind the scenes at the research center, a troubling issue emerged this summer: a cluster of abortions isolated to a 50–60 cow organic herd.

After ruling out other groups, Brad suspected moldy feed. Testing revealed high mold counts—especially Fusarium, which produces mycotoxins linked to infertility and abortions. The herd had been eating first-crop hay baled a bit too wet, later found to be heating and moldy.

Aborted fetuses sent to diagnostic labs showed mixed results: one indicated Neospora caninum (a protozoan parasite spread by dogs or coyotes), another pointed to bacterial placentitis likely linked to moldy feed. Despite the confusion, abortions dropped sharply after the moldy hay was removed from the diet, strengthening Brad’s belief that feed quality was the main culprit.

To prevent future issues, the team pulled suspect hay from use, began feeding a mycotoxin binder, and emphasized the importance—and challenge—of making mold-free feed in a wet year.

After almost a month without new cases in the affected herd, Brad is cautiously optimistic. His takeaway: good feed management is critical, even for research herds, and sometimes the simplest solution—removing bad feed—makes the biggest difference.

Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

Linkedin -> The Moos Room
Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
Facebook -> @UMNDairy
YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy
Extension Website
AgriAmerica Podcast Directory

In this special episode of The Moos Room, Emily and Brad record in person for the first time in ages! While together in Rochester, they dive into their favorite annual topic: sun safety and preventing heat illness in humans.

After a lighthearted reminder that Brad still doesn’t wear sunscreen enough, the duo discusses practical strategies to stay safe in the sun. Topics include:

• Why UV protection matters year-round (not just when it’s hot)
• Sunscreen, clothing, and hats as protective tools
• Recognizing symptoms of heat illness like dizziness, nausea, and fatigue
• The importance of hydration and nutrition before and during heat exposure
• Personal stories (including heat exhaustion from county fairs and baling straw)

Emily shares tips like using cold water on wrists and neck to cool down, while Brad emphasizes the importance of rest and watching out for each other on the farm. They wrap up by reminding listeners that being proactive with sun and heat safety can prevent serious health risks.

Resources mentioned:

• UMN Extension Farm Safety
• Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (UMASH)
• Farm Safety Check - Heat Illness

  Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

  Linkedin -> The Moos Room
  Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
  Facebook -> @UMNDairy
  YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
  Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy
  Extension Website
  AgriAmerica Podcast Directory

In this episode, Brad and Emily dive into one of the most pressing summertime challenges in cattle care: heat stress. As county fairs, field days, and Farmfest approach, the co-hosts reflect on their busy schedules and upcoming plans to finally record in person. The main discussion covers how heat affects both calves and adult cattle, including signs of stress, management strategies, and the role of hydration, nutrition, and cleanliness.

They share practical tips for reducing heat stress, such as increasing water availability, feeding at optimal times, cleaning equipment frequently to prevent bacterial growth, and improving ventilation. Emily emphasizes the value of evaporative cooling, while Brad discusses using sensor technology like SmaXtec rumen boluses to monitor cow behavior and internal temperatures.

Whether you're a dairy producer, 4-H family, or cattle enthusiast, this episode offers actionable insights for keeping animals healthy and comfortable during extreme heat.

Heat Stress in Dairy Cattle

Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

Linkedin -> The Moos Room
Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
Facebook -> @UMNDairy
YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy
Extension Website
AgriAmerica Podcast Directory