The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Tadeu Silva, Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Vermont, discusses CalfSim, a tool designed to help dairy professionals create and evaluate calf milk feeding programs. He explains the science behind the model, its practical applications, current limitations, and future opportunities using farm data and predictive technologies. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to read the full research article!

"Disease, environment, and daily farm practices can explain gaps between model predictions and field results."

Meet the guest: Dr. Tadeu Silva is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Vermont with extensive experience in ruminant nutrition. He earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. from the Federal University of Viçosa in Brazil and previously worked with Cargill Animal Nutrition. His work focuses on nutrition models, calf performance, and practical tools that support dairy management decisions. Listen to Dr. Tadeu Silva on the Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

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What will you learn: 
(00:00) Highlight
(02:03) Introduction
(02:37) CalfSim basics
(05:21) Model foundations
(07:04) Farm variation
(08:53) Tool limitations
(10:26) Future models
(11:55) Closing thoughts

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

* Adisseo
* Vetagro
* Barentz
* Fortiva
* Kemin
* Priority IAC

- DietForge
- Virtus Nutrition
- Esmilco Inc.

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
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In this special rerun episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Pedro Melendez, Clinical Full Professor at City University of Hong Kong, explains how abdominal adiposity and hypocalcemia affect transition cow health. He discusses genetic links to internal fat, risks of metabolic disease, urine pH monitoring, anionic diets, and the use of calcium boluses for older cows. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Excess abdominal adiposity can trigger lipolysis, inflammation, mastitis, ketosis, and fatty liver while reflecting an important genetic component."

Meet the guest: Dr. Pedro Melendez is a Clinical Full Professor in Bovine Production Medicine at City University of Hong Kong. He earned his DVM from the University of Chile and his MS and PhD from the University of Florida, with work focused on dairy production medicine, nutritional management, and metabolic disease. Learn more from Dr. Pedro Melendez on The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

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What will you learn: 
(00:00) Highlight
(01:44) Introduction
(02:14) Guest background
(03:30) Abdominal adiposity risks
(06:41) Genetic factors role
(08:14) Preventing hypocalcemia
(10:49) Calcium bolus use
(12:08) Closing thoughts

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

* Fortiva
* Adisseo
* Vetagro
* Barentz
* Priority IAC
* Kemin

- Esmilco Inc.
- Virtus Nutrition
- DietForge

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
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In this special episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. James Spain, Professor at the University of Missouri, continues to discuss practical strategies for managing heat stress in dairy cattle as summer temperatures approach. He explains the importance of ventilation, airflow, cow behavior, rumination monitoring, and thermal balance in maintaining feed intake, milk production, and reproductive performance during hot weather. Prepare your operation for summer and listen now on all major platforms!

"Changes in rumination patterns provide early indicators of thermal stress before visible production losses emerge."

Meet the guest: Dr. James Spain earned his PhD in Animal Sciences from Virginia Tech and his BS in Animal Sciences from North Carolina State University. As a Professor at the University of Missouri, his work has focused on dairy cattle management, environmental challenges, and production efficiency. Learn more from Dr. James Spain on The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

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What will you learn: 
(00:00) Highlight
(02:01) Introduction
(03:48) Heat stress management
(05:17) Barn ventilation strategies
(06:17) Cow cooling systems
(07:09) Rumination monitoring
(10:08) Thermal balance indicators
(10:54) Closing thoughts

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

* Priority IAC
* Kemin
* Fortiva
* Adisseo
* Vetagro
* Barentz

- DietForge
- Esmilco Inc.
- Virtus Nutrition

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
Instagram: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
LinkedIn: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
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In this special episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. James Spain, Professor at the University of Missouri, discusses how increasing milk production has intensified heat stress challenges in modern dairy cows. With warmer months placing additional pressure on herd performance, he explains the effects on feed intake, milk production, thermal balance, and cooling strategies, highlighting why cow-centered temperature management may improve performance and efficiency. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The thermometer we should be using to run our cooling systems is not measuring air temperature; it really should be based on cow temperature."

Meet the guest: Dr. James Spain earned his PhD in Animal Sciences from Virginia Tech and his BS in Animal Sciences from North Carolina State University. As a Professor at the University of Missouri, his work has focused on dairy cattle management, environmental challenges, and production efficiency. Learn more from Dr. James Spain on The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

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

What will you learn: 
(00:00) Highlight
(01:43) Introduction
(02:43) Heat stress challenges
(04:06) Internal heat production
(05:44) Cow-centered cooling
(08:10) Thermal balance indicators
(08:56) Nighttime cooling benefits
(11:30) Closing thoughts

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

* Priority IAC
* Kemin
* Fortiva
* Adisseo
* Vetagro
* Barentz

- Esmilco Inc.
- Virtus Nutrition
- DietForge

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
Instagram: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
LinkedIn: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
Facebook: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
TikTok: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Dwain Bunting from Barentz Animal Nutrition North America discusses how summer humidity affects the stability of potassium carbonate, mineral buffers, and dairy concentrate mixes. He explains ingredient reactivity, moisture risks, formulation considerations, and practical strategies to improve mix stability during periods of hot, humid weather. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Summer humidity raises the reactivity of potassium carbonate and mineral buffers, making chemical stability a serious concern inside dairy concentrate mixtures during the hottest months."

Meet the guest: Dr. Dwain Bunting is a ruminant nutritionist with more than 27 years of industry and academic experience across dairy and beef systems. He holds a PhD in Nutrition and Biochemistry and has worked in research, teaching, product development, and global technical support roles. Currently serving as a Technical Service Dairy Nutritionist at Barentz Animal Nutrition North America, he focuses on applied dairy nutrition and formulation strategies. Listen to Dr. Dwain Bunting on The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

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Dr. Dwain Bunting: DCAD And Palatability | Ep. 121
Dr. Frank Delfino: Potassium Strategies & Heat Stress | Ep. 132

What will you learn: 
(00:00) Highlight
(01:42) Introduction
(02:17) Summer humidity
(04:24) Mineral risks
(06:26) Potassium buffers
(07:41) Moisture control
(08:42) Summer caution
(09:32) Closing thoughts

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

* Barentz

* Adisseo
* Fortiva
* Kemin
* Vetagro
- DietForge
- Esmilco Inc.
- Virtus Nutrition

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
Instagram: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
LinkedIn: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
Facebook: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
TikTok: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast