The Dairy Podcast Show

In this episode of The Dairy Podcast Show, Tara Bohnert, CowManager Performance Specialist, explains how ear sensor technology supports labor efficiency, herd health, and proactive dairy management. She discusses rumination monitoring, early disease detection, dry cow insights, calf monitoring, and team adoption strategies. Tara highlights how data-driven decisions improve consistency and scalability across dairy operations and adds real-world experiences. Learn practical insights to strengthen health, nutrition, and production outcomes. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Rumination and activity data allow earlier identification of health challenges, shifting dairy management from visual detection toward proactive, consistent decision making.”

Meet the guest: Tara Bohnert is a CowManager Performance Specialist with more than 20 years of experience in dairy technology, herd management, and on-farm efficiency. With a background in animal sciences and extensive work across U.S. dairy systems, she focuses on translating ear sensor data into actionable insights that support health, nutrition, and production teams. 

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What you'll learn:
(00:00) Highlight
(01:53) Introduction
(04:04) Labor challenges
(05:29) Health detection
(06:34) Sensor features
(08:49) Sort gate use
(10:52) Dry cows
(15:27) Data insights
(28:15) Final Questions

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* CowManager

* Afimilk
* Evonik
* Priority IAC
* Adisseo
* Agri-Comfort
* Jones-Hamilton Co.
* Lallemand
- DietForge
- Natural Biologics
- Berg + Schmidt
- BoviSync
- Agrarian Solutions
- AHV
- dsm-firmenich
- Protekta
- SmaXtec

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: The Dairy Podcast Show
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In this episode of The Dairy Podcast Show, Dr. Jennifer Spencer and Dr. Juan Piñeiro from Texas A&M AgriLife discuss how highly pathogenic avian influenza may affect dairy cattle reproduction. They explain why disease-related inflammation can reduce conception rates and increase services per conception in cows and heifers. The conversation explores early research findings, data challenges, and the importance of biosecurity in dairy operations. Learn how reproductive performance may lag even after recovery from disease. Listen now on all major podcast platforms!

"When cows experience systemic illness, energy is redirected toward immune defense, which reduces the biological resources available for normal reproductive function."

Meet the guest: Dr. Jennifer Spencer is an Associate Professor and Extension and Research Dairy Specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife, focusing on dairy reproduction, endocrinology, and herd management strategies. Dr. Juan Piñeiro is an Associate Professor and Extension Dairy Specialist at Texas A&M University with expertise in disease prevention, biosecurity, and applied dairy research. 

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What you'll learn:
(00:00) Highlight
(01:50) Introduction
(05:46) Reproduction concerns
(09:20) Early findings
(11:52) Impact on the heifer
(17:05) Inflammation link
(25:10) Practical takeaways
(31:07) Closing thoughts

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Adisseo
* Priority IAC
* Lallemand
* Afimilk
* Agri-Comfort
* Jones-Hamilton Co.
* Evonik
* CowManager

- Protekta
- DietForge
- Berg + Schmidt
- BoviSync
- Natural Biologics
- AHV
- dsm-firmenich
- SmaXtec

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: The Dairy Podcast Show
Instagram: The Dairy Podcast Show
LinkedIn: The Dairy Podcast Show

In this episode of The Dairy Podcast Show, Dr. Nicole Reisinger from dsm-firmenich breaks down how phytogenic feed additives fit into practical dairy nutrition. She shares how these plant-based compounds can influence rumen function, gut integrity, inflammation, and overall cow comfort, and highlights how biomarkers and modern in vitro tools help fine-tune their use on farm. Hear how phytogenics can support cows facing heat stress, subacute acidosis, and other common herd challenges. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Phytogenic feed additives support rumen function, strengthen gut barrier function, and moderate inflammatory activity during critical challenges."

Meet the guest: Dr. Nicole Reisinger is a Senior Scientist at the dsm-firmenich Animal Health and Nutrition Center in Tulln, Austria, with a PhD in biotechnology and advanced training in behavior, neurobiology, and cognition. Her research focuses on biomarkers in ruminants, endotoxins, gut health, and complex host-based in vitro and organ chip models, with applications in dairy cattle nutrition, welfare, and precision solutions. 

Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!
Dr. Andy Mueller: Sugar in Dairy Diets | Ep. 105
Dr. Gustavo Schuenemann: Mycotoxins & Dairy Feed | Ep. 125
Ignacio Artavia: Vitamin D & Dairy Cows | Ep. 132

What you'll learn:
(00:00) Highlight
(01:25) Introduction
(02:03) Career path
(07:32) What are phytogenics
(09:31) Testing plant compounds
(14:55) Findings in cow challenges
(19:15) Evaluating payback
(24:12) Final three questions

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

- dsm-firmenich

* Evonik
* CowManager
* Adisseo
* Priority IAC
* Lallemand
* Afimilk
* Agri-Comfort
* Jones-Hamilton Co.
- SmaXtec
- Protekta
- DietForge
- Berg + Schmidt
- BoviSync
- Natural Biologics
- AHV

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: The Dairy Podcast Show
Instagram: The Dairy Podcast Show
LinkedIn: The Dairy Podcast Show

In this episode of The Dairy Podcast Show, Dr. Rick Grant, Trustee of Miner Institute and the William H. Miner Foundation, discusses how cow behavior, nutrition, and management intersect to influence performance and well-being. He shares how two decades at Miner Institute reshaped his understanding of time budgets, stocking density, and feed access, revealing how these factors influence chewing behavior and rumen health. Learn what “feeding from the cow’s perspective” truly means for nutrition and productivity. Listen now on all major platforms!

"If cows spend over 3.5 hours outside the pen, they sacrifice resting time, which directly reduces rumination and overall efficiency."

Meet the guest: Dr. Rick Grant, Trustee of Miner Institute and the William H. Miner Foundation, was raised on a dairy farm in northern New York and earned his B.S. in Animal Science from Cornell University and Ph.D. in Ruminant Nutrition from Purdue University. His research focuses on forage quality, dairy cattle nutrition, and cow behavioral management. A pioneer in linking cow comfort with feeding efficiency, Dr. Grant’s insights help shape modern dairy management.

Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!
Dr. Adrian Barragan: Managing Transition Period Inflammation | Ep. 106
Dr. Chris Chase: Gut Health’s Impact on Cattle | Ep. 114

What you'll learn:
(00:00) Highlight
(01:33) Introduction
(07:11) Behavior and nutrition
(09:27) Miner Institute overview
(12:42) Time budgets
(19:03) Cow comfort insights
(26:52) Management takeaways
(28:11) Final three questions

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

- Natural Biologics

* Jones-Hamilton Co.
* Evonik
* Adisseo
* Priority IAC
* Lallemand
* Afimilk
* Agri-Comfort
* CowManager
- AHV
- dsm-firmenich
- SmaXtec
- Protekta
- DietForge
- Berg + Schmidt
- BoviSync

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: The Dairy Podcast Show
Instagram: The Dairy Podcast Show
LinkedIn: The Dairy Podcast Show

In this episode of The Dairy Podcast Show, Jim Salfer, Regional Extension Educator at the University of Minnesota, explores the world of robotic milking systems. From barn design that supports cow flow to strategies for maximizing milk per robot and improving labor efficiency, Jim discusses the economic and practical considerations of implementing this technology. Whether you're managing robots or considering the transition, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Don’t miss it—listen now on all major platforms!

"Robots started as a lifestyle choice, but now we’re maximizing efficiency and milk per robot."

Meet the guest: Jim Salfer, Regional Extension Educator at the University of Minnesota, has served the dairy industry for 30 years. With a BS in Animal Science from South Dakota State University and a Master’s in Animal Science from the University of Minnesota, Jim has pioneered research and outreach in dairy management and technology.

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What you'll learn:
(00:00) Highlight
(01:51) Introduction
(06:35) Dairy extension changes over time
(08:15) Evolution of robotic milking
(16:45) Guided vs. free-flow barns
(20:13) Milk per cow vs. robot
(30:33) Addressing common challenges
(36:05) Final three questions

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Afimilk
* Jones-Hamilton Co.
* Evonik
* Adisseo
* Priority IAC
* Lallemand

- DietForge
- Berg + Schmidt
- Natural Biologics
- AHV
- BoviSync
- dsm-firmenich
- SmaXtec
- Protekta

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: The Dairy Podcast Show
Instagram: The Dairy Podcast Show
LinkedIn: The Dairy Podcast Show