Bovine Banter

Rumen development drives the future of a calf. It is the beginning of forage digestion, growth, nutrient absorption and future milk production. This is especially true for calves being raised for organic purposes. Join us on this week's episode of Bovine Banter to learn about proper rumen development in calves for organic production and how to achieve it in your calf herd. 

In this episode, Dairy Educator Daniela Roland talks with Chris Anderson, of Sustainable Strategies, to unpack the regulations, financial realities, and key considerations for dairy farmers thinking about transitioning from conventional production to organic. 

Join Berks County dairy educator, Kasey Hower, as she interviews Dr. Hayley Springer, the Animal Health Division Chief for the Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostics Service at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. They discuss the emerging threat of the Asian Longhorned Tick and what dairy producers can do to manage this pest. 

In this episode, we talk with organic dairy producers Matt and Garrett Byler about transitioning to organic production, the family dynamic of working together, and making your neighbors wonder what you are doing. 

Join Emily Fread as she interviews Dr. Brad Heins, an organic dairy production professor at the University of Minnesota.

Jim Lawhead from Penn State Extension interviews Dr. Amy Kraus from Horizon Organic Dairy about the myths surrounding organic dairy farming.

Join Extension Dairy team member, Dr. Jess Mitchell to learn about her research on calf housing and comfort and why it is important to keep calves comfortable, too.

Join Dairy Educator Emily Fread as she interviews long-time hoof trimmer Chad Ripka about common hoof health problems and solutions.

Jim Lawhead interviews Penn State Ag. Engineer John Tyson about the impact of facilities on cattle health, primarily hoof health.

 Join Dairy Educator Emily Fread as she interviews Dave Hartman, Program Director of the PA Grazing Lands Coalition. about pasture management. Dave raises Angus cattle and Katahdin sheep on a 170-acre farm in Montour County.

Join dairy educator Kasey Hower and agronomy educator Zack Curtis from Penn State Extension as they discuss this year’s corn silage crop as well as some upcoming opportunities to learn more about this topic during a webinar series.

Meet new Penn State Extension dairy team member and faculty researcher, Dr. Leoni Martins as he shares about his work in the area of precision nutrition. Host: Ginger Fenton, Guest: Leoni MartinsImage credit: Penn State Dairy Team 

In this episode, Jim Lawhead interviews 2 PSU grad students about their research on the fat nutrition of dairy cows and the economics of cropping strategies.

Crops play a crucial role on dairy farms, and forages are arguably the most crucial part of a dairy diet. Feed costs on a dairy farm represent about 75% of total expenses and, in most cases, can make or break a business. Penn State Extension came up with a program to analyze these feeding systems on the farm, called the Penn State Feeding Assessment. The program was designed to analyze the current feeding programs on dairies to help troubleshoot problems and check for efficiencies. Join us this week as we discuss who would benefit from a feeding assessment, what happens during the assessment, and what results to expect. 

In this episode, we'll talk with Dr. Claudia Schmidt, a Penn State faculty member, who will share her insight and observations about agritourism as a way to diversify the farm business. Episode host and guest: Ginger Fenton (host) with Guest Dr. Claudia SchmidtImage Credit: Ginger Fenton, Penn State Extension

 Join Angela Breneman and Michael Peachey from Acuity Advisors and CPAs July 15th on Bovine Banter to discuss farm transition. Angela and Mike discuss who needs a succession plan, what should be in a plan and how to start a conversation with family centered around planning for the future business.

Join Dairy Educator Emily Fread as she interviews Hayley Painter of Painterland Sisters Organic Skyr Yogurt. Hayley, and her sister, Stephanie, started Painterland Sisters to help stabilize the milk market for their farm located in Tioga County, PA. Listen to learn more!

"Join dairy educator, Kasey Hower, as she chats with Kent, Kyle, and Chad Heffner with Jersey Acres Farms and Stone Mountain Wine Cellars located in Schuylkill County Pennsylvania. The Heffner’s have a unique operation where they milk 200 head of registered Jersey cattle, have a roadside market selling seasonal produce, and a winery. They offer insights to their farm diversification and transition to remain a profitable business for future generations.

Join Dairy Educators Emily Fread and J. Craig Williams as they interview Colin Kadis from EverAg. Colin talks about how HPAI has impacted dairy markets.

In this episode, dairy educator Daniela Roland talks with first responders Steve Brown and Rob Nese about farm safety and emergency response on the farm. They share practical tips for implementing farm safety and insights that farmers can use on their operations. Photo credit: Penn State Extension

Join Angela Breneman, Dairy Management Educator, and John Williamson from Team AG for tips on how to keep you, your family, and your employees safe around manure storage systems this spring

 In this episode, Dr. Becot shares her insights about multiple generations working on the farm with considerations for health insurance, childcare, and keeping everyone safe on the farm. Episode host and speaker: Ginger Fenton with guest Dr. Florence BecotImage credit: Ginger Fenton, Penn State Extension

Join dairy educator, Kasey Hower, as she speaks with Ed Crow and Jamie Kopco from the Penn State Extension Pesticide Education program on the importance of chemical safety on your dairy farm. Their discussion includes considerations you should make when handling common chemicals, common mistakes that may be made, some particularly hazardous chemicals you may come across, the health risks associated with improper handling, and the overall importance of following chemical labels.

Extension veterinarian, Dr. Adrian Barragan, shares current research being conducted on transition cows focusing on the role of inflammation, precision technology applications for management, and hypocalcemia. Host: Ginger Fenton; Guest: Dr.  Adrian BarraganImage credit: Penn State Dairy Extension file photo

Join Penn State Dairy Educators Kasey Hower and Micheal Lunak as they discuss how you may use your DHIA and health records to identify subclinical ketosis in your dairy herd.

Join Dairy Educator Emily Fread as she interviews Dr. Heather Dann, President of the W.H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute in Chazy, NY. Dr. Dann grew up on a dairy in New York State and has been researching transition cow nutrition and management her entire career.

Join Dairy Educator Kasey Hower as she interviews Josh Brubaker of Brubaker Farms in Mt. Joy, PA. Brubaker Farms runs a methane digester and solar panels on their barn roofs to generate green energy that powers parts of their farm and provides an additional income source.

 Join Dairy Educator Emily Fread as she interviews Brett Reinford of Reinford Farms in Mifflintown, PA. Reinford farms uses two anaerobic digestors to run their food waste recycling business.

Join the Extension Dairy team for a thought provoking discussion with Assistant State Program Leader focused on energy, Dan Brockett. This episode is must-listen for dairy producers who are interested in solar energy. Episode host: Ginger Fenton, Guest: Dan Brockett

Join Dr. Lisa Holden as she talks with Dr. Dan Ciolkosz from Penn State's Energy Team about current research and energy savings ideas of interest for dairy farms. Learn more about opportunities to diversify revenue streams or reduce electricity expenses on dairies.  

Join Penn State Ag Engineer John Tyson as he discusses facilities, fans and water during times of heat stress. Understand the principles of Shade, Air Exchange, Air Velocity and Water (SAAW). Photo credit:  Andrew Sandeen, formerly with the PSU Extension Dairy Tea

In this episode, dairy educator Kasey Hower interviews Doug Kennedy, an independent dairy nutritionist serving farms throughout Pennsylvania. They will discuss some different strategies you may want to consider for your feed program as we get into the hotter months of the year. Learn about water accessibility and the importance of measuring dry matter intake and planning ahead for your forages. 

Join Educator Daniela Roland and dairy farmer Neil Hertzler for a discussion on heat abatement. Neil shares his strategies for managing heat stress for his pasture-based dairy herd.

Join Dairy Educator Emily Fread as she interviews Katie Ballard, Director of Research at the W. H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute in Chazy, NY about episodic heat stress in the Northeastern U.S. Not only does Katie manage the research at Miner, she is also a dairy farmer. Her family milks 210 Holsteins on a bicentennial dairy in Georgia, Vermont.

Join Educator Ginger Fenton and Graduate Student Gillian Plaugher for a discussion on how heat stress can affect dairy calves and strategies for effective heat mitigation. Host: Ginger Fenton, Guest: Gillian PlaugherImage: Ginger Fenton, Penn State Extension

Join dairy educators Emily Fread and Craig Williams as they discuss the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program.

Join Dairy Educator Emily Fread as she interviews Greta Snider Halahan, herd manager of Singing Brook Farms in Imler, PA. Greta discusses managing the herd remotely, as well as her approach in creating a healthy, productive well-balanced Holstein.

Join the Extension Dairy team for a discussion on applications of technology for increasing reproductive success on a dairy farm with Caroline Zimmerman. Episode host: Ginger Fenton  Guest: Caroline ZimmermanImage: PSU Extension Dairy team file photos

Join Dr. Lisa Holden for this episode as she talks with Brian Boyer a Reproductive Services Specialist Supervisor with Premier Select Sires about using data and making decisions for a sound and profitable reproductive management program on-farms.

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Camilla Hughes, Assistant Professor of Reproductive Biology in the Department of Animal Science at Penn State University. Dr. Hughes shares her background and how she got into research, some of her current research projects, and how her findings may be able to help dairy producers in the future.

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Claire Stenhouse, Assistant Professor of Reproductive Biology in the Department of Animal Science at Penn State University. Dr. Stenhouse will talk about her latest research and how it can benefit dairy and livestock producers.

Two dairy producers share the approaches their farm takes to housing calves and the reasons for those decisions.Episode host: Ginger Fenton with guests Brooks Rynd and Steve PaxtonImage credit: Ginger Fenton

This episode of Bovine Banter hosted by Dr. Lisa Holden features Dr. Rebecca Klopp a calf and heifer specialist with Purina.  Dr. Klopp shares some practice tips with producers for raising calves more profitably. 

In this episode, Beverly Hampton Phifer with NMPF will discuss the Calf Care Quality Assurance Program. Learn how this program, geared for custom calf and heifer raisers, can help farm owners and managers with calf care training on their operations.

In this episode, we talk about calf nutrition with Dr. Sarah Morrison from the W. H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute in Chazy, NY. Learn about methods for feeding milk replacer, waste milk, and calf starter.The content of this podcast, including text, graphics, and images is educational only and not intended to be a substitute for veterinary medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a licensed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or other licensed or certified veterinary medical professional with any questions you may have regarding a veterinary medical condition or symptom.Episode hosts/speakers: Emily Fread interviewing Dr. Sarah Morrison

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Keith Bryan with Chr. Hansen, Inc. about silage inoculants. Dr. Bryan will discuss the common types of inoculants, their benefits and useful tips for dairy producers.Episode host/speakers: Daniela Roland interviewing Dr. Keith Bryan