In this episode, we showcase student research at the 2025 ADSA Annual Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. Abstracts can be found here: <a href="https://www.adsa.org/Portals/0/SiteContent/Docs/Meetings/2025ADSA/Abstracts_BOOK_2025_20250624-1249.pdf">ADSA 2025 Annual Meeting</a>Abstract 2186: Effects of feeding alternative forage silages on early lactation performance and gas production in multiparous Holstein cows. (00:15)Guests: Barbara Dittrich and Dr. Heather White, University of Wisconsin-MadisonCo-Host: Dr. Clay Zimmerman, BalchemBarbara substituted rye silage, triticale silage, rye-camelina-hairy vetch silage, and triticale-camalina-hairy vetch silage to replace 10% of the alfalfa silage in the control diet for her experimental diets. Dry matter intake and gas production were similar across diets. Average milk yield was higher in the rye mix silage group compared to the triticale mix silage group, but no treatment was different than the control.  Abstract 1602: Optimizing starch concentrations in low-forage diets. (11:22)Guests: Irie Moussiaux and Dr. Kirby Krogstad, Ohio State UniversityCo-host: Dr. Jeff Elliott, BalchemIrie investigated different levels of starch in a low-forage diet (12.5% NDF) by replacing soybean hulls with corn to yield 20%, 25%, or 30% starch. Dry matter intake and milk production were the same for all three starch concentrations; however, the low starch diet had the highest milk fat yield and energy-corrected milk yield. Abstract 2183: Effects of partial replacement of corn and oat silages with extracted stevia plant on production, behavior, and digestibility in dairy cows. (17:05)Guests: Mariana Marino and Dr. Jose Santos, University of FloridaCo-host: Dr. Clay Zimmerman, BalchemMariana fed stevia plant byproduct as a replacement for corn and oat silage in lactating cow diets. All diets had 40% grain and 60% forage. Stevia byproduct was included at 0, 25%, or 40% of diet dry matter. The byproduct is of very fine particle size and is relatively high in lignin. This resulted in higher dry matter intake, but lower milk production for the highest stevia diet. Abstract 2472: Evaluating feed sorting behavior and TMR composition in roughage intake control feeding systems. (26:38)Guests: Sophia Green and Dr. Heather White, University of Wisconsin-MadisonCo-host: Dr. Ryan Pralle, BalchemSophia evaluated feed sorting in a research intake control feeding system (RIC bins). Feed sorting primarily occurred in the last 12 hours of the feed day, and particle size was smaller at the end of the day than earlier. Compared to fresh feed at hour zero, the chemical composition of the diet did not change throughout the feed day. RIC bins did not introduce additional variance in nutrient consumption. Abstract 1603: Assessing an ex vivo assay with gastrointestinal tissue sections to investigate mucosal immune responses in dairy calves. (35:24)Guests: Paiton McDonald and Dr. Barry Bradford, Michigan State UniversityPaiton challenged explants from the ileum and mid-jejunum in the lab with rotavirus or E. coli compared to a control. Pathogen stimulation increased mRNA abundance of TNF and IL6 above control. Ileal sections secreted more cytokines than jejunal sections. Abstract 1466: The short-term effect of increasing doses of palmitic and stearic acid on plasma fatty acid concentration and mammary arteriovenous difference in Holstein cows. (40:17)Guests: Alanna Staffin and Dr. Kevin Harvatine, Penn State UniversityCo-host: Dr. Jeff Elliott, BalchemAlanna fed mid-lactation cows 0, 150, 300, 500, or 750 grams of palmitic acid, stearic acid, or no supplement control. Palmitic acid increased milk fat yield at lower doses compared to stearic acid. Alanna found that the mammary gland increases its arteriovenous (AV) difference and uptake of palmitic acid when higher concentrations are provided, but AV difference and uptake of stearic acid did not change. Abstract 2006: Does hay improve performance in pair-housed dairy calves? (50:00)Guests: Gillian Plaugher and Dr. Melissa Cantor, Penn State UniversityGillian fed pelleted hay to pair-housed dairy calves along with milk replacer and calf starter. Control calves received milk replacer and calf starter only. Hay-fed pairs grew faster than controls after day 21 and were heavier at day 70. Hay feeding did not impact calf starter DMI or feed efficiency. Abstract 1463: Dietary metabolizable protein and palmitic and oleic acids affect milk production in early lactation dairy cows. (1:02:03)Guests: Jair Parales-Giron and Dr. Adam Lock, Michigan State UniversityCo-host: Dr. Clay ZimmermanJair fed two different levels of metabolizable protein and 3 different levels of supplemental fatty acids from 1 to 22 days in milk followed by a common diet to evaluate carryover effects to day 50. Metabolizable protein and fatty acid supplementation had additive effects on milk production. Cows fed the highest dose of both metabolizable protein and fatty acids produced 8.9 kg more energy-corrected milk per day compared to the low metabolizable protein diet without fatty acid supplementation.

<description>&lt;p&gt;In this episode, we showcase student research at the 2025 ADSA Annual Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. Abstracts can be found here: &lt;a href="https://www.adsa.org/Portals/0/SiteContent/Docs/Meetings/2025ADSA/Abstracts_BOOK_2025_20250624-1249.pdf"&gt;ADSA 2025 Annual Meeting&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Abstract 2186: Effects of feeding alternative forage silages on early lactation performance and gas production in multiparous Holstein cows. (00:15)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Guests: Barbara Dittrich and Dr. Heather White, University of Wisconsin-Madison&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Co-Host: Dr. Clay Zimmerman, Balchem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Barbara substituted rye silage, triticale silage, rye-camelina-hairy vetch silage, and triticale-camalina-hairy vetch silage to replace 10% of the alfalfa silage in the control diet for her experimental diets. Dry matter intake and gas production were similar across diets. Average milk yield was higher in the rye mix silage group compared to the triticale mix silage group, but no treatment was different than the control.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Abstract 1602: Optimizing starch concentrations in low-forage diets. (11:22)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Guests: Irie Moussiaux and Dr. Kirby Krogstad, Ohio State University&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Co-host: Dr. Jeff Elliott, Balchem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Irie investigated different levels of starch in a low-forage diet (12.5% NDF) by replacing soybean hulls with corn to yield 20%, 25%, or 30% starch. Dry matter intake and milk production were the same for all three starch concentrations; however, the low starch diet had the highest milk fat yield and energy-corrected milk yield. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Abstract 2183: Effects of partial replacement of corn and oat silages with extracted stevia plant on production, behavior, and digestibility in dairy cows. (17:05)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Guests: Mariana Marino and Dr. Jose Santos, University of Florida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Co-host: Dr. Clay Zimmerman, Balchem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mariana fed stevia plant byproduct as a replacement for corn and oat silage in lactating cow diets. All diets had 40% grain and 60% forage. Stevia byproduct was included at 0, 25%, or 40% of diet dry matter. The byproduct is of very fine particle size and is relatively high in lignin. This resulted in higher dry matter intake, but lower milk production for the highest stevia diet. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Abstract 2472: Evaluating feed sorting behavior and TMR composition in roughage intake control feeding systems. (26:38)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Guests: Sophia Green and Dr. Heather White, University of Wisconsin-Madison&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Co-host: Dr. Ryan Pralle, Balchem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Sophia evaluated feed sorting in a research intake control feeding system (RIC bins). Feed sorting primarily occurred in the last 12 hours of the feed day, and particle size was smaller at the end of the day than earlier. Compared to fresh feed at hour zero, the chemical composition of the diet did not change throughout the feed day. RIC bins did not introduce additional variance in nutrient consumption. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Abstract 1603: Assessing an ex vivo assay with gastrointestinal tissue sections to investigate mucosal immune responses in dairy calves. (35:24)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Guests: Paiton McDonald and Dr. Barry Bradford, Michigan State University&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Paiton challenged explants from the ileum and mid-jejunum in the lab with rotavirus or &lt;i&gt;E. coli&lt;/i&gt; compared to a control. Pathogen stimulation increased mRNA abundance of TNF and IL6 above control. Ileal sections secreted more cytokines than jejunal sections. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Abstract 1466: The short-term effect of increasing doses of palmitic and stearic acid on plasma fatty acid concentration and mammary arteriovenous difference in Holstein cows. (40:17)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Guests: Alanna Staffin and Dr. Kevin Harvatine, Penn State University&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Co-host: Dr. Jeff Elliott, Balchem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Alanna fed mid-lactation cows 0, 150, 300, 500, or 750 grams of palmitic acid, stearic acid, or no supplement control. Palmitic acid increased milk fat yield at lower doses compared to stearic acid. Alanna found that the mammary gland increases its arteriovenous (AV) difference and uptake of palmitic acid when higher concentrations are provided, but AV difference and uptake of stearic acid did not change. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Abstract 2006: Does hay improve performance in pair-housed dairy calves? (50:00)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Guests: Gillian Plaugher and Dr. Melissa Cantor, Penn State University&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Gillian fed pelleted hay to pair-housed dairy calves along with milk replacer and calf starter. Control calves received milk replacer and calf starter only. Hay-fed pairs grew faster than controls after day 21 and were heavier at day 70. Hay feeding did not impact calf starter DMI or feed efficiency. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Abstract 1463: Dietary metabolizable protein and palmitic and oleic acids affect milk production in early lactation dairy cows. (1:02:03)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Guests: Jair Parales-Giron and Dr. Adam Lock, Michigan State University&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Co-host: Dr. Clay Zimmerman&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Jair fed two different levels of metabolizable protein and 3 different levels of supplemental fatty acids from 1 to 22 days in milk followed by a common diet to evaluate carryover effects to day 50. Metabolizable protein and fatty acid supplementation had additive effects on milk production. Cows fed the highest dose of both metabolizable protein and fatty acids produced 8.9 kg more energy-corrected milk per day compared to the low metabolizable protein diet without fatty acid supplementation.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

In this episode, we showcase student research at the 2025 ADSA Annual Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. Abstracts can be found here: ADSA 2025 Annual Meeting

2025 ADSA Student Showcase

This episode features speakers from the 2025 ADSA Opening Session Panel: Designing Dairy 2045—Envisioning the Future of Cows, Dairy Products, and Farms, which explored the long-term future of dairy.Dr. VandeHaar explains the idea behind creating the panel discussion for the opening session and his selection of the other three podcast guests as panel members. (2:02)Dr. Baes was the genomics expert on the panel. Her talk focused on what types of data have been collected on dairy cattle in the past and in the future, as well as the collaboration needed among different disciplines to ensure the right information is being collected in the appropriate way. (4:54)Dr. Hostens was the data analytics expert on the panel. He is a veterinarian by training, but has a strong interest and passion around big data. He notes that a “gut feeling is good, but data is better.” He talks about a project where an existing language model was trained with all Journal of Dairy Science abstracts since 1917 so that answers from chatbots would be fed by JDS knowledge. He talks about other ways this type of approach could be used in the future to provide answers to questions on-farm. (8:09)Eve is the Senior Vice President of Strategic Intelligence at DMI and was the food futurist expert on the panel. She notes that dairy’s image is shifting to that of a health and wellness food. The question then becomes what is the future of health and wellness, and what does the dairy industry need to do to build towards that future? She talks about the roles of data and artificial intelligence in enabling us to design the foods of the future tailored to each individual. She advises that knowing more about your product than anyone else on the planet through technology and science allows you to anticipate what consumers are going to want and need in the future.   (14:33)The panel talks about genetic selection to produce particular components “naturally” rather than through food processing, where the industry is headed in regard to total milk production, breeding dairy cows for health, providing tools for making wise use of resources especially in developing countries, and how the future of big data could impact decisions made on-farm. (20:12)Eve talks about the consumer who has (processed) collagen in their coffee each morning but also demands clean, whole foods. Consumers want it all. She envisions a future where consumers will know the truth about how foods work in their body because they’ll have the technology to measure it. The group goes on to talk about wearable technology like continuous glucose monitors and the variability that exists in the human population compared to variation in Holstein cows, for example. (35:05)The guests talk about where the gaps are in technology - what else do we need to take the next step? Dry matter intake might be one, but Dr. Baes notes that the Danish have technology through video of the feed bunk that allows them to predict intake with surprisingly high accuracy. (41:59)Panelists share their take-home thoughts. (47:07)Please subscribe and share with your industry friends to invite more people to join us at the Real Science Exchange virtual pub table.  If you want one of our Real Science Exchange t-shirts, screenshot your rating, review, or subscription, and email a picture to anh.marketing@balchem.com. Include your size and mailing address, and we’ll mail you a shirt.

<description>&lt;p&gt;This episode features speakers from the 2025 ADSA Opening Session Panel: Designing Dairy 2045—Envisioning the Future of Cows, Dairy Products, and Farms, which explored the long-term future of dairy.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dr. VandeHaar explains the idea behind creating the panel discussion for the opening session and his selection of the other three podcast guests as panel members. (2:02)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dr. Baes was the genomics expert on the panel. Her talk focused on what types of data have been collected on dairy cattle in the past and in the future, as well as the collaboration needed among different disciplines to ensure the right information is being collected in the appropriate way. (4:54)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dr. Hostens was the data analytics expert on the panel. He is a veterinarian by training, but has a strong interest and passion around big data. He notes that a “gut feeling is good, but data is better.” He talks about a project where an existing language model was trained with all Journal of Dairy Science abstracts since 1917 so that answers from chatbots would be fed by JDS knowledge. He talks about other ways this type of approach could be used in the future to provide answers to questions on-farm. (8:09)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Eve is the Senior Vice President of Strategic Intelligence at DMI and was the food futurist expert on the panel. She notes that dairy’s image is shifting to that of a health and wellness food. The question then becomes what is the future of health and wellness, and what does the dairy industry need to do to build towards that future? She talks about the roles of data and artificial intelligence in enabling us to design the foods of the future tailored to each individual. She advises that knowing more about your product than anyone else on the planet through technology and science allows you to anticipate what consumers are going to want and need in the future.   (14:33)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The panel talks about genetic selection to produce particular components “naturally” rather than through food processing, where the industry is headed in regard to total milk production, breeding dairy cows for health, providing tools for making wise use of resources especially in developing countries, and how the future of big data could impact decisions made on-farm. (20:12)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Eve talks about the consumer who has (processed) collagen in their coffee each morning but also demands clean, whole foods. Consumers want it all. She envisions a future where consumers will know the truth about how foods work in their body because they’ll have the technology to measure it. The group goes on to talk about wearable technology like continuous glucose monitors and the variability that exists in the human population compared to variation in Holstein cows, for example. (35:05)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The guests talk about where the gaps are in technology - what else do we need to take the next step? Dry matter intake might be one, but Dr. Baes notes that the Danish have technology through video of the feed bunk that allows them to predict intake with surprisingly high accuracy. (41:59)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Panelists share their take-home thoughts. (47:07)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Please subscribe and share with your industry friends to invite more people to join us at the Real Science Exchange virtual pub table.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you want one of our Real Science Exchange t-shirts, screenshot your rating, review, or subscription, and email a picture to anh.marketing@balchem.com. Include your size and mailing address, and we’ll mail you a shirt.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

This episode features speakers from the 2025 ADSA Opening Session Panel: Designing Dairy 2045—Envisioning the Future of Cows, Dairy Products, and Farms, which explored the long-term future of dairy.

Designing Dairy 2045: Envisioning the Future of Cows, Dairy Products, and Farms; Guests: Dr. Mike VandeHaar, Michigan State University; Dr. Christine Baes, University of Guelph;  Dr. Miel Hostens, Cornell University; Eve Pollet, Dairy Management Inc.

In the Real Science Exchange Legacy Series, we celebrate the pioneers who have shaped the dairy industry. In this episode, we honor Dr. Bill Weiss, professor emeritus at The Ohio State University. This episode was recorded at the 2025 ADSA annual meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, where Dr. Weiss received the 2025 ADSA Award of Honor. Dr. Weiss shares about his early life, schooling, and academic career. (2:29)Panelists introduce themselves and how they know Bill. Dr. Firkins started at OSU one month before Dr. Weiss, Dr. St. Pierre was in graduate school with Dr. Weiss, and Dr. Tebbe was Dr. Weiss’s last graduate student. (4:47)Dr. St. Pierre and Dr. Firkins share about Bill’s deep contributions to the science of energy, protein, and trace mineral nutrition in dairy cattle. They note he was a great mentor to his students and an exceptional colleague. Dr. Weiss reflects on his career and the collaborations he had with his colleagues even though they were on different campuses. Dr. Tebbe underlines what a hard worker Dr. Weiss is, yet always had time for his students. (11:45)Panelists share stories about Bill’s driving, winning 20 gallons of ice cream in a contest in graduate school, Bill’s less serious side, and his love for cars and golf. They also tease him a bit for being a glutton for punishment and serving on both the 2001 NRC and NASEM committees. (19:06)Panelists share their take-home thoughts. (29:11)Please subscribe and share with your industry friends to invite more people to join us at the Real Science Exchange virtual pub table.  If you want one of our Real Science Exchange t-shirts, screenshot your rating, review, or subscription, and email a picture to anh.marketing@balchem.com. Include your size and mailing address, and we’ll mail you a shirt.

<description>&lt;p&gt;In the Real Science Exchange Legacy Series, we celebrate the pioneers who have shaped the dairy industry. In this episode, we honor Dr. Bill Weiss, professor emeritus at The Ohio State University. This episode was recorded at the 2025 ADSA annual meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, where Dr. Weiss received the 2025 ADSA Award of Honor. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dr. Weiss shares about his early life, schooling, and academic career. (2:29)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Panelists introduce themselves and how they know Bill. Dr. Firkins started at OSU one month before Dr. Weiss, Dr. St. Pierre was in graduate school with Dr. Weiss, and Dr. Tebbe was Dr. Weiss’s last graduate student. (4:47)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dr. St. Pierre and Dr. Firkins share about Bill’s deep contributions to the science of energy, protein, and trace mineral nutrition in dairy cattle. They note he was a great mentor to his students and an exceptional colleague. Dr. Weiss reflects on his career and the collaborations he had with his colleagues even though they were on different campuses. Dr. Tebbe underlines what a hard worker Dr. Weiss is, yet always had time for his students. (11:45)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Panelists share stories about Bill’s driving, winning 20 gallons of ice cream in a contest in graduate school, Bill’s less serious side, and his love for cars and golf. They also tease him a bit for being a glutton for punishment and serving on both the 2001 NRC and NASEM committees. (19:06)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Panelists share their take-home thoughts. (29:11)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Please subscribe and share with your industry friends to invite more people to join us at the Real Science Exchange virtual pub table.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you want one of our Real Science Exchange t-shirts, screenshot your rating, review, or subscription, and email a picture to anh.marketing@balchem.com. Include your size and mailing address, and we’ll mail you a shirt.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

In the Real Science Exchange Legacy Series, we celebrate the pioneers who have shaped the dairy industry. In this episode, we honor Dr. Bill Weiss, professor emeritus at The Ohio State University. This episode was recorded at the 2025 ADSA annual meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, where Dr. Weiss received the 2025 ADSA Award of Honor. 

Legacy Series: Dr. Bill Weiss; Guests: Dr. Bill Weiss, Professor Emeritus, The Ohio State University; Dr. Normand St-Pierre, The Ohio State University; Dr. Alex Tebbe, Purina; Dr. Jeff Firkins, The Ohio State University

This episode features speakers from the 2025 ADSA Applied Nutrition Symposium, “Milk Pricing Dynamics and Strategies for Enhancing Milk Fat Production.” Dr. Lock gave the highlights of his presentation on dietary opportunities for promoting milk fat.  (2:18)Dr. St. Pierre’s presentation focused on the change we've had in the way milk and its components are priced. (5:25)Dr. Van Amburgh’s symposium talk covered amino acid supplementation to high producing cows eliciting more of a milk fat response than a milk protein response. (9:31)Dr. Van Amburgh and Dr. Lock talk about where butyrate fits into milk fat synthesis. Dr. Van Amburgh shares some of his experiences with grass-based dairy diets in Ireland and how those might influence milk fat production. The group discusses de novo and preformed fat synthesis and how diets may or may not influence those two mechanisms. (12:16)The guests talk about an abstract from Dr. Van Amburgh’s lab at the ADSA meetings about supplemental lysine levels. This leads into a discussion of lactose production and fluid milk volume, as well as feedback from cheese processors and the impact of supplemental chromium on milk production parameters. (22:31)Dr. St. Pierre talks about cheese processor concerns with increased milk fat concentrations, milk pricing structures, and milk perishability. (28:27)The panel discusses metabolizable protein, essential, non-essential, and branched-chain amino acids, and how the view of fatty acids and amino acids has changed from simple substrates to make milk components to compounds with biogenic activities. (36:20)Dr. St. Pierre talks about the inaugural Industry Day at the 2025 ADSA meetings and goals for similar future events. (43:01)Panelists share their take-home thoughts. (48:13)Please subscribe and share with your industry friends to invite more people to join us at the Real Science Exchange virtual pub table.  If you want one of our Real Science Exchange t-shirts, screenshot your rating, review, or subscription, and email a picture to anh.marketing@balchem.com. Include your size and mailing address, and we’ll mail you a shirt.

<description>&lt;p&gt;This episode features speakers from the 2025 ADSA Applied Nutrition Symposium, “Milk Pricing Dynamics and Strategies for Enhancing Milk Fat Production.” &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dr. Lock gave the highlights of his presentation on dietary opportunities for promoting milk fat.  (2:18)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dr. St. Pierre’s presentation focused on the change we've had in the way milk and its components are priced. (5:25)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dr. Van Amburgh’s symposium talk covered amino acid supplementation to high producing cows eliciting more of a milk fat response than a milk protein response. (9:31)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dr. Van Amburgh and Dr. Lock talk about where butyrate fits into milk fat synthesis. Dr. Van Amburgh shares some of his experiences with grass-based dairy diets in Ireland and how those might influence milk fat production. The group discusses &lt;i&gt;de novo&lt;/i&gt; and preformed fat synthesis and how diets may or may not influence those two mechanisms. (12:16)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The guests talk about an abstract from Dr. Van Amburgh’s lab at the ADSA meetings about supplemental lysine levels. This leads into a discussion of lactose production and fluid milk volume, as well as feedback from cheese processors and the impact of supplemental chromium on milk production parameters. (22:31)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dr. St. Pierre talks about cheese processor concerns with increased milk fat concentrations, milk pricing structures, and milk perishability. (28:27)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The panel discusses metabolizable protein, essential, non-essential, and branched-chain amino acids, and how the view of fatty acids and amino acids has changed from simple substrates to make milk components to compounds with biogenic activities. (36:20)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dr. St. Pierre talks about the inaugural Industry Day at the 2025 ADSA meetings and goals for similar future events. (43:01)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Panelists share their take-home thoughts. (48:13)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Please subscribe and share with your industry friends to invite more people to join us at the Real Science Exchange virtual pub table.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you want one of our Real Science Exchange t-shirts, screenshot your rating, review, or subscription, and email a picture to anh.marketing@balchem.com. Include your size and mailing address, and we’ll mail you a shirt. &lt;/p&gt;
</description>

This episode features speakers from the 2025 ADSA Applied Nutrition Symposium, “Milk Pricing Dynamics and Strategies for Enhancing Milk Fat Production.” 

Milk Pricing Dynamics and Strategies for Enhancing Milk Fat Production; Guests: Dr. Adam Lock, Michigan State University; Dr. Mike Van Amburgh, Cornell University; Dr. Normand St. Pierre, The Ohio State University

In this episode, we feature some of the winners of poster and oral presentation competitions at the 2025 ADSA Annual Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. Abstracts can be found here: <a href="https://www.adsa.org/Portals/0/SiteContent/Docs/Meetings/2025ADSA/Abstracts_BOOK_2025_20250624-1249.pdf">ADSA 2025 Annual Meeting</a>MS Oral Presentation, ProductionGuests: Trinidad Fernandez-Wallace and Dr. Lautaro Rostoll-Cangiano, University of Wisconsin-MadisonCo-host: Dr. Laura Niehues, BalchemAbstract 1218: Immunity at the crossroads of cellular metabolism: Navigating T helper shifts in the periparturient period of dairy cows. (0:08)Trinidad found that T-helper cell metabolism and proliferation were both upregulated after calving, which may impact the effectiveness of immune responses during the transition period. The group discusses if T-helper cells could be used as a marker of inflammation in the future and how Trinidad’s results may have been different if samples had been collected between 3 and 28 days after calving.PhD Oral Presentation, ProductionGuests: Natnicha Taechachokevivat and Dr. Rafael Neves, Purdue UniversityCo-host: Dr. Sion Richards, Balchem Abstract 1107: Relationships between systemic inflammation, subclinical hypocalcemia, and hyperketonemia in clinically healthy Holstein cows. (8:07)Natnicha investigated the association of plasma haptoglobin (an inflammatory marker) on days 1 and 3 in milk with subclinical hypocalcemia and hyperketonemia. Systemic inflammation appears to be associated with subclinical hypocalcemia and hyperketonemia and reduced milk yield in multiparous cows. When multiparous cows exhibited both inflammation and metabolic disease indicators, they produced less milk; however, when primiparous cows exhibited both inflammation and metabolic disease indicators, they produced more milk. 3 Minute ThesisGuests: Savitha Saikumar and Dr. Diwaker Vyas, University of FloridaCo-host: Dr. Laura Niehues, BalchemAbstract 1548: Effects of peripartal supplementation of prototype postbiotics on intake, rumen fermentation, colostrum quality, and performance in transition dairy cows. (15:14)Savitha investigated the effects of a prototype postbiotic supplement in transition cows from 35 days before calving to 63 days after calving. Cows on the postbiotic treatment received 25 grams per day topdressed on their TMR. Before calving, the postbiotic had no effect on dry matter intake, body condition sore, body weight, or total VFAs. After calving, the postbiotic increased dry matter intake and milk yield after 6 weeks, and increased energy-corrected milk and fat-corrected milk with no effect on body weight, body condition score, or rumen fermentation profile.PhD Poster Guest: Amanda Fischer-Tlustos, University of Guelph Abstract 2012: Characterization of dry-period mammary acetate and glucose metabolism and their association with colostrum production in multiparous Holstein cattle. (25:15)Amanda’s research evaluated acetate and glucose metabolism in the mammary gland during the dry and calving periods to better understand how colostrum is made. Acetate uptake by the udder remained fairly constant until one week before calving, when it started to increase. Glucose uptake did not increase until the onset of calving. Previous lactation milk production and far-off mammary metabolism were both negatively correlated with colostrum production. Amanda hypothesizes that high producing cows who have trouble drying off may have high amounts of metabolic activity in the mammary gland when they should have low activity, which may result in lower colostrum production at the subsequent calving. PhD Oral Presentation, Southern Branch DivisionGuests: Bridger Sparks and Dr. Clarissa Strieder-Barboza, Texas Tech UniversityCo-host: Dr. Ryan Pralle, BalchemAbstract 1215: Adipose tissue neuro-like cell profile changes with ketosis in dairy cows. (33:05)Bridger investigated neuro-like cells in the adipose tissue of cows with or without subclinical ketosis. The transcriptional profile of neuro-like cells changed when collected from cows with subclinical ketosis, which may indicate a potential regulatory role in adipose tissue metabolism. Perhaps modulation of neuro-like cells could potentially alleviate excessive adipose mobilization in the postpartum period. ADSA Graduate Student Division HighlightsGuests: Evelyn Yufeng Lin, North Carolina State University; Miranda Farricker, Cornell University; Conor McCabe, University of California-Davis; Dr. Maurice Eastridge, Ohio State University. (40:45) Dr. Eastridge is the chair of the ADSA Foundation and explains some of the Foundation’s current projects. Evelyn and Conor are past presidents of the ADSA Graduate Student Division, and Miranda is the incoming president. Each student gives a bit of background on themselves and their research and describes what the Graduate Student Division does and how they foster new graduate students in ADSA.  Please subscribe and share with your industry friends to invite more people to join us at the Real Science Exchange virtual pub table.  If you want one of our Real Science Exchange t-shirts, screenshot your rating, review, or subscription, and email a picture to anh.marketing@balchem.com. Include your size and mailing address, and we’ll mail you a shirt.

<description>&lt;p&gt;In this episode, we feature some of the winners of poster and oral presentation competitions at the 2025 ADSA Annual Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. Abstracts can be found here: &lt;a href="https://www.adsa.org/Portals/0/SiteContent/Docs/Meetings/2025ADSA/Abstracts_BOOK_2025_20250624-1249.pdf"&gt;ADSA 2025 Annual Meeting&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;MS Oral Presentation, Production&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Guests: Trinidad Fernandez-Wallace and Dr. Lautaro Rostoll-Cangiano, University of Wisconsin-Madison&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Co-host: Dr. Laura Niehues, Balchem&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Abstract 1218: Immunity at the crossroads of cellular metabolism: Navigating T helper shifts in the periparturient period of dairy cows. (0:08)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Trinidad found that T-helper cell metabolism and proliferation were both upregulated after calving, which may impact the effectiveness of immune responses during the transition period. The group discusses if T-helper cells could be used as a marker of inflammation in the future and how Trinidad’s results may have been different if samples had been collected between 3 and 28 days after calving.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;PhD Oral Presentation, Production&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Guests: Natnicha Taechachokevivat and Dr. Rafael Neves, Purdue University&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Co-host: Dr. Sion Richards, Balchem &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Abstract 1107: Relationships between systemic inflammation, subclinical hypocalcemia, and hyperketonemia in clinically healthy Holstein cows. (8:07)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Natnicha investigated the association of plasma haptoglobin (an inflammatory marker) on days 1 and 3 in milk with subclinical hypocalcemia and hyperketonemia. Systemic inflammation appears to be associated with subclinical hypocalcemia and hyperketonemia and reduced milk yield in multiparous cows. When multiparous cows exhibited both inflammation and metabolic disease indicators, they produced less milk; however, when primiparous cows exhibited both inflammation and metabolic disease indicators, they produced more milk. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;3 Minute Thesis&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Guests: Savitha Saikumar and Dr. Diwaker Vyas, University of Florida&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Co-host: Dr. Laura Niehues, Balchem&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Abstract 1548: Effects of peripartal supplementation of prototype postbiotics on intake, rumen fermentation, colostrum quality, and performance in transition dairy cows. (15:14)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Savitha investigated the effects of a prototype postbiotic supplement in transition cows from 35 days before calving to 63 days after calving. Cows on the postbiotic treatment received 25 grams per day topdressed on their TMR. Before calving, the postbiotic had no effect on dry matter intake, body condition sore, body weight, or total VFAs. After calving, the postbiotic increased dry matter intake and milk yield after 6 weeks, and increased energy-corrected milk and fat-corrected milk with no effect on body weight, body condition score, or rumen fermentation profile.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;PhD Poster &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Guest: Amanda Fischer-Tlustos, University of Guelph Abstract 2012: Characterization of dry-period mammary acetate and glucose metabolism and their association with colostrum production in multiparous Holstein cattle. (25:15)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Amanda’s research evaluated acetate and glucose metabolism in the mammary gland during the dry and calving periods to better understand how colostrum is made. Acetate uptake by the udder remained fairly constant until one week before calving, when it started to increase. Glucose uptake did not increase until the onset of calving. Previous lactation milk production and far-off mammary metabolism were both negatively correlated with colostrum production. Amanda hypothesizes that high producing cows who have trouble drying off may have high amounts of metabolic activity in the mammary gland when they should have low activity, which may result in lower colostrum production at the subsequent calving. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;PhD Oral Presentation, Southern Branch Division&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Guests: Bridger Sparks and Dr. Clarissa Strieder-Barboza, Texas Tech University&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Co-host: Dr. Ryan Pralle, Balchem&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Abstract 1215: Adipose tissue neuro-like cell profile changes with ketosis in dairy cows. (33:05)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Bridger investigated neuro-like cells in the adipose tissue of cows with or without subclinical ketosis. The transcriptional profile of neuro-like cells changed when collected from cows with subclinical ketosis, which may indicate a potential regulatory role in adipose tissue metabolism. Perhaps modulation of neuro-like cells could potentially alleviate excessive adipose mobilization in the postpartum period. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;ADSA Graduate Student Division Highlights&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Guests: Evelyn Yufeng Lin, North Carolina State University; Miranda Farricker, Cornell University; Conor McCabe, University of California-Davis; Dr. Maurice Eastridge, Ohio State University. (40:45) &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dr. Eastridge is the chair of the ADSA Foundation and explains some of the Foundation’s current projects. Evelyn and Conor are past presidents of the ADSA Graduate Student Division, and Miranda is the incoming president. Each student gives a bit of background on themselves and their research and describes what the Graduate Student Division does and how they foster new graduate students in ADSA.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Please subscribe and share with your industry friends to invite more people to join us at the Real Science Exchange virtual pub table.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you want one of our Real Science Exchange t-shirts, screenshot your rating, review, or subscription, and email a picture to anh.marketing@balchem.com. Include your size and mailing address, and we’ll mail you a shirt.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

In this episode, we feature some of the winners of poster and oral presentation competitions at the 2025 ADSA Annual Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. Abstracts can be found here: ADSA 2025 Annual Meeting

ADSA Winners - 2025

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