WEBVTT 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:15.060 Breaking free from the chains of the past Where 00:00:15.060 --> 00:00:18.820 truth moves faster than a Holstein calf No law 00:00:18.820 --> 00:00:21.660 waiting on some printed page We're charting new 00:00:21.660 --> 00:00:25.300 ground in the digital age From genomic codes 00:00:25.300 --> 00:00:29.120 to robot facts We cut through the noise, no hold 00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:32.460 them back not your daddy's dairy news tonight 00:00:32.460 --> 00:01:03.689 we're sparking Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast, 00:01:04.170 --> 00:01:06.730 where we cut through the industry noise to deliver 00:01:06.730 --> 00:01:08.969 the hard -hitting insights that actually move 00:01:08.969 --> 00:01:12.390 your operation forward. I'm your host, and today 00:01:12.390 --> 00:01:15.129 we're tackling a problem that's silently bleeding 00:01:15.129 --> 00:01:17.709 money from dairy operations across the industry. 00:01:18.450 --> 00:01:22.750 Retained placentas. If you think retained placentas 00:01:22.750 --> 00:01:25.709 are just an unavoidable part of dairying, think 00:01:25.709 --> 00:01:28.310 again. We're diving deep into research that shows 00:01:28.310 --> 00:01:33.680 each case is costing you exactly $389, and that's 00:01:33.680 --> 00:01:36.819 just the beginning. Most producers accept rates 00:01:36.819 --> 00:01:40.200 of 10 % to 15 % when leading operations consistently 00:01:40.200 --> 00:01:44.079 maintain rates below 5 % through targeted nutritional 00:01:44.079 --> 00:01:48.219 strategies. In today's episode, we'll break down 00:01:48.219 --> 00:01:50.799 the real financial impact hitting your bottom 00:01:50.799 --> 00:01:53.980 line, expose the nutritional deficiencies that 00:01:53.980 --> 00:01:56.760 are setting your transition cows up for failure, 00:01:57.200 --> 00:01:59.719 and give you the exact supplementation protocols 00:01:59.719 --> 00:02:02.900 that progressive dairies are using to virtually 00:02:02.900 --> 00:02:06.459 eliminate this costly condition. This episode 00:02:06.459 --> 00:02:09.520 features an AI -generated analysis of our latest 00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:12.639 feature article, synthesizing the latest research 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:15.139 from the Journal of Dairy Science, University 00:02:15.139 --> 00:02:18.379 of Florida Studies, and real -world success stories 00:02:18.379 --> 00:02:20.960 from operations that have slashed their retained 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:25.069 placenta rates by over 60%. Whether you're running 00:02:25.069 --> 00:02:28.909 50 cows or 5 ,000, the science is clear and the 00:02:28.909 --> 00:02:32.110 solutions are proven. Let's get started. Okay, 00:02:32.169 --> 00:02:35.610 let's unpack this. Imagine a single health event 00:02:35.610 --> 00:02:39.330 on your dairy hitting you for $389. Not, you 00:02:39.330 --> 00:02:42.150 know, over the year, but per cow, per time it 00:02:42.150 --> 00:02:45.210 happens. That figure is the immediate hook in 00:02:45.210 --> 00:02:46.830 the Bullvine article we're diving into today, 00:02:46.909 --> 00:02:48.409 and it really makes you stop and think. That 00:02:48.409 --> 00:02:51.729 $389 number for a retained placenta case. Yeah. 00:02:52.060 --> 00:02:55.280 Yeah, it immediately elevates it from maybe a 00:02:55.280 --> 00:02:57.879 routine nuisance to a really significant financial 00:02:57.879 --> 00:03:00.259 drain. It's way more costly than a lot of producers 00:03:00.259 --> 00:03:02.620 might realize. Exactly. And that's the core of 00:03:02.620 --> 00:03:04.699 our topic today, retained placentas in dairy 00:03:04.699 --> 00:03:07.879 cows. It's incredibly common, yes, but the angle 00:03:07.879 --> 00:03:10.280 in this Bullvine article, it's titled Profit 00:03:10.280 --> 00:03:12.900 Drainage, Preventing Retained Placentas Through 00:03:12.900 --> 00:03:16.319 Nutrition. it really challenges the common wisdom. 00:03:16.419 --> 00:03:18.879 It makes a very strong case that this isn't just 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:21.840 about bad luck or genetics, it's primarily a 00:03:21.840 --> 00:03:24.050 nutrition problem. Right. And our mission in 00:03:24.050 --> 00:03:26.370 this deep dive is basically to take this compelling 00:03:26.370 --> 00:03:28.770 bullvine article, sort of cut through the noise, 00:03:28.930 --> 00:03:32.129 really understand the true cost of retained placentas 00:03:32.129 --> 00:03:34.530 on your farm, including maybe some hidden costs, 00:03:34.650 --> 00:03:37.889 and zero in on the practical nutrition -based 00:03:37.889 --> 00:03:40.349 strategies the article highlights. Okay. These 00:03:40.349 --> 00:03:42.009 are the methods progressive dairies are using 00:03:42.009 --> 00:03:44.629 to not just manage, but virtually eliminate this 00:03:44.629 --> 00:03:46.770 issue. We're talking directly to you, the dairy 00:03:46.770 --> 00:03:48.810 farmer, the herd manager, everyone in the industry 00:03:48.810 --> 00:03:52.370 who feels the pinch of these, well... preventable 00:03:52.370 --> 00:03:54.789 problems. So let's start with that headline number 00:03:54.789 --> 00:03:58.710 then, $389 per case. Where does that specific 00:03:58.710 --> 00:04:00.710 cost actually come from? What's making it so 00:04:00.710 --> 00:04:03.719 expensive? Well, there was a 2018 study in the 00:04:03.719 --> 00:04:05.319 Journal of Dairy Science, the article references 00:04:05.319 --> 00:04:06.860 it, and it broke it down pretty clearly. The 00:04:06.860 --> 00:04:10.819 biggest hit, $287. That's from lost milk production. 00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:14.060 Okay, wow. Then you've got about $73 due to delayed 00:04:14.060 --> 00:04:16.220 breeding, you know, pushing out that next lactation. 00:04:16.420 --> 00:04:19.439 And finally, maybe $25 accounts for the increased 00:04:19.439 --> 00:04:22.180 risk of other diseases that often follow a retained 00:04:22.180 --> 00:04:25.389 placenta. Lost milk. delayed pregnancies, and 00:04:25.389 --> 00:04:27.910 setting the cow up for more problems. Man, when 00:04:27.910 --> 00:04:31.230 you stack those up, that $389 starts to feel 00:04:31.230 --> 00:04:33.930 very, very real. It does. And the Bullbine article 00:04:33.930 --> 00:04:37.649 gives a relatable example. A 500 -cow dairy with 00:04:37.649 --> 00:04:40.389 a retained placenta rate of just 10%, which... 00:04:40.620 --> 00:04:42.800 Frankly, the article argues way too high. Way 00:04:42.800 --> 00:04:44.639 too high, yeah. As potentially bleeding nearly 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:48.199 $20 ,000 annually just from this one issue. It's 00:04:48.199 --> 00:04:49.959 really worth taking a moment right now to think 00:04:49.959 --> 00:04:51.899 about your own operation. You know, what's your 00:04:51.899 --> 00:04:54.420 herd size? What's your current retained placenta 00:04:54.420 --> 00:04:57.519 rate? Even if it's, say, 5 % or 7%, plug those 00:04:57.519 --> 00:05:00.740 numbers into that $389 figure. What's it actually 00:05:00.740 --> 00:05:03.240 costing your farm? The amount might surprise 00:05:03.240 --> 00:05:05.269 you. And it gets worse for your most valuable 00:05:05.269 --> 00:05:07.430 animals, right? The article points out mature 00:05:07.430 --> 00:05:10.110 cows are hit much harder financially. That's 00:05:10.110 --> 00:05:12.750 right. That same study found the cost is $313 00:05:12.750 --> 00:05:16.730 for multi -paris cows compared to only $150 for 00:05:16.730 --> 00:05:18.970 first -calf heifers. So you're higher producing, 00:05:19.149 --> 00:05:21.230 you're proving cows. They're costing you more 00:05:21.230 --> 00:05:23.050 than double when they have this issue. And as 00:05:23.050 --> 00:05:25.689 the Bullvine article really emphasizes, it retained 00:05:25.689 --> 00:05:29.410 placenta. It rarely exists in isolation. It's 00:05:29.410 --> 00:05:32.209 a major trigger for metritis, that painful and... 00:05:33.470 --> 00:05:35.930 costly uterine infection. Right, the follow -on 00:05:35.930 --> 00:05:37.990 problem. Exactly. University of Florida research 00:05:37.990 --> 00:05:40.910 mentioned the article tax on another $171 to 00:05:40.910 --> 00:05:45.209 $386 per metritis case. So if a retained placenta 00:05:45.209 --> 00:05:47.350 leads to metritis, you could easily be looking 00:05:47.350 --> 00:05:50.389 at a total bill nearing, what, $775 per cow? 00:05:50.610 --> 00:05:53.670 That's getting alarmingly close to $1 ,000 for 00:05:53.670 --> 00:05:55.790 a chain reaction of health issues that potentially 00:05:55.790 --> 00:05:58.379 start with... something preventable and this 00:05:58.379 --> 00:06:00.660 is where the bullvine article really lands its 00:06:00.660 --> 00:06:03.240 punch challenging that old belief that rps are 00:06:03.240 --> 00:06:05.980 just you know part of the game yeah it states 00:06:05.980 --> 00:06:08.639 plainly they are often not just bad luck or genetics 00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:11.079 the article makes a compelling case that they 00:06:11.079 --> 00:06:13.379 stem from nutritional issues that can be identified 00:06:13.379 --> 00:06:15.699 and fixed and that's such a critical mindset 00:06:15.699 --> 00:06:18.019 shift isn't it instead of just treating the retained 00:06:18.019 --> 00:06:20.300 placenta and then the metritis that follows you're 00:06:20.300 --> 00:06:21.860 focusing on actually preventing the underlying 00:06:21.860 --> 00:06:24.379 cause in the first place right stop it before 00:06:24.379 --> 00:06:27.170 it starts Speaking of causes, the Bulvan article 00:06:27.170 --> 00:06:29.329 points out a really interesting seasonal warning 00:06:29.329 --> 00:06:31.730 sign that maybe many producers might overlook. 00:06:32.370 --> 00:06:35.069 Retained placentas often spike during winter 00:06:35.069 --> 00:06:37.529 months. That's right. And research, like a study 00:06:37.529 --> 00:06:39.889 mentioned from 2019, ties this directly back 00:06:39.889 --> 00:06:42.629 to a common issue in winter. Dietary carotene 00:06:42.629 --> 00:06:45.170 deficiency, when cows don't have access to fresh 00:06:45.170 --> 00:06:48.029 forage. You know, stored feeds, they lose vitamins 00:06:48.029 --> 00:06:50.519 over time. Okay, so it's not just the cold weather 00:06:50.519 --> 00:06:53.480 itself, it's the change in feed causing a vitamin 00:06:53.480 --> 00:06:56.920 problem. Makes sense. And Dr. Rafael Bissinoto 00:06:56.920 --> 00:06:58.699 at the University of Florida, he's quoted in 00:06:58.699 --> 00:07:01.259 the article, offers specific nutritional adjustments 00:07:01.259 --> 00:07:03.420 for those winter months. Yeah, he recommends 00:07:03.420 --> 00:07:06.639 boosting vitamin A significantly, up to 100 ,000 00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:10.000 IUs per day, and increasing vitamin E to 2 ,000 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:12.519 IU per day, particularly when cows aren't out 00:07:12.519 --> 00:07:15.519 on pasture. 2 ,000, okay. Yeah. He also stresses 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:17.480 the need to be really vigilant about your stored 00:07:17.480 --> 00:07:20.220 feed quality and maybe considering beta carotene 00:07:20.220 --> 00:07:23.899 supplementation, 300, 500 milligrams per day 00:07:23.899 --> 00:07:26.279 if needed. And the article does the math for 00:07:26.279 --> 00:07:28.279 you on that beta carotene. It costs about dollars 00:07:28.279 --> 00:07:31.199 and 85 cents per cow per day. Now, that sounds 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:32.879 like something you might pause at initially. 00:07:33.019 --> 00:07:34.939 Right. Until you remember you're trying to prevent 00:07:34.939 --> 00:07:39.160 a $389 problem. Precisely. It just puts the cost 00:07:39.160 --> 00:07:41.540 of targeted prevention into perspective against 00:07:41.540 --> 00:07:44.519 the massive cost of just, well. accepting the 00:07:44.519 --> 00:07:46.699 problem, doesn't it? Absolutely. Because accepting 00:07:46.699 --> 00:07:48.860 a high retained placenta rate, as the article 00:07:48.860 --> 00:07:51.480 demonstrates, it just sets off this whole expensive 00:07:51.480 --> 00:07:54.160 cascade. The Merck Veterinary Manual suggests 00:07:54.160 --> 00:07:57.779 typical prevalence is like 5 -15%, but the leading 00:07:57.779 --> 00:08:00.420 operations, they're consistently below 5%. Right. 00:08:00.500 --> 00:08:03.120 And the connection to other issues is just undeniable. 00:08:03.279 --> 00:08:05.420 The Journal of Dairy Science highlighted back 00:08:05.420 --> 00:08:08.319 in 2012 that cows... that experience milk fever 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:11.060 are four times more likely to develop protein 00:08:11.060 --> 00:08:13.579 placenta. Four times, that's huge. So calcium 00:08:13.579 --> 00:08:16.139 metabolism goes wrong, dramatically increasing 00:08:16.139 --> 00:08:19.000 RP risk, which then skyrockets the risk of metritis. 00:08:19.279 --> 00:08:21.800 Exactly. And the USDA estimates metritis costs 00:08:21.800 --> 00:08:25.279 the industry between, what, $665 and $900 million 00:08:25.279 --> 00:08:27.759 annually? That's enormous. Impressive numbers. 00:08:28.019 --> 00:08:30.839 Yeah. And the Bullvine article asks a very pointed 00:08:30.839 --> 00:08:34.820 question. How much of that enormous cost is coming 00:08:34.820 --> 00:08:37.129 directly out of your pocket? Because you haven't 00:08:37.129 --> 00:08:40.769 prioritized reducing retained placentas. Thinking 00:08:40.769 --> 00:08:44.250 about it as a chain reaction really makes that 00:08:44.250 --> 00:08:47.549 upfront investment in prevention feel far more 00:08:47.549 --> 00:08:49.649 urgent. You've got to stop it at the source. 00:08:49.889 --> 00:08:52.529 Okay, so if nutrition is the key lever here, 00:08:52.690 --> 00:08:55.090 what are the specific nutrients we really need 00:08:55.090 --> 00:08:57.549 to dial in? The article dives deep into four 00:08:57.549 --> 00:08:59.330 crucial ones. Yeah, and this is where the science 00:08:59.330 --> 00:09:01.309 gets really fascinating. The article explains 00:09:01.309 --> 00:09:04.100 the underlying issue isn't simply... like a mechanical 00:09:04.100 --> 00:09:06.559 failure it's actually a breakdown in the cow's 00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:08.960 own immune system right at the connection point 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:12.100 between the cow and the placenta okay specifically 00:09:12.100 --> 00:09:14.799 these tiny immune cells called neutrophils which 00:09:14.799 --> 00:09:16.759 is supposed to help the placenta to catch smoothly 00:09:16.759 --> 00:09:19.059 they just aren't working effectively yeah there 00:09:19.059 --> 00:09:22.399 was research back in 2006 dr gunnink that established 00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:25.700 this link to immune function huh So it's really 00:09:25.700 --> 00:09:27.960 about supporting the cow's immune system so it 00:09:27.960 --> 00:09:30.720 can do its job properly and release the placenta 00:09:30.720 --> 00:09:32.940 naturally. Which nutrients are critical for that 00:09:32.940 --> 00:09:35.240 then? Okay, first up is one the Bullvine article 00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:39.000 calls the game changer. Selenium. Selenium, okay. 00:09:39.080 --> 00:09:42.519 Point to a classic 1997 study by Dr. Larry Smith 00:09:42.519 --> 00:09:45.539 at Ohio State that had, I mean, frankly, stunning 00:09:45.539 --> 00:09:47.820 results. Stunning how? What did they find? Well, 00:09:47.860 --> 00:09:50.860 they were seeing a 38 % retained placenta incidence 00:09:50.860 --> 00:09:54.559 rate in their herd. 38 %? That's high. Extremely 00:09:54.559 --> 00:09:56.759 high. They increased the cow's daily selenium 00:09:56.759 --> 00:10:00.080 intake from a pretty low 0 .23 milligrams up 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:03.259 to just 0 .92 milligrams. Still well within acceptable 00:10:03.259 --> 00:10:05.080 levels, mind you. And they saw the incidence 00:10:05.080 --> 00:10:08.580 drop all the way to zero. Wait, from 38 % to 00:10:08.580 --> 00:10:12.019 zero? Just by adjusting selenium? 0%. The article 00:10:12.019 --> 00:10:14.460 recommends targeting 0 .3 milligrams per kilogram 00:10:14.460 --> 00:10:17.480 of dry feed, which works out to about 6 milligrams 00:10:17.480 --> 00:10:19.919 per day total intake. And it really challenges 00:10:19.919 --> 00:10:21.940 that old school thinking that you only need just 00:10:21.940 --> 00:10:24.919 barely enough selenium. Wow. That kind of result, 00:10:24.980 --> 00:10:26.960 it makes you reevaluate everything, doesn't it? 00:10:27.059 --> 00:10:29.559 What about vitamin E? The article calls it the 00:10:29.559 --> 00:10:32.070 silent partner. Yeah, and the point there is 00:10:32.070 --> 00:10:34.370 that while many commercial mineral mixes might 00:10:34.370 --> 00:10:37.029 have adequate selenium these days, they often 00:10:37.029 --> 00:10:39.730 fall short on vitamin E, especially for dry cows. 00:10:40.190 --> 00:10:44.330 The Merck Veterinary Manual recommends 11 ,168 00:10:44.330 --> 00:10:47.149 to 1 ,200 IU daily during that transition period. 00:10:47.350 --> 00:10:50.529 Okay, so over 1 ,000 IU. Right. And the Bullvine 00:10:50.529 --> 00:10:52.769 article pushes back on the common practice of 00:10:52.769 --> 00:10:54.990 relying only on vitamin S -linium injections. 00:10:55.549 --> 00:10:57.909 They basically call injections a short -term 00:10:57.909 --> 00:11:00.029 band -aid. Right, a quick fix. Yeah, it only 00:11:00.029 --> 00:11:02.409 lasts maybe two, three weeks. The truly progressive 00:11:02.409 --> 00:11:05.169 approach, they argue, is feeding sufficient levels 00:11:05.169 --> 00:11:08.299 in the daily premix, day in and day out. Got 00:11:08.299 --> 00:11:10.820 it. Don't just use a shot as a fix. Build it 00:11:10.820 --> 00:11:13.659 into the daily diet. Makes sense. Now, calcium. 00:11:13.899 --> 00:11:15.860 The article calls it the double -edged sword. 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:17.580 Why is that? And that's a perfect description. 00:11:17.799 --> 00:11:20.059 The counterintuitive part here is that feeding 00:11:20.059 --> 00:11:22.360 too much calcium before calving is actually detrimental. 00:11:22.659 --> 00:11:25.120 Too much? How so? Well, you're essentially making 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:27.860 the cow system kind of lazy at mobilizing her 00:11:27.860 --> 00:11:30.629 own calcium reserves from her bones. Then right 00:11:30.629 --> 00:11:32.990 after calving, when milk production demands a 00:11:32.990 --> 00:11:35.929 massive amount of calcium almost instantly, her 00:11:35.929 --> 00:11:38.149 body can't access it fast enough. That leads 00:11:38.149 --> 00:11:41.169 to milk fever. Oh, okay. And as we just discussed, 00:11:41.289 --> 00:11:43.529 milk fever cows are four times more likely to 00:11:43.529 --> 00:11:46.360 have retained placentas. Trying to prevent milk 00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:48.960 fever by oversupplying calcium before calving 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:51.419 actually increases your retained placenta risk? 00:11:51.820 --> 00:11:53.700 Yeah. Yeah, that's a tough concept to get your 00:11:53.700 --> 00:11:56.279 head around. It absolutely is, but it's so critical 00:11:56.279 --> 00:11:58.740 for preventing both problems. The article gives 00:11:58.740 --> 00:12:01.700 the target sweet spot levels from the Merck Veterinary 00:12:01.700 --> 00:12:05.460 Manual, about 0 .44 % calcium for far -off dry 00:12:05.460 --> 00:12:09.919 cows and 0 .48 % for close -up cows. 0 .44 and 00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:13.120 0 .48. Exactly. And it strongly advises analyzing 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:16.289 your rations calcium content. because exceeding 00:12:16.289 --> 00:12:18.230 these levels is actively working against you. 00:12:18.330 --> 00:12:20.830 Analyze your feed. Simple advice, but clearly 00:12:20.830 --> 00:12:23.409 essential. And the final nutrient is protein, 00:12:23.629 --> 00:12:25.950 which the article describes as the surprising 00:12:25.950 --> 00:12:28.570 culprit. How does protein fit in? This is really 00:12:28.570 --> 00:12:31.049 fascinating science. Research cited from the 00:12:31.049 --> 00:12:33.809 Journal of Animal Science back in 2009 found 00:12:33.809 --> 00:12:36.389 that when cows are fed low -protein diets, their 00:12:36.389 --> 00:12:38.929 placentas actually grow larger. Larger, why? 00:12:39.250 --> 00:12:41.490 In an attempt to absorb more nutrients from the 00:12:41.490 --> 00:12:45.139 limited supply. And these heavier, larger placentas 00:12:45.139 --> 00:12:47.700 are significantly more prone to being retained 00:12:47.700 --> 00:12:50.320 after calving. It's harder for the cow to extel 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:53.240 them. Wow. So cutting corners on protein to save 00:12:53.240 --> 00:12:56.299 feed costs could literally be growing your retained 00:12:56.299 --> 00:12:58.980 placenta problem down the line. Exactly. Pennywise 00:12:58.980 --> 00:13:01.559 on protein, Dollar Foolish on retained placentas, 00:13:01.559 --> 00:13:03.480 and all the expensive issues that follow. The 00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:05.759 article provides target protein levels. Around 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:09.360 9 .9 % crude protein for far off and 12 .4 % 00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:12.899 for close -up dry cows. 9 .9 and 12 .4. Got it. 00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:15.259 Yeah. And it even cites a Journal of Dairy Science 00:13:15.259 --> 00:13:18.500 study from 2010 where simply adding some soybean 00:13:18.500 --> 00:13:21.179 meal to boost protein -reduced retained placentas 00:13:21.179 --> 00:13:24.860 from a staggering 50 % down to 20%. 50 down to 00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:27.360 20. Just with protein. These scientific insights 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:29.879 really underline why these specific nutrients 00:13:29.879 --> 00:13:31.820 are so impactful, don't they? They really do. 00:13:32.190 --> 00:13:34.230 And for anyone wanting a quick reference, the 00:13:34.230 --> 00:13:36.370 Bullvine article even includes a handy cheat 00:13:36.370 --> 00:13:38.649 sheet, right? It does, yeah. It pulls the key 00:13:38.649 --> 00:13:41.350 nutrition requirements from the 2023 Merck Veterinary 00:13:41.350 --> 00:13:44.350 Manual for both far -off and close -up dry cows. 00:13:44.710 --> 00:13:47.149 It lists the target levels for crude protein, 00:13:47.409 --> 00:13:51.830 calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, NDF, vitamin 00:13:51.830 --> 00:13:54.809 A, and vitamin E. Having those numbers right 00:13:54.809 --> 00:13:57.990 there side by side is super practical for checking 00:13:57.990 --> 00:14:00.649 your own ration or talking to your nutritionist. 00:14:00.710 --> 00:14:02.990 Definitely. And it briefly reminds you why each 00:14:02.990 --> 00:14:05.049 is important, like the protein placenta size 00:14:05.049 --> 00:14:07.669 link we just talked about or managing calcium 00:14:07.669 --> 00:14:10.230 to prevent milk fever and its ripple effect on 00:14:10.230 --> 00:14:12.340 our peas. It's a great little guide. Okay, but 00:14:12.340 --> 00:14:14.480 theory is one thing. Does this approach actually 00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:17.460 deliver results on a real farm? The article includes 00:14:17.460 --> 00:14:19.500 a powerful case study, which I think is really 00:14:19.500 --> 00:14:21.940 important. It does. It features Tom Wilson from 00:14:21.940 --> 00:14:25.039 Wilson View Dairy out in Oregon. Tom's farm was 00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:28.259 facing a 12 % retained placenta rate, right in 00:14:28.259 --> 00:14:30.379 that higher end of the typical range, you know. 00:14:30.460 --> 00:14:33.309 12%. Yeah, that's not ideal. No. And he wasn't 00:14:33.309 --> 00:14:35.590 willing to just accept it. So working with his 00:14:35.590 --> 00:14:37.950 nutritionist, Dr. Sarah Collins, they implemented 00:14:37.950 --> 00:14:41.309 a targeted program based on exactly these principles 00:14:41.309 --> 00:14:43.529 we've been discussing. Okay, what specific changes 00:14:43.529 --> 00:14:45.470 did they actually make on his farm? What did 00:14:45.470 --> 00:14:47.730 they do? The article details three main adjustments. 00:14:48.350 --> 00:14:51.590 First, they significantly boosted vitamin E from 00:14:51.590 --> 00:14:55.529 around 500 IU up to the recommended 1200 IU daily. 00:14:55.750 --> 00:14:58.470 Big jump. Yeah. Second, they fine -tuned their 00:14:58.470 --> 00:15:11.679 DCAD program, their dietary... So higher levels 00:15:11.679 --> 00:15:13.580 of those key nutrients we talked about, vitamin 00:15:13.580 --> 00:15:16.379 E, managing calcium and protein, and the outcome. 00:15:16.620 --> 00:15:19.919 What happened? The results were... Pretty dramatic 00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:22.019 and happened fast. Within just three months, 00:15:22.139 --> 00:15:24.299 their retained placenta rate plummeted from 12 00:15:24.299 --> 00:15:27.879 % down to 4 .8%. Wow. In three months? Yep. And 00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:29.720 within six months, they were consistently operating 00:15:29.720 --> 00:15:32.419 below 3 .5%. That's cutting the problem by more 00:15:32.419 --> 00:15:34.080 than two -thirds. That must have had a huge impact 00:15:34.080 --> 00:15:36.779 on their bottom line. Oh, absolutely. According 00:15:36.779 --> 00:15:38.759 to the Bullvine article, the economic impact 00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:41.830 was immediate and substantial. Tom Wilson reported 00:15:41.830 --> 00:15:44.509 a 60 % reduction in fresh cow treatments overall. 00:15:45.029 --> 00:15:48.590 60%. A 4 .3 pounds increase in early lactation 00:15:48.590 --> 00:15:50.830 milk yield and significantly fewer metabolic 00:15:50.830 --> 00:15:53.389 issues across the board. He estimated the cost 00:15:53.389 --> 00:15:55.370 of the nutritional program paid for itself within 00:15:55.370 --> 00:15:57.629 the very first month. Paid for itself in 30 days. 00:15:57.809 --> 00:15:59.490 Yeah, just through those reduced treatment costs 00:15:59.490 --> 00:16:02.450 alone. That real -world proof is incredibly compelling. 00:16:02.610 --> 00:16:04.809 Seeing that kind of return on investment in just 00:16:04.809 --> 00:16:07.730 a month really underlines that whole profit drainage 00:16:07.730 --> 00:16:11.519 idea. But... Let's be real for a second. Implementing 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:13.600 a premium nutrition program like this does have 00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:15.860 an upfront cost, right? It absolutely does. And 00:16:15.860 --> 00:16:18.379 the article addresses that head on. It acknowledges 00:16:18.379 --> 00:16:21.039 that these higher quality mineral packages might 00:16:21.039 --> 00:16:25.940 add, say, $25 to $45 per cow per day during that 00:16:25.940 --> 00:16:29.000 crucial 21 -day close -up period. So that's an 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:32.779 investment of about $5 .25 to maybe $9 .45 per 00:16:32.779 --> 00:16:35.590 transition cow. Okay, so you're spending roughly 00:16:35.590 --> 00:16:40.350 $5 to $10 extra per cow in that high -risk period. 00:16:40.909 --> 00:16:43.250 But as we keep saying, you're trying to prevent 00:16:43.250 --> 00:16:47.070 a problem that costs $389. And the article does 00:16:47.070 --> 00:16:48.889 the simple math that really cuts right to the 00:16:48.889 --> 00:16:51.610 chase. Based on that investment range, you only 00:16:51.610 --> 00:16:54.409 need to prevent one single case of retained placenta 00:16:54.409 --> 00:16:57.669 for every 41 to 74 transition cows you feed. 00:16:57.830 --> 00:17:00.580 Just one case. to break even on that nutritional 00:17:00.580 --> 00:17:03.460 investment. It poses the question directly, can 00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:05.619 you really afford not to make that investment 00:17:05.619 --> 00:17:07.640 when the potential loss is so high? And that 00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:09.680 frames it perfectly, doesn't it? It's not really 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:11.859 an expense. It's avoiding a much, much larger 00:17:11.859 --> 00:17:14.359 loss. What about producers with smaller herds? 00:17:14.359 --> 00:17:16.599 Is this approach still practical for them? Yeah, 00:17:16.660 --> 00:17:18.980 that's a good question. Dr. Mike Hutchins from 00:17:18.980 --> 00:17:20.720 the University of Illinois, he's also featured 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:23.039 in the article, offers practical advice specifically 00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:26.180 for herds under about 100 cows. Okay, what does 00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:29.130 he suggest? He suggests things like using commercially 00:17:29.130 --> 00:17:31.829 available transition top dress products, which 00:17:31.829 --> 00:17:33.650 could be easier to manage in smaller batches. 00:17:33.910 --> 00:17:36.089 Potentially using injectables for very small 00:17:36.089 --> 00:17:38.289 groups where mixing accurately is difficult. 00:17:38.809 --> 00:17:41.789 But he stresses the non -negotiables. Which are? 00:17:41.950 --> 00:17:44.670 Absolute focus on forge quality and excellent 00:17:44.670 --> 00:17:47.069 bunk management to ensure consistent dry matter 00:17:47.069 --> 00:17:49.849 intake. Those basics are critical, regardless 00:17:49.849 --> 00:17:52.400 of herd size. Good to know there are scalable 00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:55.380 options. So once a producer makes these changes, 00:17:55.619 --> 00:17:57.960 how should they monitor if it's actually working? 00:17:58.140 --> 00:18:00.980 What metrics really matter? The article suggests 00:18:00.980 --> 00:18:04.079 tracking specific things. First, obviously, your 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:05.940 weekly retained placenta rate and set a clear 00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:08.579 goal of getting below 5%. If you're not there, 00:18:08.700 --> 00:18:12.259 ask why. Okay. Track the RP rate? Yep. Then compare 00:18:12.259 --> 00:18:14.400 your fresh cow treatment costs before and after 00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:16.720 making the changes. Are they going down? Monitor 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:19.140 early lactation performance. How are cows milking 00:18:19.140 --> 00:18:21.460 in the first 30 days? Are you seeing that lift 00:18:21.460 --> 00:18:24.079 like Wilson View did? New production, yeah. And 00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:26.619 importantly, track body condition scores at calving. 00:18:26.819 --> 00:18:29.299 And then again, maybe 30 days into lactation. 00:18:29.559 --> 00:18:32.579 Are cows holding condition better? Are they transitioning 00:18:32.579 --> 00:18:35.079 more smoothly? Right, those visual cues too. 00:18:35.539 --> 00:18:38.200 Measurable outcomes are definitely key to knowing 00:18:38.200 --> 00:18:40.420 if your investment is paying off. The Bullvine 00:18:40.420 --> 00:18:42.740 article wraps things up with a pretty concise... 00:18:43.099 --> 00:18:45.740 five -step action plan for producers looking 00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:47.680 to get serious about this. Yeah. It basically 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:49.980 summarizes the path that progressive producers 00:18:49.980 --> 00:18:52.700 are taking. Number one, implement that targeted 00:18:52.700 --> 00:18:55.339 nutrition, really focusing on selenium and vitamin 00:18:55.339 --> 00:18:59.119 E levels. Get those right. Two, actively manage 00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:02.019 calcium metabolism to prevent hypocalcemia. That's 00:19:02.019 --> 00:19:03.839 absolutely critical because of that four times 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:06.180 link. Right. The milk fever connection. Exactly. 00:19:06.460 --> 00:19:08.900 Right. Three, monitor your programs rigorously 00:19:08.900 --> 00:19:11.559 and demand results. If your rate is staying above 00:19:11.559 --> 00:19:14.799 5%, Something needs attention. Don't just accept 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:18.119 it. Be proactive. Four, calculate the real cost 00:19:18.119 --> 00:19:20.259 of retained placentas for your farm. Make that 00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:23.140 $389 number personal. Figure out what it's costing 00:19:23.140 --> 00:19:26.140 you. And five, don't forget the basics like maintaining 00:19:26.140 --> 00:19:28.700 clean, comfortable calving areas. The environment 00:19:28.700 --> 00:19:30.920 still plays a role alongside nutrition. That's 00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:33.640 a solid, actionable plan. Seems very doable. 00:19:34.220 --> 00:19:36.900 So what's the ultimate takeaway then, the real 00:19:36.900 --> 00:19:40.039 bottom line from this bullvine deep dive? Well, 00:19:40.079 --> 00:19:42.319 the article quotes Dr. Jose Santos from the University 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:44.240 of Florida, who puts it really well. He says, 00:19:44.339 --> 00:19:47.119 when producers view retained placentas as a nutritional 00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:49.720 problem rather than a reproductive one, prevention 00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:52.140 rates improve dramatically. Viewing it differently. 00:19:52.359 --> 00:19:54.960 Exactly. The core message is that accepting 5 00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:58.079 -15 % prevalence isn't inevitable. It's basically 00:19:58.079 --> 00:20:00.980 accepting preventable profit loss. Progressive 00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:02.880 farms are pushing towards virtually eliminating 00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:06.470 RPs, not just to, you know. tick a box, but because 00:20:06.470 --> 00:20:08.769 it's absolutely key to optimizing that entire 00:20:08.769 --> 00:20:11.750 transition cow period and boosting overall profitability. 00:20:12.109 --> 00:20:14.569 It completely reframes the issue, doesn't it? 00:20:14.589 --> 00:20:17.190 It shifts from how do I treat this sick cow to 00:20:17.190 --> 00:20:19.349 how do I feed this cow properly so she never 00:20:19.349 --> 00:20:21.269 gets sick in the first place. That's it, precisely. 00:20:21.569 --> 00:20:23.769 And the article leaves you with that potent question 00:20:23.769 --> 00:20:27.250 we started with. With $389 potentially lost per 00:20:27.250 --> 00:20:30.369 case, how much longer can you really afford not 00:20:30.369 --> 00:20:33.039 to optimize your transition cow nutrition? Yeah, 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:35.460 that question really hits home. So we've taken 00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:37.579 a deep dive today into this Bullvine article 00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:41.259 highlighting how retained placentas are a major, 00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:44.619 maybe underestimated source of profit drainage. 00:20:44.819 --> 00:20:46.859 Definitely. We've hopefully debunked the idea 00:20:46.859 --> 00:20:49.440 that they're just unavoidable. And most importantly, 00:20:49.660 --> 00:20:52.460 laid out the specific science -backed nutritional 00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:56.359 strategies focusing on selenium, vitamin E, that 00:20:56.359 --> 00:20:58.839 tricky calcium balance and protein that the evidence 00:20:58.839 --> 00:21:02.569 shows can dramatically reduce incidence. ultimately 00:21:02.569 --> 00:21:05.210 boost your bottom line. The financial case for 00:21:05.210 --> 00:21:08.230 prevention is just overwhelmingly clear and the 00:21:08.230 --> 00:21:10.289 article provides those practical steps to get 00:21:10.289 --> 00:21:12.069 there. We really encourage you to take these 00:21:12.069 --> 00:21:14.769 insights, maybe calculate what retained placentas 00:21:14.769 --> 00:21:17.670 are truly costing your specific form, and have 00:21:17.670 --> 00:21:19.809 a conversation with your nutritionist armed with 00:21:19.809 --> 00:21:22.210 the specific strategies and nutrient levels discussed 00:21:22.210 --> 00:21:24.289 in this Bullvine article. And of course to read 00:21:24.289 --> 00:21:26.109 the full article for yourself, see all the case 00:21:26.109 --> 00:21:28.190 study details, and review those specific nutrient 00:21:28.190 --> 00:21:30.630 levels nice and clearly, you can find it online 00:21:30.630 --> 00:21:34.880 at www .thebullvine .com. Definitely worth checking 00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:37.279 out that full article. And just maybe a final 00:21:37.279 --> 00:21:40.420 thought to leave you with. If preventing a single 00:21:40.420 --> 00:21:45.319 $389 retained placenta case pays for the preventive 00:21:45.319 --> 00:21:48.680 nutrition for, what, up to 74 cows during their 00:21:48.680 --> 00:21:51.380 transition? Yeah, potentially. What other seemingly 00:21:51.380 --> 00:21:53.819 minor health or performance issues on your farm 00:21:53.819 --> 00:21:56.119 could be hiding massive preventable financial 00:21:56.119 --> 00:21:58.700 losses just waiting for you to dig into the science 00:21:58.700 --> 00:22:00.559 behind them like this? That's a great question 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:03.079 to ponder. Where else can nutrition make a difference? 00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:05.759 There you have it, the hard truth about retained 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:08.440 placentas and the proven nutritional strategies 00:22:08.440 --> 00:22:12.119 to prevent them. The bottom line is simple. At 00:22:12.119 --> 00:22:15.759 $389 per case, you can't afford to keep accepting 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:19.220 this as inevitable. The key takeaways are crystal 00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:22.859 clear. First, optimize your selenium and vitamin 00:22:22.859 --> 00:22:25.240 E supplementation during the transition period. 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:28.880 Second, manage calcium levels carefully to prevent 00:22:28.880 --> 00:22:32.619 the cascade of metabolic issues. Third, Don't 00:22:32.619 --> 00:22:35.019 shortchange protein in your close -up rations. 00:22:35.539 --> 00:22:38.500 And finally, implement seasonal adjustments for 00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:41.140 winter feeding when carotene deficiency spikes 00:22:41.140 --> 00:22:44.740 your risk. Remember, the implementation cost 00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:48.099 of just 25 to 45 cents per cow per day during 00:22:48.099 --> 00:22:50.900 the transition period pays for itself by preventing 00:22:50.900 --> 00:22:54.660 one case for every 41 to 74 transition cows. 00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:58.119 The math isn't complicated. The question is how 00:22:58.119 --> 00:23:01.250 much longer you can afford not to act. You can 00:23:01.250 --> 00:23:03.609 find the complete article with detailed nutritional 00:23:03.609 --> 00:23:06.809 requirements, cost calculators, and implementation 00:23:06.809 --> 00:23:12.130 strategies at www .thebullvine .com. We've included 00:23:12.130 --> 00:23:15.069 all the research citations, specific supplementation 00:23:15.069 --> 00:23:18.009 protocols, and real -world case studies to help 00:23:18.009 --> 00:23:21.329 you implement these changes immediately. If this 00:23:21.329 --> 00:23:23.569 episode challenged your thinking about transition 00:23:23.569 --> 00:23:26.349 cow nutrition, share it with your nutritionist, 00:23:26.430 --> 00:23:28.849 your vet, and other producers in your network. 00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:31.940 The dairy industry moves forward when we all 00:23:31.940 --> 00:23:34.259 embrace evidence -based management instead of 00:23:34.259 --> 00:23:39.200 accepting costly problems as unavoidable. Thanks 00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:42.119 for listening to the Bullvine Podcast. Keep pushing 00:23:42.119 --> 00:23:44.599 the boundaries of what's possible in your operation, 00:23:44.819 --> 00:23:47.119 and we'll see you next time when we continue 00:23:47.119 --> 00:23:49.259 cutting through the industry noise to deliver 00:23:49.259 --> 00:23:53.259 the insights that matter. Until then, stop accepting 00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:56.559 preventable losses and start optimizing for profit.