Breaking free from the chains of the past Where
truth moves faster than a Holstein calf No law
waiting on some printed page We're charting new
ground in the digital age From genomic codes
to robot facts We cut through the noise, no hold
them back not your daddy's dairy news tonight
we're sparking Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast,
where we translate cutting -edge dairy science
into practical strategies that boost your bottom
line. I'm your host, and today we're diving into
something that's been keeping me up at night
lately, and it's not just the 4 a .m. milking
routine. We've just analyzed the July 2025 Journal
of Dairy Science, and honestly, There's more
actionable intelligence packed into this summer's
research than we've seen in years. We're talking
about eight breakthrough findings that could
transform how you manage everything from H5N1
preparedness to antibiotic protocols, genomic
selection to nutrition optimization. If you're
tired of leaving money on the table because you
haven't caught up with the latest research, this
episode is for you. We'll break down exactly
what these studies mean for your operation. with
real examples from farms that are already implementing
these strategies and seeing results. So grab
your coffee and let's dig into the research that's
actually moving the needle for dairy operations
across North America. Welcome back to the Bullvine
podcast, the show that digs deep into the topics
that matter to dairy producers. That's right.
Today, we're tackling a really interesting feature
article from the Bullvine that's, well, it's
got everyone talking. We're going to break it
all down for you. Okay, let's jump right in.
First big theme, navigating modern crises, and
specifically the H5N1 wake -up call. The article
really frames this not just as a health issue,
but like a case study in crisis management for
dairy farms. We're talking nearly a thousand
herds, 16 U .S. states confirmed between March
2024 and May 2025. That's a huge footprint on
the industry, isn't it? It absolutely is. And
what's really striking here, I think, is how
this outbreak has truly forced producers to look
at their operations differently. Yeah. How so?
Well, the article points out, you know, some
are treating it as just a temporary headache,
like this too shall pass. Right. White it out.
But then you've got others who are seeing it
as a chance, maybe even a necessity, to completely
overhaul their biosecurity. And, well, it seems
like that second group is really coming out stronger.
And it sounds like the benefits go beyond just
H5N1. There was that Michigan producer insight.
This outbreak forced us to look at our entire
operation differently. Exactly. They found that
better biosecurity, things like improved ventilation,
even better worker health monitoring, they're
paying off in other ways, too. It's like... Fixing
one problem highlighted other areas for improvement.
That's a great way to put it. It kind of shifts
the thinking, doesn't it? From just crisis response
to seeing this preparedness as an investment,
an investment in just better operations long
term, building resilience. Right. But the article
also touches on something often overlooked, the
psychological toll on the workers. What did it
say about that impact? Yeah, that's critical.
It's showing that the mental strain. You know,
dealing with sick animals, worrying about their
families getting sick. It creates real operational
challenges. Challenges beyond just the disease
itself. Exactly. When your team is stressed or
mentally checked out, everything else kind of
slows down. It's a hidden drag on efficiency,
you know. That makes sense. Yeah. And it makes
you wonder, can we learn from how others have
tackled this? Like the Netherlands. They had
H5N1 back in 2021. Yeah, the article mentioned
their compartmentalization approach. Right. creating
these distinct isolated zones within the farm.
Treating parts of the farm almost like separate
units instead of one big connected space. It
seems like a more targeted biosecurity, not just
a blanket lockdown. Which apparently reduced
transmission rates. Yeah. And then you've got
New Zealand dealing with it in pasture systems.
That's giving us insights for our own grazing
setups, right? Especially spring and summer.
Totally. Their data showing outdoor transmission
is... Well, it's a different beast compared to
confinement systems, which is kind of what we're
seeing play out now in the Midwest. Challenges
some old assumptions. And what's really eye -opening
are the farms that jumped on those comprehensive
One Health protocols early. You know, the idea
that human, animal, and environmental health
are all linked. They're not just managing H5N1
better. They're finding, like, better air quality
helps calf respiratory issues in the summer humidity.
Oh, interesting. And improved worker health checks
are catching things like heat stress earlier.
Plus, better biosecurity just keeps other bugs
out, too. It's like a win -win -win. That whole
resilience idea again. Which leads nicely into
our next focus. Are we doing everything we can
with antibiotics and genetics for herd health?
Yeah, the article really digs into some, frankly,
sobering antibiotic resistance numbers, but also
some exciting genetic advances. So the resistance
part first. Well, it seems pretty clear we're
leaving money on the table with some of these
old one -size -fits -all antibiotic approaches.
Like take Pastorella multisida in young calves.
The article cites tetracycline resistance between
20 and 50 percent. Wow, up to half. Yeah. So
the drugs we relied on just aren't working like
they used to. which means treatment failures,
longer sickness, higher costs for producers.
It adds up fast. So what's the alternative? The
article mentioned an age -specific protocol framework.
Exactly. It breaks it down. For pre -weaned calves,
zero to eight weeks old, they have the highest
tetracycline resistance. So the recommendation
is ceftio for first choice. Maybe macrolides
as a backup. And the key is catching respiratory
issues super early, especially in those hot,
stressful summer months. Got it. And then for
older heifers? Weaned heifers, so eight weeks
up to breeding age. They show moderate resistance,
but different bacteria seem to be involved. Tilmacosin
shows better sensitivity there. And timing matters.
Critically. Especially in the fall, you know,
when they're transitioning to winter housing,
that's a high -risk period for respiratory challenges.
Got to be proactive. And lactating cows. Interestingly,
they tend to respond better overall, but timing
is everything. If you wait until the signs are
really obvious, your recovery rates plummet.
Especially bad during peak lactation, right?
Makes sense. And there was that Wisconsin example,
a 500 -cow herd. Yeah, that was impressive. Their
first treatment success rate in pre -weaned calves
jumped from 67 % to 91%. Just by switching protocols
based on age. Just by switching. Think about
almost doubling your success rate. That's real
savings. Wow, that's huge. It really is. And
it's worth noting, ceftiofer still seems pretty
effective against Manheimia hemolytica. So resistance
isn't building up there as much yet. And there
are regional tweaks, too. Like down in Texas
and Georgia, they're seeing better results with
macrolides in the summer heat stress periods.
While up north, ceftiofer is often the year -round
choice. It's not totally uniform. And we can
look overseas again, right? The EU. Yeah, their
stricter rules are really pushing towards using
diagnostics first to pick the right drug. That
Danish producer example. Seeing about a 60 %
jump in first treatment success just by getting
more precise with age -specific protocols, it
shows what's possible. Precision seems to be
the key word, which also applies to genetics,
right? The article talked about a kind of quiet
revolution there. It did. And it makes you ask,
are we really using genomics for more than just
milk production? Good question. Research from
European Holsteins is finding specific genetic
markers for things like mastitis resistance,
lameness, stuff that directly hits herd health
and, you know, your vet bills. It's shifting
the focus. From just quantity to maybe quality
or robustness. Exactly. And you mentioned the
USDA's net merit index getting turbocharged with
this health data. Yeah, that caught my eye. Are
farms seeing results? Seems like the early adopters
are. That New York breeder, quote, really nailed
it. We're finally selecting for the stuff that
actually matters on the farm, not just what looks
good on paper. Ah, yeah. A dose of reality. And
this ties into crossbreeding, too. The article
mentions Sanheng cattle having, like, higher
immune capacity, better disease resistance than
pure Holsteins. Interesting. So some progressive
breeders, like that Vermont producer, seeing
fewer calf respiratory issues in the tricky spring
season, are strategically experimenting, trying
to keep the milk but boost the health through
careful crossbreeding, leveraging different strengths.
Okay. And staying with calves for a moment, there
was that early detection method for pneumonia.
Using ultrasound. That sounds potentially game
-changing. I agree. It's really innovative because
it uses tech many farms already have for preg
checks. Right. Same machine, different application.
But it lets you spot subclinical pneumonia, like
days or even weeks before you'd see traditional
signs. You're catching it before it does major
lung damage, saving treatment costs, and frankly,
saving calves. And that Pennsylvania example,
the 300 -cow farm. Yeah. Treatment success jumping
from 78 % to 96%. Just by catching it early with
ultrasound, it's moving from reaction to real
prevention. So how would a farm implement that?
Well, the article suggests different strategies
by size, maybe quarterly screening for smaller
herds. Under 200 cows, focusing on high -risk
times. Medium herds, 200, 500, maybe weekly during
peak calf arrival seasons. And the big guys,
500 plus. Some are doing daily checks with trained
techs. And timing it seasonally matters too.
Definitely. Spring and fall weather transitions
are key times to ramp up screening. Integrate
it where it gives you the most bang for your
buck. All right. Another area where timing is
critical, according to the article, is dry cow
treatments, specifically ivermectin. Oh, yeah.
And this one hits the bottom line directly through
market access. The research is clear. Treating
within 10 days of calving can lead to detectable
residues in milk, residues that might exceed
regulatory limits. Which could block you from
export markets or premium milk programs. Exactly.
It jeopardizes those valuable contracts. That
10 -day rule isn't just a suggestion. It's crucial.
That Vermont producer's close call really highlighted
that. Treating a cow eight days pre -calving
almost cost them their whole export deal because
of residues. Wow. That's cutting it close. And
it's not just a U .S. thing. Global regulators,
especially in the EU, are getting much stricter
with residue monitoring, more testing, bigger
penalties. So accurate record keeping becomes
even more vital. Absolutely. Integrated systems
that track treatments and withdrawal times are
basically becoming essential if you want to play
in those global markets. Compliance is key. Okay,
let's shift gears a bit. Theme three. Boosting
production and efficiency. The article had some
really interesting bits on nutrition, housing,
even cow social life in robotic systems. Yeah,
the nutrition part, especially on amino acids
like methionine, was fascinating. It challenges
the idea of feeding all cows the same. Because
the response is different. Dramatically different,
according to the research. First lactation cows,
perimiparous cows, show big responses to methionine
supplementation. Better mood protein, fat yields.
Okay. And mature cows. Mature cows. Not so much
on the components. They mainly just show increased
dry matter intake. So the way they use it is
different. Interesting. So are we leaving money
on the table by not having parity -specific feeding?
It really looks that way. That California nutritionist
saw first calf heifers respond within just two
weeks. measurable improvements. That's a fast
ROI. And season matters here, too. Yeah, especially
with heat stress. In summer, those first lactation
cows under stress seem to benefit even more from
methionine because their metabolic needs are
higher. So folks in the Southwest, for example,
are adjusting protocols for summer. And they've
mentioned leucine showing similar patterns. Briefly,
yeah. Suggests it might be a broader principle
for amino acid balancing based on parity and
stress. Okay. Now, what about where cows live?
The housing debate. Compost barns versus outdoor
systems. Right. This brings up that constant
balance. Cow comfort versus cost. Compost barns
generally mean better udder hygiene, maybe higher
production, but they cost more up front, like
maybe 40 % higher construction costs than some
outdoor setups. That's significant. But then
there was that Ohio example where milk quality
premiums actually covered the extra cost of the
compost barn. Exactly. So the ROI isn't just
the build cost. And outdoor systems can work
well for production, especially with lower capital.
But they definitely demand more intense management
for milk quality. It's a tradeoff. And the article
connected housing to labor, too. Yeah, that was
a great point. The Minnesota producer who found
better working conditions in the compost barn
helped him keep good employees. Which has its
own economic value, especially now. For sure.
Employee retention is huge. And of course, climate
matters. Compost barns might offer more advantages
in cold northern winters, while well -managed
outdoor systems with shade and cooling might
work better down south. No single right answer
for everyone. Okay, finally, for farms using
automated milking systems, AMS, or robots. The
article pointed out a kind of hidden efficiency
killer. Yeah, this one surprised me too. It's
not just about the robot's settings. It's about
cow sociology. Social dynamics. Around the robot.
Basically, yes. High -ranking boss cows can actually
block other cows, especially timid ones, or maybe
lame cows from getting to the robot easily. So
those cows get milked less often. Right. It creates
this invisible drag on productivity that you
might not even see in your standard AMS reports.
It's like a hidden trapping jam. Wow. So what's
the fix? Priority lanes. That's one solution
the article highlights. Systems that give lower
ranking or identified cows preferential access
can really help boost their milking frequency.
And that Wisconsin producer quote was telling,
we had no idea how much production we were losing
to social competition until we started tracking
individual cow behavior. Exactly. It shows that
optimizing AMS is moving beyond just tweaking
the machine. It's about managing the complex
interactions around the machine. And there were
guidelines based on cows per robot. Yeah, rough
guidelines like under 60 cows per robot, maybe
focus on training individual cows. Between 60
and 80, priority lanes seem most effective. Over
80, you're probably looking at needing another
robot or some significant management changes.
Gives you a starting point. Okay, so we've covered
a lot of ground. After digging through all this,
what are the key takeaways? The really actionable
things a farmer listening today could start thinking
about. All right, let's boil it down. Five key
things, I think. First. Age -specific antibiotic
protocols. They're game changers. Like that Wisconsin
farm jumping from 67 % to 91 % success. Exactly.
Start with your highest risk group, probably
pre -weaned calves. Switch off tetracycline if
resistance is likely. Focus on timing, like fall
transitions. Better health, lower costs. It's
practical. Okay, number two. Second, parity -specific
methionine feeding. This pays off fast. Try a
pilot pen of first lactation fresh cows. You
see results in like two weeks, right? Yeah. Measurable
milk component improvements. Mature cows mostly
just eat more. Target the ones who benefit most.
Simple trial. Got it. Third. Third. Ultrasound
for calf pneumonia. Don't dismiss it as too high
tech. It's practical prevention. Using the preg
check machine. Right. Catch subclinical cases
early, like that Pennsylvania farm going from
78 % to 96 % treatment success. Use it strategically
during risky weather transitions, spring and
fall. It saves money and calves. Makes sense.
Fourth takeaway. Fourth. rethink housing ROI.
It's more complex now. Yes, compost barns might
cost 40 % more up front. But factoring milk quality
premiums? Maybe better worker retention. Exactly.
And labor efficiency, changing market requirements
for 2025. Look beyond just the initial construction
bill. Good point. And number five. Fifth, for
AMS users, priority lanes tackle hidden losses.
That social competition at the robot is real.
Like that Wisconsin producer discovered. Yeah.
Track individual cow behavior if you can, or
consider priority systems if you're in that 60
-80 cows per robot range. You might be surprised
what you find. Those are some really concrete
actions. And I guess the overarching theme is,
you know, start small, measure the results, and
then scale up what works for your specific operation.
Precisely. You can't manage what you don't measure.
The data tells the story. And really, the whole
article points to the industry being at... an
inflection point. Inflection point. Yeah. Where
really applying science -based management, being
precise, using data, that's what's going to define
success going forward. It's not just about small
tweaks anymore. It's fundamental shifts. And
the choice really is whether you embrace that
or risk getting left behind. A powerful thought
to end on. Great points. And that's all the time
we have for today's deep dive. For more articles
and insights, be sure to visit www .thebullvine
.com. And don't forget to subscribe wherever
you heat your podcasts. Thanks so much for listening.
And there you have it. Eight research insights
that could seriously impact your farm's profitability.
From age -specific antibiotic protocols boosting
success rates by 60%, to parity -specific methionine
feeding delivering results in just two weeks,
to ultrasound screening that can jump treatment
success from 78 % to 96%. Here's the thing. This
isn't theoretical anymore. These are proven strategies
that progressive operations are already implementing.
The question isn't whether this stuff works.
It's whether you'll be the one profiting from
it first or watching your competitors gain the
advantage. Remember, the most successful operations
treat research as practical business intelligence,
not abstract academic exercise. So pick one protocol,
start small, test thoroughly, and scale gradually.
For the full article with all the implementation
details, decision frameworks, and source links,
head over to www .thebullvine .com. That's T
-H -E -B -U -L -V -I -N -E dot com. Thanks for
listening to The Bullvine Podcast. Until next
time, keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible
in dairy management. Your cows and your bank
account will thank you.