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 --> 00:01:02.820 we're sparking Welcome back to the Bullvine Podcast, 00:01:03.020 --> 00:01:05.260 where we cut through dairy industry noise to 00:01:05.260 --> 00:01:07.280 get you the insights that actually matter for 00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:10.219 your operation. And today, we're diving deep 00:01:10.219 --> 00:01:12.420 into a feature piece that's been generating some 00:01:12.420 --> 00:01:17.480 serious buzz. This one has layers and some surprises 00:01:17.480 --> 00:01:19.900 that are going to make farmers really rethink 00:01:19.900 --> 00:01:22.620 how they've been approaching those unexplained 00:01:22.620 --> 00:01:25.579 herd issues. We're talking about a hidden electrical 00:01:25.579 --> 00:01:28.540 threat that, when it's properly identified and 00:01:28.540 --> 00:01:31.099 fixed, well, it resulted in a truly staggering 00:01:31.099 --> 00:01:34.480 verified gain of nearly 20 pounds of milk per 00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:37.739 cow per day. That's right, 20 pounds. Okay, let's 00:01:37.739 --> 00:01:39.859 unpack this immediately because 20 pounds is 00:01:39.859 --> 00:01:42.420 the difference between surviving and thriving. 00:01:42.760 --> 00:01:45.840 This is a deep dive into stray voltage and, you 00:01:45.840 --> 00:01:48.040 know, specifically why the standard electrical 00:01:48.040 --> 00:01:50.959 utility testing protocol might be missing the 00:01:50.959 --> 00:01:53.599 core problem entirely. And potentially costing 00:01:53.599 --> 00:01:55.980 you years of frustration and, I mean, millions 00:01:55.980 --> 00:01:58.099 in lost production over time. We are talking 00:01:58.099 --> 00:02:00.159 about stray voltage now because, frankly, it's 00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:01.700 one of the most frustrating and consistently 00:02:01.700 --> 00:02:04.719 misdiagnosed problems in modern dairy. It really 00:02:04.719 --> 00:02:08.219 is. It's this invisible culprit that often gets 00:02:08.219 --> 00:02:11.319 blamed on management failure. Exactly. Especially 00:02:11.319 --> 00:02:13.659 when margins are tight and producers are looking 00:02:13.659 --> 00:02:16.539 for any possible explanation for why performance 00:02:16.539 --> 00:02:18.620 is declining. You have to think about the typical 00:02:18.620 --> 00:02:21.560 cycle. Production dips. Maybe the water intake 00:02:21.560 --> 00:02:24.439 drops. Cows get a little nervous in the parlor. 00:02:24.939 --> 00:02:27.479 So what does the farmer do? They call the nutritionist. 00:02:27.580 --> 00:02:29.759 They call the nutritionist. They check the TMR. 00:02:29.960 --> 00:02:31.699 They adjust the mineral packs. They call the 00:02:31.699 --> 00:02:34.560 vet about, you know, chronic mastitis that won't 00:02:34.560 --> 00:02:37.060 clear up. They spend thousands, sometimes tens 00:02:37.060 --> 00:02:39.500 of thousands, trying to fix what they think are 00:02:39.500 --> 00:02:42.659 feed or health issues. But the entire time, the 00:02:42.659 --> 00:02:45.509 farm's own infrastructure. or maybe even worse, 00:02:45.610 --> 00:02:48.210 the utilities, is the actual source of the stress. 00:02:48.409 --> 00:02:51.370 Right. And this deep dive really forces us to 00:02:51.370 --> 00:02:54.310 consider that all those other explanations might 00:02:54.310 --> 00:02:56.669 just be a complete distraction from the real 00:02:56.669 --> 00:02:59.189 infrastructural issue that's hitting the entire 00:02:59.189 --> 00:03:02.569 herd at once. And the stakes, I mean, they absolutely 00:03:02.569 --> 00:03:05.349 demand your attention. There are estimates, and 00:03:05.349 --> 00:03:07.490 we can track these back to foundational research, 00:03:07.550 --> 00:03:11.229 like the USDA Agriculture Handbook 696, that 00:03:11.229 --> 00:03:15.099 suggest up to 20 % of dairy operations may be 00:03:15.099 --> 00:03:18.240 dealing with some level of stray voltage. 20%. 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:20.240 That's one in five of you listening right now 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:21.939 who could be wrestling with this without even 00:03:21.939 --> 00:03:23.680 knowing it. And when you're talking about making 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:27.500 payroll or making a full financial recovery versus 00:03:27.500 --> 00:03:30.240 potentially having to shut the doors, recognizing 00:03:30.240 --> 00:03:33.360 these subtle symptoms early is the absolute difference 00:03:33.360 --> 00:03:35.500 maker. And that number we keep coming back to, 00:03:35.580 --> 00:03:37.860 that 20 pounds per cow per day, it isn't just 00:03:37.860 --> 00:03:40.080 a theoretical number, is it? No, not at all. 00:03:40.400 --> 00:03:42.680 It's the verified recovery reported by producers 00:03:42.680 --> 00:03:45.740 after they finally get a resolution. So if you 00:03:45.740 --> 00:03:48.000 were sitting on a 20 pound daily loss you didn't 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:50.159 know you had, that is your entire profitability 00:03:50.159 --> 00:03:52.740 margin just disappearing into thin air. OK, but 00:03:52.740 --> 00:03:55.280 here is the critical controversy. This is the 00:03:55.280 --> 00:03:57.520 central technical flaw that keeps this problem 00:03:57.520 --> 00:03:59.960 hidden and keeps everyone, you know, chasing 00:03:59.960 --> 00:04:02.919 ghosts for years. Utilities measure stray voltage 00:04:02.919 --> 00:04:05.460 using a standard resistance figure, right? They 00:04:05.460 --> 00:04:08.000 do. They use the National Electrical Safety Code, 00:04:08.099 --> 00:04:11.819 or NESC, accepted standard. It's a 500 -ohm resistance 00:04:11.819 --> 00:04:15.340 standard established way back in the 1990s. So 00:04:15.340 --> 00:04:17.439 the utility comes out, they plug in their meter, 00:04:17.519 --> 00:04:19.800 they get a reading that falls below the accepted, 00:04:20.040 --> 00:04:22.569 what? One volt threshold? Usually, yeah. That's 00:04:22.569 --> 00:04:24.110 the common benchmark. And they tell the farmer, 00:04:24.230 --> 00:04:27.449 it's not us. We are within compliance. And that 00:04:27.449 --> 00:04:29.829 piece of paper, that official compliance report, 00:04:30.089 --> 00:04:32.730 it gives the farmer this false sense of security? 00:04:33.069 --> 00:04:36.589 Or worse, it pushes them to fire their nutritionist 00:04:36.589 --> 00:04:39.449 because the utility's own documentation says 00:04:39.449 --> 00:04:42.149 the problem isn't electrical. That's the trap. 00:04:42.329 --> 00:04:45.069 Because the problem is that the data, the actual 00:04:45.069 --> 00:04:47.470 field research, suggests the utility's whole 00:04:47.470 --> 00:04:50.769 premise is flawed. How so? Well, research. including 00:04:50.769 --> 00:04:52.970 work referenced by Dr. Richard Norell at the 00:04:52.970 --> 00:04:55.209 University of Idaho, shows that a dairy cow's 00:04:55.209 --> 00:04:57.389 body resistance averages significantly lower 00:04:57.389 --> 00:05:00.170 than 500 ohms. We're often talking between 200 00:05:00.170 --> 00:05:02.889 and 400 ohms. Okay, so wait. If the animal's 00:05:02.889 --> 00:05:05.189 body resistance is maybe half of what the utility 00:05:05.189 --> 00:05:07.769 tests for, that means the cow is actually experiencing, 00:05:07.769 --> 00:05:10.110 what, double the electrical current? Potentially 00:05:10.110 --> 00:05:13.850 double or even more of the current that the utility 00:05:13.850 --> 00:05:17.459 standardized test is calling safe. It's a systemic 00:05:17.459 --> 00:05:20.379 oversight. It's based on these outdated protocols 00:05:20.379 --> 00:05:23.480 that were really designed for human safety, not 00:05:23.480 --> 00:05:26.579 for highly sensitive livestock. So until farmers 00:05:26.579 --> 00:05:29.279 understand this technical difference, this disparity, 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:32.300 and start demanding better testing, they're just 00:05:32.300 --> 00:05:34.100 going to keep bearing the cost of an infrastructure 00:05:34.100 --> 00:05:36.720 problem that isn't even theirs. That's the bottom 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:39.180 line. So let's ground this in reality. Let's 00:05:39.180 --> 00:05:41.019 look at the mystery of the failing herd through 00:05:41.019 --> 00:05:43.480 the eyes of a real producer, Jill Nelson from 00:05:43.480 --> 00:05:46.209 Omar Farms in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. And this 00:05:46.209 --> 00:05:48.829 is such a key example because this was not a 00:05:48.829 --> 00:05:50.670 struggling operation by any means. They were 00:05:50.670 --> 00:05:52.629 winning awards. They were an elite registered 00:05:52.629 --> 00:05:55.829 Holstein herd known for absolutely exemplary 00:05:55.829 --> 00:05:58.410 management. And yet over eight years, the farm 00:05:58.410 --> 00:06:00.790 struggled constantly with these unexplained health 00:06:00.790 --> 00:06:03.029 and performance issues. It's the ultimate example 00:06:03.029 --> 00:06:05.529 of this hidden crisis because it proves that 00:06:05.529 --> 00:06:07.589 just doing everything right, you know, the cleanest 00:06:07.589 --> 00:06:09.889 facilities, the highest genetics, the perfect 00:06:09.889 --> 00:06:12.670 feed, it doesn't grant you immunity from this. 00:06:12.889 --> 00:06:15.050 So what was the tipping point for them? What 00:06:15.050 --> 00:06:17.269 happened? Well, Nelson's journey really began 00:06:17.269 --> 00:06:19.930 with the most dramatic event possible. What if 00:06:19.930 --> 00:06:22.970 her best cows died, just unexpectedly, after 00:06:22.970 --> 00:06:25.790 a completely normal 70 -pound milking day? Just 00:06:25.790 --> 00:06:28.529 dropped dead. Pretty much. And the consultants 00:06:28.529 --> 00:06:30.550 she brought in, I mean, everyone from nutrition 00:06:30.550 --> 00:06:33.129 to milking system experts, they all confirmed 00:06:33.129 --> 00:06:35.620 her management was top -notch. The cow simply 00:06:35.620 --> 00:06:38.060 shouldn't have died. That kind of seven mortality 00:06:38.060 --> 00:06:40.759 in a high producer is the ultimate red flag, 00:06:40.899 --> 00:06:43.199 but I imagine the day -to -day symptoms are what 00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:45.959 really drag an operation down slowly. They are. 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:49.459 And we need to look systematically at these core 00:06:49.459 --> 00:06:53.060 behavioral shifts that signal an electrical issue, 00:06:53.199 --> 00:06:55.560 not a feed or health problem. So where do you 00:06:55.560 --> 00:06:57.240 start? What's the first thing you should be looking 00:06:57.240 --> 00:06:59.699 for? The first, and you could argue the most 00:06:59.699 --> 00:07:02.800 important signal, is all about water. You see 00:07:02.800 --> 00:07:05.339 cows hesitating at the water troughs. That's 00:07:05.339 --> 00:07:07.540 the classic dancing behavior. Dancing? What does 00:07:07.540 --> 00:07:09.639 that look like? They'll approach the trough. 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:12.180 They'll put their nose near the water, hesitate, 00:07:12.500 --> 00:07:15.220 maybe pull back, and then repeat that a few times. 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:18.180 Then instead of a normal, relaxed drink, you 00:07:18.180 --> 00:07:20.819 see this unusual, quick, lapping behavior. So 00:07:20.819 --> 00:07:23.279 they're just sort of testing it. Exactly. The 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:25.459 cow is testing the water. She's sensing that 00:07:25.459 --> 00:07:28.100 low -level current before she commits to a deep 00:07:28.100 --> 00:07:30.779 drink. The electrical current in the water is 00:07:30.779 --> 00:07:33.720 causing these little micro shocks. And over time, 00:07:33.720 --> 00:07:36.139 that just leads to total water avoidance. And 00:07:36.139 --> 00:07:38.759 that avoidance behavior is absolutely critical 00:07:38.759 --> 00:07:41.420 because water intake is directly tied to milk 00:07:41.420 --> 00:07:44.759 production. No water, no milk. It's that simple. 00:07:44.899 --> 00:07:47.420 And we've seen documentation of animals actively 00:07:47.420 --> 00:07:50.279 drinking from dirty puddles, from runoff, or 00:07:50.279 --> 00:07:52.300 any natural source they can find outside the 00:07:52.300 --> 00:07:54.459 barn while completely avoiding their standard, 00:07:54.620 --> 00:07:57.040 clean, constantly filled waterers. That is a 00:07:57.040 --> 00:07:59.740 massive flashing light. That's a conscious decision 00:07:59.740 --> 00:08:02.560 by the animal that the trough is unsafe. It's 00:08:02.560 --> 00:08:04.959 a direct signal of electrical interference. And 00:08:04.959 --> 00:08:07.180 beyond water, the symptoms then start showing 00:08:07.180 --> 00:08:09.740 up in the parlor. Previously calm, you know, 00:08:09.740 --> 00:08:12.139 compliant animals, they suddenly develop this 00:08:12.139 --> 00:08:14.699 profound nervousness. And we're not talking about 00:08:14.699 --> 00:08:16.680 one new heifer being a little spooky. We're talking 00:08:16.680 --> 00:08:20.660 about established, mature cows that suddenly 00:08:20.660 --> 00:08:23.180 need leg restraints or start kicking just to 00:08:23.180 --> 00:08:26.060 be milked safely. And why is that? Is the current 00:08:26.060 --> 00:08:28.920 in the parlor itself? It often is. The electrical 00:08:28.920 --> 00:08:30.899 current can flow through the milking machine, 00:08:31.019 --> 00:08:32.879 through the metalwork and the concrete floor, 00:08:33.100 --> 00:08:36.179 creating this continuous, annoying electrical 00:08:36.179 --> 00:08:38.480 stimulus during the most critical part of her 00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:41.710 day. So you've got... Water avoidance, parlor 00:08:41.710 --> 00:08:44.190 nervousness, and then you layer on the health 00:08:44.190 --> 00:08:46.370 issues that seem totally disconnected. Totally. 00:08:46.429 --> 00:08:48.669 You get this increased mastitis incidence that 00:08:48.669 --> 00:08:50.629 suddenly becomes treatment resistant. You see 00:08:50.629 --> 00:08:52.769 high rates of reproductive failures. And like 00:08:52.769 --> 00:08:54.970 we said, unexpected mortality, particularly in 00:08:54.970 --> 00:08:57.070 your most sensitive, highest producing animals. 00:08:57.230 --> 00:08:59.450 The cow is fighting a battle you can't even see, 00:08:59.549 --> 00:09:02.370 and it leads to this systemic breakdown. So let's 00:09:02.370 --> 00:09:04.909 translate this. If I'm running a 600 cow operation 00:09:04.909 --> 00:09:07.830 and I see a two pound dip in my rolling herd 00:09:07.830 --> 00:09:11.149 average. Some chronic lameness. And I'm pointing 00:09:11.149 --> 00:09:13.669 the finger at my feed consultant because his 00:09:13.669 --> 00:09:15.970 TMR numbers didn't match the actual intake. You 00:09:15.970 --> 00:09:17.909 might be missing the point entirely. Exactly. 00:09:17.909 --> 00:09:21.149 Hold on. So this means if I'm seeing half a dozen 00:09:21.149 --> 00:09:24.389 cows getting skittish in the parlor or my water 00:09:24.389 --> 00:09:27.029 consumption reports just look wildly erratic 00:09:27.029 --> 00:09:30.110 from day to day, the culprit could be the ground 00:09:30.110 --> 00:09:32.870 rod for the fence charger or it could be the 00:09:32.870 --> 00:09:35.990 shared utility neutral system miles away. That 00:09:35.990 --> 00:09:38.450 is precisely the implication. And the frustrating 00:09:38.450 --> 00:09:40.250 observation that Jill Nelson made just makes 00:09:40.250 --> 00:09:42.269 perfect sense once you understand the root cause. 00:09:42.450 --> 00:09:44.629 What did she say? She said, and this just captures 00:09:44.629 --> 00:09:47.110 the sheer psychological toll of it, it looked 00:09:47.110 --> 00:09:49.309 like we were failing at everything simultaneously. 00:09:49.950 --> 00:09:52.610 Nutrition problems and health problems and reproduction 00:09:52.610 --> 00:09:55.909 problems and behavior problems all at once. Why 00:09:55.909 --> 00:09:58.830 would a highly managed elite herd suddenly fail 00:09:58.830 --> 00:10:01.169 at everything? Because the problem wasn't the 00:10:01.169 --> 00:10:04.149 management. It was one single electrical source 00:10:04.149 --> 00:10:07.470 triggering system -wide biological stress. Which 00:10:07.470 --> 00:10:09.549 brings us right back to the core industry reality 00:10:09.549 --> 00:10:13.730 check. Why did eight years pass at Omar Farms, 00:10:13.730 --> 00:10:16.889 with standard utility testing repeatedly showing 00:10:16.889 --> 00:10:20.549 acceptable voltage levels. It masked the problem 00:10:20.549 --> 00:10:22.889 entirely. And the reason is purely technical. 00:10:23.230 --> 00:10:26.370 The testing standard is functionally faulty for 00:10:26.370 --> 00:10:29.110 this specific biological application. It all 00:10:29.110 --> 00:10:31.350 comes down to what you call the 500 -ohm flaw. 00:10:31.769 --> 00:10:34.789 Right. So when utilities test for stray voltage, 00:10:34.909 --> 00:10:37.230 or I think they prefer to call it neutral to 00:10:37.230 --> 00:10:39.889 earth voltage, they follow the protocol from 00:10:39.889 --> 00:10:42.269 the National Electrical Safety Code, which again 00:10:42.269 --> 00:10:45.509 dates back to 1991. And that protocol requires 00:10:45.509 --> 00:10:48.450 them to insert a 500 -ohm resistor into their 00:10:48.450 --> 00:10:51.409 equipment. The idea is to simulate the body resistance 00:10:51.409 --> 00:10:54.490 of the animal or person coming into contact with 00:10:54.490 --> 00:10:56.889 the voltage. But we need to emphasize why 500 00:10:56.889 --> 00:10:59.110 ohms was chosen. It wasn't based on cows, was 00:10:59.110 --> 00:11:01.769 it? Not at all. It was based primarily on human 00:11:01.769 --> 00:11:03.509 safety standards at the time. It was designed 00:11:03.509 --> 00:11:05.370 to offer a protective buffer for people who might 00:11:05.370 --> 00:11:07.029 come in contact with electrical infrastructure. 00:11:07.470 --> 00:11:09.750 It was never calibrated or established based 00:11:09.750 --> 00:11:11.830 on the physiology of dairy cattle. Which are 00:11:11.830 --> 00:11:13.570 just vastly more sensitive. They have different 00:11:13.570 --> 00:11:16.389 skin, different hoof and body conductivity. It's 00:11:16.389 --> 00:11:18.649 a completely different biological system. And 00:11:18.649 --> 00:11:20.570 the flaw is proven by the field data we talked 00:11:20.570 --> 00:11:22.889 about earlier. The research confirms that actual 00:11:22.889 --> 00:11:25.470 dairy cattle body resistance can range dramatically 00:11:25.470 --> 00:11:29.309 from as low as 100 ohms up to maybe 400 ohms. 00:11:29.429 --> 00:11:31.970 It's significantly lower than the standard test 00:11:31.970 --> 00:11:34.980 assumes. The cow is just a better conductor of 00:11:34.980 --> 00:11:37.360 electricity than the test allows for. A much 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:39.539 better conductor. And let's break down the implication 00:11:39.539 --> 00:11:41.720 using Ohm's law, because this is where the money 00:11:41.720 --> 00:11:44.779 is lost. Current, which is what the cow actually 00:11:44.779 --> 00:11:47.340 feels, equals voltage, which is the electrical 00:11:47.340 --> 00:11:49.360 pressure they measure, divided by resistance, 00:11:49.620 --> 00:11:52.179 which is the cow's body. The utility measures 00:11:52.179 --> 00:11:55.659 voltage, but the cow reacts to current. Precisely. 00:11:55.679 --> 00:11:57.360 So let's take a standard accepted measurement. 00:11:57.720 --> 00:12:00.799 Let's say the utility measures 1 .0 volts, which 00:12:00.799 --> 00:12:03.220 is often the guideline used for safe stray voltage. 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:05.919 Okay, 1 volt. With that 1 volt, they assume 500 00:12:05.919 --> 00:12:09.100 ohms of resistance. So their calculation is 1 00:12:09.100 --> 00:12:12.419 .0 volt divided by 500 ohms equals 2 milliampers 00:12:12.419 --> 00:12:14.740 of current flow. They see that number and say 00:12:14.740 --> 00:12:17.320 acceptable. Okay, that's the utility's calculation. 00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:19.899 Now let's run the numbers for the actual animal. 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:23.720 If that cow's resistance is only 200 ohms, which 00:12:23.720 --> 00:12:25.960 is well within the typical range, and the utility 00:12:25.960 --> 00:12:29.139 still measures that same 1 .0 volt. The cow's 00:12:29.139 --> 00:12:31.240 reality is very different. It's 1 .0 volt divided 00:12:31.240 --> 00:12:34.659 by 200 ohms, which equals 5 milliampers of current 00:12:34.659 --> 00:12:37.159 flow. So that's two and a half times the current 00:12:37.159 --> 00:12:40.019 that the utility reported and called safe. Exactly. 00:12:40.019 --> 00:12:41.600 Wait, wait, and let's push that even further. 00:12:41.779 --> 00:12:44.120 The research suggests that behavioral responses 00:12:44.120 --> 00:12:47.240 in cattle, that dancing and hesitation, can begin 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:50.799 at around 2 milliampers. It can. So that acceptable 00:12:50.799 --> 00:12:54.820 limit of 1 .00 volt at 500 ohms is already the 00:12:54.820 --> 00:12:56.500 starting point for stressing the animal out. 00:12:56.919 --> 00:12:59.620 So what happens if the voltage is slightly higher, 00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:02.100 say 1 .5 volts, which can happen with temporary 00:13:02.100 --> 00:13:04.480 load spikes from equipment? Okay, so the utility's 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:07.980 calculation would be 1 .5 volts divided by 500 00:13:07.980 --> 00:13:10.460 ohms, which is 3 milliamps. They still consider 00:13:10.460 --> 00:13:12.840 that a low risk by their standard. But the cow's 00:13:12.840 --> 00:13:15.679 reality at 200 ohms... The cow's reality is 1 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:19.240 .5 volts divided by 200 ohms, which is 7 .5 milliamps. 00:13:19.539 --> 00:13:21.799 Now you are at more than three times the threshold 00:13:21.799 --> 00:13:24.100 where behavioral changes begin. And that's why 00:13:24.100 --> 00:13:26.019 the animals are dancing. They're experiencing 00:13:26.019 --> 00:13:29.639 this constant, low -level electrical pain that 00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:32.379 just accumulates into chronic stress. This completely 00:13:32.379 --> 00:13:34.600 invalidates the standard for sensitive animals. 00:13:34.799 --> 00:13:37.080 And it's why the independent specialists that 00:13:37.080 --> 00:13:40.059 Nelson hired in 2016 used specialized equipment. 00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:42.720 What kind of equipment? Equipment capable of 00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:45.759 millisecond resolution recording. And, crucially, 00:13:45.860 --> 00:13:48.220 they tested with more representative, lower resistance 00:13:48.220 --> 00:13:50.919 values. They were also looking for transient 00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:53.960 spikes. That's a key nuance for our savvy audience. 00:13:54.179 --> 00:13:56.220 We're not just talking about a continuous, steady 00:13:56.220 --> 00:13:59.480 voltage. No, we're talking about transient voltage 00:13:59.480 --> 00:14:02.600 spikes. These are quick, momentary bursts of 00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:05.019 electricity that happen when heavy equipment, 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:08.299 like your large vacuum pumps or bulk tank compressors, 00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:11.179 cycle on and off. And those spikes, even if they 00:14:11.179 --> 00:14:13.720 only last for milliseconds, can deliver a really 00:14:13.720 --> 00:14:16.340 painful jolt. A jolt that teaches the cow to 00:14:16.340 --> 00:14:19.000 fear the parlor or the waterer. It becomes a 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:21.230 conditioned response. And what's the mechanism 00:14:21.230 --> 00:14:22.909 behind those spikes? Where do they come from? 00:14:23.110 --> 00:14:24.950 It's often tied to the multi -grounded neutral 00:14:24.950 --> 00:14:27.620 system we use in North America. The electrical 00:14:27.620 --> 00:14:30.539 code requires the neutral wire, that's the return 00:14:30.539 --> 00:14:33.039 path for electricity, to be grounded multiple 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:35.759 times along the distribution line and at the 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:37.940 farm service entrance. And that's a safety feature, 00:14:38.039 --> 00:14:40.460 right? It is, but it's also the pathway that 00:14:40.460 --> 00:14:43.399 allows utility source problems to force current 00:14:43.399 --> 00:14:45.559 through the earth and into your farm's bonded 00:14:45.559 --> 00:14:47.759 facilities. And that's where the cow provides 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:50.620 the easiest path to ground through her hooves, 00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:52.919 her tongue in the water, or her udder during 00:14:52.919 --> 00:14:55.799 milking. Yeah, so... Here's the contrarian take, 00:14:55.940 --> 00:14:57.820 the bullvine position on this. The utilities, 00:14:58.039 --> 00:15:00.799 they're protecting their testing standard, not 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:02.960 your cow's. At the end of the day, that's what 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:05.159 it comes down to. You cannot afford to accept 00:15:05.159 --> 00:15:07.620 utility results that fall within that 500 ohm 00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:10.399 standard if your herd is showing symptoms. That 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:12.419 standard is functionally meaningless for herd 00:15:12.419 --> 00:15:14.860 health when the symptoms are present. Okay, let's 00:15:14.860 --> 00:15:17.200 follow the money then. Because for farmers, the 00:15:17.200 --> 00:15:20.179 bottom line is paramount. We mentioned the scale 00:15:20.179 --> 00:15:22.500 of the investment, which can be daunting. But 00:15:22.500 --> 00:15:25.860 the Omar Farms economic turnaround is so profound 00:15:25.860 --> 00:15:29.240 that it provides an ironclad ROI case for this 00:15:29.240 --> 00:15:32.200 expensive, often feared solution. We have to 00:15:32.200 --> 00:15:34.990 face the price tag up front. The solution Jill 00:15:34.990 --> 00:15:37.649 Nelson implemented, because the source was traced 00:15:37.649 --> 00:15:40.230 back to the utility's infrastructure, was an 00:15:40.230 --> 00:15:42.350 isolated transformer installation. Which means 00:15:42.350 --> 00:15:44.269 what exactly? A complete physical separation 00:15:44.269 --> 00:15:46.309 of the farm's electrical system from the utility 00:15:46.309 --> 00:15:49.570 infrastructure. And in her case, it also involved 00:15:49.570 --> 00:15:52.129 a conversion to three -phase power. And the cost? 00:15:52.350 --> 00:15:55.169 The cost, including all the complex trenching 00:15:55.169 --> 00:15:57.350 and installation over 100 yards from the buildings, 00:15:57.529 --> 00:16:01.129 it approached $100 ,000. Wait, wait. That's a 00:16:01.129 --> 00:16:04.389 massive commitment. $100 ,000 is bankruptcy territory 00:16:04.389 --> 00:16:06.850 for many smaller or highly leveraged operators. 00:16:07.330 --> 00:16:09.889 Are you saying farmers should just drop six figures 00:16:09.889 --> 00:16:13.870 on this without absolute 100 % proof? No, absolutely 00:16:13.870 --> 00:16:16.830 not. That's the correct skeptical pushback. What 00:16:16.830 --> 00:16:18.509 if they get it wrong and the problem was just 00:16:18.509 --> 00:16:20.549 a bad motor on their own farm? You should not 00:16:20.549 --> 00:16:22.990 invest $100 ,000 without absolute independent 00:16:22.990 --> 00:16:26.110 verification, which is why that previous step, 00:16:26.330 --> 00:16:28.970 the independent testing, is completely non -negotiable. 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:32.120 However, if that independent test proves the 00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:35.220 utility is the source, then the investment is 00:16:35.220 --> 00:16:37.779 absolutely justified by the return. Okay, so 00:16:37.779 --> 00:16:40.080 let's quantify that return. Production increased 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:43.879 by nearly 20 pounds per cow per day. The specific 00:16:43.879 --> 00:16:47.039 verification reported an 18 -pound increase during 00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:49.179 the subsequent summer months, which is doubly 00:16:49.179 --> 00:16:51.659 impressive. Why is that? Because it happened 00:16:51.659 --> 00:16:53.559 during a period of heat stress when production 00:16:53.559 --> 00:16:56.980 normally dips. So to see a gain that large during 00:16:56.980 --> 00:16:59.220 the summer is just incredible. Let's run the 00:16:59.220 --> 00:17:01.080 quick math for the farmer who's listening right 00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:05.500 now. A 150 -cow herd experiencing a 20 -pound 00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:08.400 Jane. Okay, so that's 3 ,000 extra pounds of 00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:11.319 milk per day. At, let's say, a modest milk price 00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:15.220 of $20 per hundredweight, that's $600 per day 00:17:15.220 --> 00:17:18.839 in gross revenue increase. $600 a day. So over 00:17:18.839 --> 00:17:21.720 about 167 days, that's about five and a half 00:17:21.720 --> 00:17:25.460 months, that investment of $100 ,000 is paid 00:17:25.460 --> 00:17:29.259 back entirely. A six -month payback period. That 00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:31.940 dramatically short payback is crucial because 00:17:31.940 --> 00:17:34.200 it turns what seems like a terrifying expense 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:37.759 into a critical infrastructure investment. We 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:40.099 rarely see farm improvements deliver this kind 00:17:40.099 --> 00:17:44.589 of immediate, verified economic benefit. especially 00:17:44.589 --> 00:17:46.650 when you compare it to the marginal gains you 00:17:46.650 --> 00:17:49.390 might get from, say, changing a feed additive. 00:17:49.609 --> 00:17:52.049 But we absolutely must differentiate the costs 00:17:52.049 --> 00:17:55.150 here. Not every stray voltage problem requires 00:17:55.150 --> 00:17:58.369 that $100 ,000 fix. No, you need a systematic 00:17:58.369 --> 00:18:01.430 approach. On -farm sources are usually much more 00:18:01.430 --> 00:18:03.880 manageable. Things like damaged motor insulation, 00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:06.519 corroded connections, inadequate grounding systems, 00:18:06.700 --> 00:18:09.819 or poorly implemented equipotential planes. And 00:18:09.819 --> 00:18:11.940 remind us what equipotential planes are. They're 00:18:11.940 --> 00:18:14.480 the steel mesh or grid that's put into the concrete 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:16.980 in modern parlors and holding areas. The whole 00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:18.579 point is to keep all the conductive surfaces 00:18:18.579 --> 00:18:20.980 at the exact same electrical potential so there's 00:18:20.980 --> 00:18:23.200 no voltage difference for the cow to feel. And 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:25.420 fixing those on -farm issues is a much smaller 00:18:25.420 --> 00:18:28.289 financial burden. Much smaller. Typically, you're 00:18:28.289 --> 00:18:30.670 looking at a range from maybe $800 ,000 to $10 00:18:30.670 --> 00:18:34.670 ,000. You always start there. Validate and fix 00:18:34.670 --> 00:18:37.930 every internal source first because that helps 00:18:37.930 --> 00:18:40.329 isolate the problem. And it's the utility source 00:18:40.329 --> 00:18:42.970 issues, the undersized conductors, the deteriorated 00:18:42.970 --> 00:18:45.690 neutral connections on the primary lines, severe 00:18:45.690 --> 00:18:48.750 phase imbalances that require that massive investment 00:18:48.750 --> 00:18:50.910 in physical separation. Right, the isolated transformer. 00:18:51.500 --> 00:18:54.359 That's what pushes the cost into that $50 ,000 00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:57.359 to $100 ,000 plus range, depending on the distance 00:18:57.359 --> 00:18:59.460 in the terrain. And one final point on the money. 00:19:00.089 --> 00:19:02.509 The insurance check. This is an urgent to do 00:19:02.509 --> 00:19:05.769 for every single listener. It is. Most standard 00:19:05.769 --> 00:19:08.410 SARM policies do not specifically address stray 00:19:08.410 --> 00:19:10.569 voltage losses or chronic production depression. 00:19:11.109 --> 00:19:13.690 You need specialized riders and producers have 00:19:13.690 --> 00:19:16.430 to verify that coverage now rather than waiting 00:19:16.430 --> 00:19:18.329 until they need to file a multimillion dollar 00:19:18.329 --> 00:19:20.349 claim covering eight years of lost production 00:19:20.349 --> 00:19:22.849 and genetic damage. So let's revisit the Omar 00:19:22.849 --> 00:19:25.269 Farms case study one last time just to shut down 00:19:25.269 --> 00:19:27.349 any argument that this was somehow a management 00:19:27.349 --> 00:19:29.960 issue. They maintained a rolling herd average 00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:34.339 of 26 ,192 pounds. They received the Holstein 00:19:34.339 --> 00:19:37.579 Association USA's Elite Breeder Award. They used 00:19:37.579 --> 00:19:40.579 modern facilities, echo potential planes, tunnel 00:19:40.579 --> 00:19:43.339 ventilation, sand bedded freestalls. They were 00:19:43.339 --> 00:19:46.819 elite managers, full stop. Exactly. If perfect 00:19:46.819 --> 00:19:49.000 management can't fix it, then it has to be a 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:52.220 combination of biology and infrastructure. So 00:19:52.220 --> 00:19:54.819 let's connect those dots now. How does that tiny 00:19:54.819 --> 00:19:57.500 electrical current, which barely registers on 00:19:57.500 --> 00:20:00.180 a standard utility meter, cause such devastating 00:20:00.180 --> 00:20:03.279 varied symptoms? Here we rely pretty heavily 00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:05.380 on research from institutions like the University 00:20:05.380 --> 00:20:07.740 of Wisconsin -Madison, particularly from Professor 00:20:07.740 --> 00:20:10.180 Doug Reinman. The mechanism is what's called 00:20:10.180 --> 00:20:12.380 the cortisol cascade. The stress hormone. The 00:20:12.380 --> 00:20:15.200 primary stress hormone, yes. That repeated low 00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:17.240 -level electrical exposure acts as a chronic, 00:20:17.339 --> 00:20:19.779 inescapable stressor. It's not a single crisis 00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:22.619 event. It's a constant, annoying stimulus. It's 00:20:22.619 --> 00:20:24.680 like getting a continuous stream of spam calls 00:20:24.680 --> 00:20:27.279 that you can never, ever silence. And that relentless 00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:29.900 stimulus constantly triggers the release of cortisol. 00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:33.519 It does. And chronic cortisol is catastrophic 00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:36.880 to the entire system. Cortisol is designed for 00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:39.799 a fight -or -flight response, not for day -to 00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:41.839 -day existence. So what does it do to the cow? 00:20:42.460 --> 00:20:44.960 It causes system -wide damage, starting with 00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:46.759 a profound suppression of the immune function. 00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:48.759 We're talking about reduced T cell production, 00:20:49.099 --> 00:20:51.819 those are the body's primary immune defense cells, 00:20:52.019 --> 00:20:54.799 and weakened antibody responses. Which explains 00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:57.799 the systemic failures. It's why you see treatment 00:20:57.799 --> 00:21:00.819 -resistant mastitis. The cow's immune system 00:21:00.819 --> 00:21:03.339 simply isn't mounting a proper defense against 00:21:03.339 --> 00:21:05.579 the bacteria. It's why you see high rates of 00:21:05.579 --> 00:21:08.200 reproductive failure, specifically issues like 00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:10.960 retained placentas and an increased incidence 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:13.740 of metritis. The stress hormone is interfering 00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:16.019 with uterine function and overall hormone regulation. 00:21:16.380 --> 00:21:18.700 And it links right back to the behavioral issues 00:21:18.700 --> 00:21:21.000 we talked about at the beginning. A cow that 00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:23.079 is chronically stressed whose immune system is 00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:26.099 running on fumes is going to be nervous, skittish, 00:21:26.099 --> 00:21:28.240 and easily startled. The electric current is 00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:31.039 irritating her feet, her mouth, her udder, and 00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:32.960 the cortisol is preventing her from being able 00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:34.940 to cope with that stimulus. That accumulation 00:21:34.940 --> 00:21:37.400 of stress also explains the sudden mortality 00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:39.980 in high producers, doesn't it? It does. High 00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:42.799 -producing cows already operate at a higher metabolic 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:46.180 stress level just by their nature. When you layer 00:21:46.180 --> 00:21:48.579 relentless electrical current on top of that, 00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:51.380 their ability to cope with common pathogens or 00:21:51.380 --> 00:21:53.599 even just the daily demands of high production 00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:56.859 is severely compromised. They just crash, often 00:21:56.859 --> 00:21:59.329 unexpectedly. which is exactly what happened 00:21:59.329 --> 00:22:02.009 at Omar Farms. And here's the long -term devastating 00:22:02.009 --> 00:22:04.490 implication that often goes unaddressed. We're 00:22:04.490 --> 00:22:06.490 talking about transgenerational effects. So this 00:22:06.490 --> 00:22:09.420 affects their calves. It does. Research shows 00:22:09.420 --> 00:22:12.059 that calves born from electrically stressed dams 00:22:12.059 --> 00:22:14.700 can exhibit reduced immune competence, impaired 00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:18.579 vaccine responses. And Jill Nelson herself reported 00:22:18.579 --> 00:22:21.539 observing congenital disabilities and even cardiac 00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:23.940 abnormalities during those struggle years. So 00:22:23.940 --> 00:22:25.839 if the mother is chronically stressed, that affects 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:28.119 the development of the fetus, hitting your replacement 00:22:28.119 --> 00:22:31.279 program directly for years to come, long after 00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:33.819 the electricity itself is fixed. The damage echoes 00:22:33.819 --> 00:22:36.569 through generations of your herd. So we need 00:22:36.569 --> 00:22:38.549 to spend a little more time on the electrical 00:22:38.549 --> 00:22:41.769 mechanism because it informs why these regional 00:22:41.769 --> 00:22:45.009 infrastructure issues vary so much. We establish 00:22:45.009 --> 00:22:48.950 the core issue, the North American multi -grounded 00:22:48.950 --> 00:22:51.430 neutral system. Right. And when the utility's 00:22:51.430 --> 00:22:54.789 neutral wire can't effectively carry the return 00:22:54.789 --> 00:22:57.609 current, usually because it's old or corroded 00:22:57.609 --> 00:23:00.329 or just not big enough, it forces that current 00:23:00.329 --> 00:23:02.869 to seek the path of least resistance. Which is 00:23:02.869 --> 00:23:05.109 through the earth. Through the earth. And when 00:23:05.109 --> 00:23:07.009 it hits the earth, it looks for the closest ground 00:23:07.009 --> 00:23:09.119 connection. which is often your farm's bonded 00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:11.559 electrical system, your water lines, the parlor 00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:14.480 frame, the metal stalls. This is what creates 00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:16.579 that voltage difference between the ground a 00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:18.640 cow stands on and the metal surface she touches. 00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:21.640 That is stray voltage. And this is why infrastructure 00:23:21.640 --> 00:23:24.400 age is such a huge factor. It creates these severe 00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:27.420 regional variations. Absolutely. You look at 00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:30.000 older agricultural regions like Wisconsin, Minnesota, 00:23:30.299 --> 00:23:32.799 Vermont, upstate New York, they report far more 00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:35.099 utility source issues. And why is that? Because 00:23:35.099 --> 00:23:37.599 that infrastructure often dates back 40 or 50 00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:40.359 years. The copper conductor sizes are simply 00:23:40.359 --> 00:23:43.000 insufficient to handle the massive load of a 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:46.299 modern dairy operation with huge vacuum pumps, 00:23:46.420 --> 00:23:48.980 tunnel ventilation fans, and massive milk cooling 00:23:48.980 --> 00:23:51.779 systems. The copper neutral wires are degrading, 00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:54.279 they're corroding at the connection points, and 00:23:54.279 --> 00:23:56.380 they just haven't been upgraded to handle the 00:23:56.380 --> 00:23:58.619 modern load. So the path of least resistance 00:23:58.619 --> 00:24:00.960 becomes the earth, and the closest herd pays 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:03.460 the price for it. But newer agricultural regions 00:24:03.460 --> 00:24:05.680 aren't immune, are they? They just face different 00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:07.619 kinds of issues. Right. You look at places like 00:24:07.619 --> 00:24:10.980 Texas and Idaho. The operations might be newer, 00:24:11.079 --> 00:24:13.140 but they often share distribution lines with 00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:15.720 large center pivot irrigation systems. And when 00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:17.960 those massive pumps kick on at peak usage times. 00:24:18.460 --> 00:24:20.980 often in the evening during peak milking. They 00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:23.619 cause instantaneous voltage fluctuations and 00:24:23.619 --> 00:24:25.920 phase imbalances that impact the nearby dairy 00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:28.160 facilities. Leading to those transient spikes 00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:30.579 that jolt the cows. Exactly. And then you have 00:24:30.579 --> 00:24:32.819 the geography of the southeast Georgia of Florida. 00:24:33.079 --> 00:24:35.180 They add another layer. They have to contend 00:24:35.180 --> 00:24:37.500 with these dramatic seasonal variations in ground 00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:40.099 moisture. So wetter ground is a better conductor. 00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:42.359 A much better conductor. So high ground moisture 00:24:42.359 --> 00:24:44.720 in the spring and summer makes the soil conduct 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:47.210 better. and it exacerbates the stray current 00:24:47.210 --> 00:24:50.549 flow. Then low ground moisture in the dry season 00:24:50.549 --> 00:24:53.250 can reduce the conductivity, sometimes masking 00:24:53.250 --> 00:24:55.450 the problem temporarily. And finally, you have 00:24:55.450 --> 00:24:57.809 consolidation areas like California's Central 00:24:57.809 --> 00:25:01.069 Valley. Right. You have these massive, highly 00:25:01.069 --> 00:25:04.289 centralized dairy operations with huge electrical 00:25:04.289 --> 00:25:07.450 demands for cooling and processing. If the utility 00:25:07.450 --> 00:25:09.509 infrastructure hasn't kept pace with that large 00:25:09.509 --> 00:25:12.670 -scale consolidation and expansion, you get localized 00:25:12.670 --> 00:25:15.549 capacity failures that force current into the 00:25:15.549 --> 00:25:18.170 ground at just unprecedented levels. The legal 00:25:18.170 --> 00:25:20.349 landscape, however, is starting to catch up with 00:25:20.349 --> 00:25:22.630 the science. That Iowa Supreme Court decision 00:25:22.630 --> 00:25:26.009 from June of 2024, the one upholding VADS Dairy's 00:25:26.009 --> 00:25:28.650 verdict against Northern Natural Gas, that's 00:25:28.650 --> 00:25:31.029 highly encouraging. That decision is absolutely 00:25:31.029 --> 00:25:34.000 critical. It's a landmark because it establishes 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:36.359 a precedent for infrastructure liability that 00:25:36.359 --> 00:25:38.500 goes beyond just the standard electric utility. 00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:41.279 So it could be a pipeline company or an industrial 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:44.319 park next door? Exactly. The court recognized 00:25:44.319 --> 00:25:47.019 that third parties can be responsible for forcing 00:25:47.019 --> 00:25:49.640 current through the ground and damaging a dairy 00:25:49.640 --> 00:25:52.380 herd. And most importantly, the ruling recognized 00:25:52.380 --> 00:25:56.000 loss of livestock value and reduced milk production 00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:59.640 as a quantifiable liability. not just simple 00:25:59.640 --> 00:26:01.779 property damage. That shifts the legal ground 00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:04.299 entirely in favor of the producer. It's a whole 00:26:04.299 --> 00:26:06.720 new ballgame. So let's consolidate the skeptical 00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:08.680 approach we've maintained throughout this dive. 00:26:08.920 --> 00:26:11.460 The most critical contrarian take has to be, 00:26:11.579 --> 00:26:15.240 do not rely solely on utility testing. You can't. 00:26:15.539 --> 00:26:17.960 Accepting an acceptable result does not ensure 00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:20.299 the safety of your sensitive animals, because 00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:22.240 the testing standards are fundamentally flawed 00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:24.680 for your livestock. And this is where documentation 00:26:24.680 --> 00:26:27.930 becomes your single greatest asset. Documentation 00:26:27.930 --> 00:26:30.250 determines the outcome, whether you're just troubleshooting 00:26:30.250 --> 00:26:32.730 or you're in litigation. Look at the Paul Holderson 00:26:32.730 --> 00:26:35.250 operation in Wisconsin. They prevailed in litigation 00:26:35.250 --> 00:26:37.829 against Xcel Energy. And the reason they won 00:26:37.829 --> 00:26:40.450 was because they had decades of meticulously 00:26:40.450 --> 00:26:43.740 detailed documentation. Production dips, health 00:26:43.740 --> 00:26:47.180 records, vet reports, all of it refuting the 00:26:47.180 --> 00:26:50.200 utility's repeated claims about so -called management 00:26:50.200 --> 00:26:52.500 deficiencies. And that documentation has to be 00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:54.799 specific. We're talking about required documentation 00:26:54.799 --> 00:26:57.779 that is easily achievable today. You can use 00:26:57.779 --> 00:27:00.059 your smartphone to video the behavioral changes. 00:27:00.359 --> 00:27:03.240 You have to. Detail the hesitation, the lap drinking, 00:27:03.460 --> 00:27:06.099 the parlor nervousness. Recording the timing 00:27:06.099 --> 00:27:08.319 of those changes relative to milking or other 00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:10.839 electrical cycles is absolutely crucial. You 00:27:10.839 --> 00:27:13.410 need detailed production. records, tracking mastitis 00:27:13.410 --> 00:27:15.670 incidents and treatment responsiveness, and of 00:27:15.670 --> 00:27:17.970 course, documented mortality patterns. And that 00:27:17.970 --> 00:27:19.690 leads back to the skeptical challenge we raised 00:27:19.690 --> 00:27:21.930 earlier. You have to advocate for independent 00:27:21.930 --> 00:27:24.809 testing before you engage the utilities formally. 00:27:25.009 --> 00:27:27.230 Never go into that discussion armed only with 00:27:27.230 --> 00:27:29.549 your symptoms. Specialists who are familiar with 00:27:29.549 --> 00:27:31.690 agricultural electrical systems, they charge, 00:27:31.769 --> 00:27:33.809 what, $3 ,000 to $5 ,000 for a comprehensive 00:27:33.809 --> 00:27:36.450 assessment? And that independent testing is worth 00:27:36.450 --> 00:27:39.450 every single penny because it provides the leverage 00:27:39.450 --> 00:27:42.299 you need. The independent specialist uses the 00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:44.640 right equipment. They use millisecond resolution 00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:47.819 recording with high -end fluke or dranitz meters. 00:27:48.140 --> 00:27:50.900 And critically, they test with representative 00:27:50.900 --> 00:27:55.019 low resistance values, 200 ohms, 100 ohms, to 00:27:55.019 --> 00:27:58.079 simulate the actual current the cow feels. They're 00:27:58.079 --> 00:28:01.859 measuring reality, not the outdated 1991 standard. 00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:04.960 That $3 ,000 to $5 ,000 investment pays for itself 00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:07.359 very quickly if it shortens the duration of the 00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:09.599 problem by even just a few months. Think back 00:28:09.599 --> 00:28:12.799 to Omar Farms. After they fixed the issue, their 00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:16.380 rolling herd average now exceeds 30 ,318 pounds. 00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:18.740 That's based on recent data. They proved that 00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:21.160 recovery is possible even after years of genetic 00:28:21.160 --> 00:28:23.319 damage and production loss. And that recovery 00:28:23.319 --> 00:28:25.859 just underscores the importance of early recognition 00:28:25.859 --> 00:28:28.119 of the testing limitations and getting the right 00:28:28.119 --> 00:28:31.180 expert on your side immediately. We have to internalize 00:28:31.180 --> 00:28:33.759 this biological reality. What works for the average 00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:36.259 500 -ohm resistor may not protect your most sensitive, 00:28:36.359 --> 00:28:38.700 high -producing cows, which are often the first 00:28:38.700 --> 00:28:41.339 ones to crash or show the symptoms. And until 00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:43.880 regulatory testing protocols reflect the biological 00:28:43.880 --> 00:28:46.759 variation and sensitivity of dairy cattle, the 00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:49.460 responsibility for verification rests squarely 00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:51.200 with the producer. You have to be your own advocate. 00:28:51.500 --> 00:28:53.039 All right. Farmer just finished morning milking. 00:28:53.119 --> 00:28:56.079 They're driving to the feed store. What are the 00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:59.299 three... crucial, actionable things they need 00:28:59.299 --> 00:29:02.160 to take away from this discussion and apply to 00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:04.740 their operation immediately. Immediate action. 00:29:05.599 --> 00:29:09.039 This week, look for specific behavioral signals 00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:11.960 and document them. This is the cheapest and most 00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:14.119 immediate step you can take. Go observe your 00:29:14.119 --> 00:29:16.599 cows at the water trough and in the parlor with 00:29:16.599 --> 00:29:19.460 a critical eye. Not just a glance, a real observation. 00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:23.160 A real observation. Is there hesitation, dancing, 00:29:23.380 --> 00:29:26.559 unusual lapping? Video documentation of these 00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:29.000 specific symptoms using a smartphone is your 00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:31.579 first step. You need visual, time -stamped evidence. 00:29:31.880 --> 00:29:35.279 Also, rigorously track any sudden onset of parlor 00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:38.180 nervousness and previously calm cows, especially 00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:40.319 during the prep phase or during milking. That 00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:42.799 video documentation becomes your key piece of 00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:44.579 leverage later. Okay, what's the medium -term 00:29:44.579 --> 00:29:47.720 strategy for the next three to six months? Validate 00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:49.900 and systematically eliminate on -farm sources. 00:29:50.430 --> 00:29:52.930 Do not assume the utility is the problem yet. 00:29:53.029 --> 00:29:55.390 Those fixes are just too expensive to guess at. 00:29:55.509 --> 00:29:58.210 So you start at home. You start at home. Budget 00:29:58.210 --> 00:30:00.789 for and engage an independent electrical specialist. 00:30:01.230 --> 00:30:04.630 Plan for $3 ,000 to $5 ,000. Make sure they understand 00:30:04.630 --> 00:30:07.250 agricultural applications and, critically, that 00:30:07.250 --> 00:30:09.410 they use low -resistance testing protocols 200 00:30:09.410 --> 00:30:12.289 ohms or lower. Their first job should be systematically 00:30:12.289 --> 00:30:16.220 eliminating all on -farm issues. bad motors, 00:30:16.380 --> 00:30:19.559 corroded connections, poor grounding, or failed 00:30:19.559 --> 00:30:21.819 equipotential planes. Which are typically under 00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:25.680 $10 ,000 to repair. Usually, yes. And this process 00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:28.220 isolates the problem and provides you with the 00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:30.579 proof you need if the source is external. Okay, 00:30:30.619 --> 00:30:32.500 and finally, long -term positioning. For the 00:30:32.500 --> 00:30:34.819 next one to two years, this is preparing for 00:30:34.819 --> 00:30:36.859 the worst -case scenario where the utility is 00:30:36.859 --> 00:30:39.460 the verified source. Right. First, understand 00:30:39.460 --> 00:30:42.339 your state's specific action thresholds, but 00:30:42.339 --> 00:30:44.339 realize that those standards are probably flawed. 00:30:44.750 --> 00:30:47.369 If your independent testing confirms the utility 00:30:47.369 --> 00:30:50.109 infrastructure is the problem, you have to understand 00:30:50.109 --> 00:30:53.029 that the necessary resolution, that isolated 00:30:53.029 --> 00:30:55.910 transformer installation, can cost up to $100 00:30:55.910 --> 00:30:59.619 ,000. But you also need to know that the documented 00:30:59.619 --> 00:31:02.119 payback period can be as short as six months 00:31:02.119 --> 00:31:05.059 if you can verify that 20 pounds per cow per 00:31:05.059 --> 00:31:08.000 day production increase. Exactly. You need to 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:10.359 be ready to make that calculated economic argument 00:31:10.359 --> 00:31:13.240 to yourself, to your lender, and to the utility 00:31:13.240 --> 00:31:15.740 armed with your independent proof. This has been 00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:17.539 another deep dive from the Bullvine podcast. 00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:20.599 Sometimes what appears to be a chronic management 00:31:20.599 --> 00:31:23.500 failure, that unexplained dip in water intake 00:31:23.500 --> 00:31:25.799 or the rise in treatment -resistant mastitis, 00:31:25.980 --> 00:31:28.599 stems from infrastructure issues that standard 00:31:28.599 --> 00:31:30.819 testing protocols were simply not designed to 00:31:30.819 --> 00:31:33.240 detect. If this kind of analysis helps your operation, 00:31:33.500 --> 00:31:36.980 head to www .thebullvine .com for more articles 00:31:36.980 --> 00:31:38.559 that tell you what's really happening in dairy. 00:31:38.920 --> 00:31:41.539 You can also review Jill Nelson's resources at 00:31:41.539 --> 00:31:44.930 strayvoltagefacts .com. And seriously, subscribe 00:31:44.930 --> 00:31:47.529 wherever you get your content. We're releasing 00:31:47.529 --> 00:31:50.210 deep dives twice weekly now. And trust me, you 00:31:50.210 --> 00:31:51.890 do not want to miss what we've got coming next 00:31:51.890 --> 00:31:54.710 week about the complex and often overlooked interactions 00:31:54.710 --> 00:31:58.329 between modern facility design like tunnel ventilation 00:31:58.329 --> 00:32:00.930 and manure management and that aging electrical 00:32:00.930 --> 00:32:03.690 infrastructure. Until next time, stay efficient 00:32:03.690 --> 00:32:04.930 and keep questioning the standard.