The Rumen Room Podcasts

30. The dry off process for lactating dairy cows. Part One

“Drying off” lactating dairy cows is the process of successfully and efficiently closing down the lactation process in readiness for the dry period – a time of rest and recuperation for not only the cow but also her hard-working milk secretory cells in her udder.
In this, part one of a two-part series about drying off dairy cows, we explore the basics of just why the cow and her udder deserve a well-earned break over the dry period. What “good” might look like for the ideal dry-off process is defined, and the role (or not) for gradual step down from twice-a-day to once-a-day milking before the dry off process.
The second part of this two-part series (Episode 31) covers the role for nutrition in the dry off process for lactating cows.
Search within this current Episode 30 for topics of interest if you've not got time to listen to the entire episode: 
1.00 Just what do we mean by the term “drying off” of dairy cows?
1.40 Introduction around what will be covered in this podcast
5.22 The “why” around the need for a dry period for lactating cows
7.55 Fitting in lactation and dry periods within 365 days in seasonal calving systems
10.05 Do New Zealand cows gain any benefits of our relatively long dry period of 90 days vs. shorter dry periods?
11.18 The benefits of a dry period for both the cow and her udder
14.00 What might happen if a cow doesn’t have a dry period at all?
18.10 Defining the outcome “what does a good dry off process look like?”
25.18 Setting up paddocks to dry off on
27.40 The two approaches to dry off 1) Reduce nutrient supply to the cow and / or 2) Reduce milking frequency from twice to once a day before dry off
34.20 Things to consider before deciding if a short period of once-a-day milking might be useful before dry off for your twice-a-day milked cows
37.00 Abrupt dry off (and not stepping cows from twice to once-a-day) remains the default recommendation for most dairy herds in New Zealand
38.30 Why “skip-a-day” milking before dry off is NOT recommended under any circumstances

29. Rusty grasses – what might these mean for grazing animal performance and wellbeing?

In this our latest “bite sized” Rumen Room Podcast, we cover off a brief overview about rusty grasses. Often the first time you realise your pastures contain Crown rust (Puccinia coronata) or Stem rust (Puccinia graminis) fungi is when your boots turn an orange colour as you walk through the paddocks. (Note that these aren’t the only types of fungi to cause rusty coloured mottling on your grasses - we’re focusing on just these two in this podcast. Ask your local agronomist for more advice around what types of fungi might be turning your grasses unusual rust and orange colours). 
This latest podcast discusses what rust fungi are, why they appear in your paddocks and what weather conditions favour the accumulation of rust on your pastures.  What rust might mean for your grazing animals is discussed – both from an animal nutrition point of view, as well as the risk of unintended consequences to animal performance and wellbeing when stock graze rusty pastures.

28. Ewe flushing for mating success

For spring lambing businesses, autumn means it’s time for the rams to head out with the ewes. Ovulation, conception rate and embryo implantation are all influenced by nutrition before and during mating.
In this our latest Rumen Room Podcast, we’re focusing on the importance of a rising plane of nutrition for ewes (otherwise known as “flushing”) before the ewes meet the rams. We’ll cover a range of information, everything from how we think that flushing might work specifically to improve ovulation rates, and the importance of ewe body condition score as a modifier of and reproductive success. Feeding for flushing success is covered, including everything from pasture grazing management, different non-pasture forages and supplementary feeds for flushing.
Here’s where to find the various sections of our latest ewe mating podcast:
2:05 Scene setting around the importance of ewe nutrition before and during the early weeks of mating.
5:30 What does “flushing” ewes mean before mating and what we are trying to achieve by flushing ewes?
14:48 Does flushing always work to lift ovulation rate in ewes?
16:42 The static vs. the dynamic effect of ewe body condition score on flushing outcomes.
23:00 How long do we need to flush for – the “ideal” six weeks vs. what’s practical.
23:55 What to think about if we don’t have enough feed to flush for 6 weeks?
26:00 How much more feed (over and above feed demands for maintenance) do we need to feed ewes to achieve the “flush” effect?
32:45 Importance of feed quality for successful ewe flushing outcomes.
37:10 What does a good flushing pasture look like?
38:25 Non-pasture forages for flushing.
43:30 Supplementary feeds – which ones for flushing ewes?
47:45 Crude protein content of feeds for flushing
51:55 Lucerne and red clover – can we flush ewes on these forages?
1:00:10 Short acknowledgement of non-nutritional factors that influence ovulation in sheep

27. Magnesium Sulphate or Magnesium Chloride for dairy cows. Which one?

With this, our latest and all new “bite-sized” short Rumen Room podcast, we discuss the specific topic of magnesium salts... magnesium chloride and magnesium sulphate. We’ll take a compare and contrast style of approach to cover off the basics around the decision around which type of magnesium to use and when, how and where to use either of these types of magnesium salts. Acknowledging of course as usual that this podcast is not designed to replace the recommendations and advice of your very own veterinarian or qualified dairy nutritionist! 
Let us know what you think of our latest “bite-sized” podcasts and if you like our shorter and more to the point style of topic presentation or our more comprehensive longer style (or perhaps a mixture of both!). Look forward to hearing from you!

26. Flood damage; Part Two – Deciding what to do with flood damaged Crops

In this, our latest Rumen Room Podcast episode, we’re going to carry on with the topic of flood damage to ruminant feeds. Episode 25 was part one of this two-part flood themed topic, which covered a discussion around assessing and deciding what to do with supplementary feeds (specifically, silage, baleage, hay and straw) that may have been damaged by flood waters.
This latest podcast is part two of this two part flood-themed series, focusing more on the challenges and opportunities of flood damaged summer and winter crops, with an emphasis on forage brassica crops. To assist with your navigation through Episode 26, the following provides some guidance for those of you searching for specific aspects of managing flood-damaged forage crops – to save you having to listen to the whole podcast if you’re too busy just now. NOTE: There is however considerable overlap between sections of content within this particular podcast.
Content within this podcast is not intended to replace the advice of your qualified rural professionals and advisors.
1:32 Introduction, overview and scene set for this crop-specific, flood themed podcast.
6:53 Safety first – look after yourself, your friends, family, staff and animals before moving into forage crop assessment.
7:13 Beginning the assessment of forage crops, paddocks and infrastructure.
8:53 Stock water requirements – the irony in the midst of flooding.
9:45 Assessment of forage brassica crops and soil conditions.
11:20 What factors influence the survivability of your flooded brassica crops?
19:48 Flood water contaminants and your flooded forage crops.
22:43 What to do with flood damaged crops – some suggestions to consider.
24:38 Can we graze our flood damaged crops? Things to consider including potential nutritive (feed) value of damaged crops.
33:42 Do we need to retransition stock back onto forage brassicas after stock have been removed during flood events
35:20 The challenges of allocating breaks across ex flooded crop ground.
39:05 Animal wellbeing when flood affected crops are grazed.
45:42 The importance to update feed budgets after a flood event, including prioritisation of feed types to different stock classes.
DairyNZ Flood resources https://www.dairynz.co.nz/business/adverse-events/flood/
Beef and Lamb Flood resources https://beeflambnz.com/news-views/flood-support

25. Flood damage; Part One – Deciding what to do with flood damaged Supplementary Feeds

With recent flood damage across many New Zealand regions, it’s timely to explore flood-associated nutritional and feed challenges being faced by many farmers. This episode is the first of a two part series that explores topics to do with managing flood damaged feeds for cattle, sheep and deer. We’ll discuss topics to do with flood damaged silage, baleage, hay and straw for ruminant species. Episode 26, part two in this two-part series will carry on with this flood-damaged feed theme by covering aspects of challenges when flood waters damage forage crops, with a specific emphasis on forage brassicas.  
To assist with your navigation through this episode, the following time points provide some guidance for those of you searching for specific aspects of managing flood-damaged supplementary feed – to save you having to listen to the whole podcast if you’re simply too busy just now. NOTE: There is, however, considerable overlap between sections of content within this particular podcast.
Content within this podcast is not intended to replace the advice of your qualified rural professionals and advisors.
2:48 An introduction to what’ll be covered in this podcast.
5:03 How do flood waters damage conserved feeds?
7:08 Focus on flood damage to silage and baleage – changes to feed quality, potential dry matter losses and challenges of contaminants from flood waters.
23:00 Hay and straw damage from flood water including risk of contaminants from flood waters.
23:58 Farm-level subjective assessment of flood damaged supplementary feeds including risks of leachates (silage “effluent”) runoff from flood damaged silages and baleages.
35:00 Will our ruminants want to eat our post-flood damaged feeds? What do the presence of e.g. moulds, yeasts and fungi amongst our supplementary feeds mean?
38:40 Will we see ongoing quality deterioration and loss of dry matter from our flood damaged supplementary feeds?
40:10 The ‘sniff test’ of flood damaged feeds – what does the smell of damaged forages tell us?
43:22 What to do with your flood damaged conserved forages?
46:00 The importance of revising your feed budget when conserved forages are damaged.
48:35 Feed testing of flood-damaged conserved forages.
49:56 Animal health and wellbeing when flood damaged forages are consumed.
52:28 Utilisation of flood damaged feeds by stock – approaches to feeding out these forages.  
54:10 Mycotoxins in flood damaged forages.
DairyNZ Flood resources https://www.dairynz.co.nz/business/adverse-events/flood/
Beef and Lamb Flood resources https://beeflambnz.com/news-views/flood-support
 

24. Summer bulb turnips for lactating dairy cows: Part Two

A relatively common feed for lactating dairy cows, summer bulb turnips deliver top quality feed crop when the amount and/or nutritive value of summer pastures is lacking.  
Continuing on with our summer turnip theme that we started back in episode 23, in part two of this two-part summer turnip series, we’ll cover off practicalities of feeding summer bulb turnips. The importance of the careful transitioning of cows from pasture-based diets to one that contains summer bulb turnips is explained. Expected performance and milk responses by cows to summer turnips are discussed as well how to avoid animal health, or milk taint issues when cows eat bulb turnips.
To help you navigate through – here’s where to find the content within this podcast.
3:50       When to graze summer bulb turnips (tankard and globe types) after planting
6:45       Planning ahead when turnips are ready to graze, including dry matter yielding turnips
8:35       Calculating the allocation of turnips for lactating dairy cows
11:30    Recommended maximum allocation of turnips as a proportion of total diet
13:55    Transitioning cows from pasture-based diets to turnip-based diets
25:40    Minimising risk of heat stress in cows grazing summer forage crops
27:40    Reducing risk of milk taint when cows consume summer turnips
29:05    Milk responses when spring calved cows eat summer turnips
35:05    Lactating cow body condition and liveweight responses to summer turnips
43:00    Photosensitisation – an occasional challenge when cows graze summer turnips
44:30    Fatty acid composition of milk from turnip-fed cows

23. Summer bulb turnips for lactating dairy cows: Part One

Summer bulb turnips are a key component of the diet for many lactating dairy cows. In this two-part series, we’ll be exploring everything to do with cows grazing bulb turnips, from the nutritional profile of summer turnips through to grazing management and expected milk production and body condition responses by cows that consume bulb turnips.
This, our first part of this two part series about turnips, we’ll cover off the role for summer bulb turnips in a dairy farm systems, and explore the typical nutritional values of the bulb and leaf of summer bulb turnips. The basic aspects of the nutritional profile such as dry matter (DM%) of crops, as well as the energy content, fibre, protein and macro and trace minerals are discussed. We’ll be including references to previously unpublished nutritional information from a New Zealand study of the feed quality of summer turnips. This information will help you successfully integrate summer bulb turnips into the diet of your lactating dairy cows.
Keep an eye out for part two of this series, where we’ll focus on the practicalities of feeding summer bulb turnips, including how to successfully transition cows from pasture-based diets to one that contains summer bulb turnips. We’ll cover off the expected performance and responses by cows to summer turnips, as well as how to avoid any animal health challenges when cows eat bulb turnips.

22. Primary Photosensitisation (“sunburn”) in lambs and cattle

In this, our latest Rumen Room podcast, we’ve got a summer-themed podcast for you. With many of us heading away to beaches and lakes and lots of outdoor activities, we’re very aware of the importance of prevention of sunburn for us and our families. Ever thought about our sheep and cattle? Yes, under some circumstances, sheep and cattle can sometimes experience a condition called ‘photosensitisation’ – which looks very much like an extreme version of sunburn.
In this podcast hosted by New Zealand veterinarian and nutritionist Dr Charlotte Westwood, this ‘photosensitisation’ condition is explored and explained. “Primary photosensitisation” is explored and contrasted with the other form of photosensitisation “Secondary photosensitisation” due to conditions such as Facial Eczema (otherwise known as sporidesmin toxicity) that’ll be discussed in a later podcast (stay tuned for that!).
Many names and terms are used to describe primary photosensitisation including ‘spring eczema’, ‘photo’, ‘sunburn’ or, if the condition occurs on a brassica crop it’s sometimes called ‘rape scald’.
There’s content here for everyone – lamb finishers and dairy farmers. To help navigate your area of interest if the whole podcast isn’t for you, tune in as follows:
Introduction and overview of this latest podcast 5:00
Part 1: Primary or Secondary photosensitisation – what’s the difference? 9:25
Part 2: What signs might we see in sheep and cattle affected by Primary photosensitisation?  15:40
Part 3: Types of forages and weed species that have been linked with cases of Primary photosensitisation. 32:00
Part 4: Risk factors and prevention strategies for Primary photosensitisation in lambs that graze annual forage brassica crops. 38:15
Part 5: What to do if your sheep or cattle are affected by Primary photosensitisation and prevention strategies for Primary photosensitisation in lambs that graze brassica crops (noting here that getting in touch with your veterinarian for advice is your number one thing to do; podcasts are not a substitute for advice from you own vet). 1:01:20
For anyone who grazes lambs or young cattle on summer crops, there’s something in this podcast for you!
 

21. Mating of dairy cows: Part Two. Anoestrus (non-cycling) cows, silent heats and heat detection efficiency.

In this, our latest Rumen Room Podcast episode, we’ll carry on with the theme of dairy cow nutrition and reproductive performance. Episode 20 covered the importance of 3-week submission rate as a driver of reproductive success in seasonally calved dairy herds. We discussed how the nutrition of cows impacts the onset of ovulation and oestrus (heat) in cows after calving. Episode 20 finished up talking about nutritional challenges that impact on anoestrus (non-cycling) dairy cows.
This latest podcast completes the topic of anoestrus cows topic by discussing why herd social stressors may increase risk of anoestrus cows. The final topic around anoestrus cows covers that frustrating cycle of “slow calving rate causing slow submission rate causing a slow calving rate”. Ideas about how to break out of this slow calving rate-slow submission rate cycle are discussed.
Reasons why cows that cycle early after calving might stop cycling again in time for mating are discussed (how annoying are those cows?!). We finish with info about “silent heats”, where cows ovulate but don’t show signs of visual heat, and finally, heat detection efficiency.
We finish with info about “silent heats” where cows ovulate but don’t show signs of visual heat, and heat detection efficiency.