The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

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Dr. Jeffrey Firkins: Fiber in Dairy Diets - Part 1 | Ep. 112
In this special rerun episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Jeff Firkins from The Ohio State University explores how nutrient interactions influence fiber degradation in dairy cows. He explains the balance between starch and fiber digestion, the role of rumen pH, and the impact of feed additives on maintaining optimal rumen health. Learn how to maximize fiber utilization and improve energy efficiency in dairy diets. Listen now on all major platforms!"Positive and negative associative effects determine whether nutrients enhance or inhibit fiber degradation, directly influencing rumen function and energy utilization."Meet the guest: Dr. Jeff Firkins is a Professor at The Ohio State University. After earning his Ph.D. and completing a postdoc at the University of Illinois, he joined OSU, advancing to Professor. His research focuses on rumen fermentation, nutrient efficiency, and microbial interactions affecting fiber utilization in dairy cattle. With over 160 journal articles and 200 invited presentations, Dr. Firkins continues to guide advancements in dairy nutrition. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:19) Introduction(01:54) Guest background(02:44) Fiber degradation(04:49) Soluble carbohydrates(06:39) Starch in dairy diets(09:08) Feed additives(12:09) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:* Adisseo* Priority IAC* Fortiva- Virtus Nutrition- Kemin𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastInstagram: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastLinkedIn: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
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Dr. Frank Mitloehner: Nitrogen Excretion & Amino Acid Balancing | Ep. 111
In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Frank Mitloehner from UC Davis explores the complex environmental impacts of nitrogen excretion in dairy cattle. He breaks down how nitrogen behaves in the environment, compares it to methane, and discusses the role of precision feeding and manure management in reducing emissions. Learn how to balance productivity with sustainability. Listen now on all major platforms!"Each percent of protein that you overfeed beyond what the animal needs can lead to 10% additional nitrogen emissions."Meet the guest: Dr. Frank Mitloehner is a professor and air quality specialist at UC Davis, where he leads the CLEAR Center, focused on the environmental impact of animal agriculture. His work targets air emissions and sustainable practices in livestock systems, with emphasis on nitrogen and methane management. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!Dr. Elliot Neto: Amino Acids & Dairy Efficiency | Ep. 76What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:27) Introduction(02:05) Guest background(03:00) Nitrogen excretion(04:57) Reactive nitrogen(07:15) Precision protein feeding(12:47) Emerging technologies(15:55) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies: Kemin* Adisseo* Priority IAC* Fortiva- Zinpro- Virtus Nutrition𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastInstagram: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastLinkedIn: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
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Shedrack Omale: Red Seaweed for Cows | Ep. 110
In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Shedrack Omale from Iowa State University shares his research on using red seaweed to reduce methane emissions in dairy cows. He explains how bromoform in seaweed disrupts methane production, its potential on-farm applications, and how it compares with other mitigation strategies. Learn how sustainability and performance can go hand in hand. Listen now on all major platforms!"Red seaweed contains bromoform, which is the active ingredient that can cut down methane emissions."Meet the guest: Shedrack Omale is a Ph.D. student in Nutritional Physiology at Iowa State University and Feed Manager at the ISU Dairy Teaching and Research Farm. His research focuses on strategies to reduce methane emissions from dairy cows, advancing sustainability in cattle nutrition.Click here to read the full research article!Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:21) Introduction(03:19) Guest background(05:11) Red seaweed(06:01) Environmental impact reduction(06:57) Seaweed effects(08:21) Cow health findings(11:47) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:* Priority IAC* Fortiva* Adisseo- Kemin- Zinpro- Virtus Nutrition𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastInstagram: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastLinkedIn: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
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Gaelan Combs: Dexamethasone Pre-treatment Impact | Ep. 109
In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Gaelan Combs, a PhD student at Iowa State University, discusses the impact of dexamethasone pre-treatment on metabolism and productivity during a systemic immune challenge. He examines how inflammation affects productivity and why immune activation involves more than just inflammatory markers. Listen now on all major platforms!"Inflammation is one of the key responses that happens when the immune system is activated, but it’s not the only factor involved."Meet the guest: Gaelan Combs is a PhD student in Animal Nutrition at Iowa State University, where his research focuses on immune activation and its metabolic effects in dairy cattle. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Dairy Science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he conducted undergraduate research in dairy nutrition. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:24) Introduction(03:31) Immune activation effects(04:06) Inflammation and productivity(04:51) Dexamethasone's role explained(06:19) LPS challenge model(11:19) Inflammation vs immune activation(13:24) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:* Adisseo* Priority IAC* Fortiva- Virtus Nutrition- Kemin- Zinpro𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastInstagram: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastLinkedIn: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
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Jeff Tikofsky: Isoacids for Rumen Efficiency | Ep. 108
In this episode of the Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Jeff Tikofsky from Zinpro shares insights on how isoacids support rumen function and microbial protein synthesis. He explains how balanced nutrition strategies can improve fiber digestion, nitrogen use, and overall herd performance, particularly during the transition period. Get practical takeaways to help your herd make the most of every pound of feed. Listen now on all major platforms!"Isoacid supplementation enhances fiber degradation and helps cows extract more energy from feed."Meet the guest: Jeff Tikofsky is a Dairy Technical Nutritionist at Zinpro Performance Minerals, bringing decades of experience in dairy nutrition, technical support, and mentorship. With a Master of Science degree from Cornell University, under the guidance of Dr. Mike Van Amburgh, he has built a career focused on advancing rumen function, microbial efficiency, and producer success. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!Dr. Andrew LaPierre: Isoacids in Cattle Diet | Ep. 79What will you learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:29) Introduction(02:52) Isoacids' role(03:47) Rumen fermentation(04:59) Product benefits(06:29) When isoacids work best(07:50) Microbial synthesis(09:56) Closing thoughtsThe Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies: Zinpro* Adisseo* Priority IAC* Fortiva- Virtus Nutrition- Kemin𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastInstagram: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastLinkedIn: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
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About The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

Learn dairy nutrition from the brightest minds of the global dairy industry – in 9 minutes.If you are a dairy nutritionist who wants to stay up to date with all that is working in the industry, but doesn’t know how to start, doesn’t have the time, or feel most courses out there don’t deliver, then you have come to the right place.The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is specially designed by and for professionals just like yourself. With it, you can effortlessly have access to the thoughts of the most brilliant minds in our industry – all while going about your routine and saving your time.

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