The Moos Room™

Hosted by members of the University of Minnesota Extension Beef and Dairy Teams, The Moos Room discusses relevant topics to help beef and dairy producers be more successful. The information is evidence-based and presented as an informal conversation between the hosts and guests.

The Moos Room™ is a science podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 0 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts The Moos Room™, a science show with 0 episodes published.

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  Episode #361

  Episode 360 - Working With the Dairy Cow’s Biological Clock - UMN Extension's The Moos Room

  Aug 17, 202615 min

  After a busy week showing dairy cattle at the county fair, Brad explores research on the dairy cow’s 12-month biological clock. Using data from 332 Western U.S. dairy herds, the study examined how region, breed, housing, organic management, and BST use influence seasonal patterns in milk production, components, dry matter intake, and feed efficiency. Despite differences among herds, annual rhythms remained remarkably consistent: milk components peaked in winter, dry matter intake peaked in February, and milk production generally peaked in spring. The findings suggest producers and nutritionists should compare herd performance across seasons—not just from one month to the next—and work with cows’ natural biological rhythms when evaluating production changes and planning diets. Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message! Linkedin -> The Moos Room Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety Facebook -> @UMNDairy YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy Extension Website AgriAmerica Podcast Directory

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  Episode #360

  Episode 359 - New Calf Health and Fertility Traits: What Dairy Producers Need to Know - UMN Extension's The Moos Room

  Aug 10, 202618 min

  This episode previews new U.S. dairy genetic evaluations scheduled for release by the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding on August 11, 2026. Two new calf-health traits will measure genetic resistance to diarrhea and respiratory disease in Holsteins and Jerseys. Positive predicted transmitting abilities indicate greater resistance. Although these traits have relatively low heritability, they may help producers gradually improve calf health, reduce treatment costs, and avoid the long-term productivity losses associated with early-life illness. Continued, accurate recording of calf health events will be essential for strengthening these evaluations . The episode also explains revisions to several fertility traits, including daughter pregnancy rate, cow conception rate, heifer conception rate, and early first calving. The updated models better account for modern reproductive management, including longer and variable voluntary waiting periods, synchronization programs, sexed and beef semen, and automated monitoring systems. A new trait, first service to conception, measures the number of days between a cow’s first breeding and conception. Unlike daughter pregnancy rate, it is independent of a herd’s voluntary waiting period and may be particularly useful on farms that establish breeding eligibility for individual cows. The host remains skeptical about how dramatically the revised models change historical fertility trends—especially daughter pregnancy rate, which now appears to have improved rather than declined over the past 25 years. Producers are encouraged to examine how the August evaluations affect bulls they currently use, while considering calf-health and fertility traits as additional selection tools rather than replacements for sound management. Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message! Linkedin -> The Moos Room Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety Facebook -> @UMNDairy YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy Extension Website AgriAmerica Podcast Directory

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  Episode #359

  Episode 358 - Footbath Management: What Dairy Farms May Be Missing - UMN Extension's The Moos Room

  Aug 3, 202618 min

  After sharing how recent heat stress caused an average milk loss of four pounds per cow in his herd, Brad turns his attention to lameness and footbath management. He examines a study of approximately 250 Canadian dairy farms to explore how footbaths are being used, where management gaps exist, and what the future of hoof-health programs may look like. Most farms sent lactating cows through a footbath one or two times per week, commonly after milking. Copper sulfate was the most widely used product, but Brad discusses its potential to accumulate in soil and affect crop production. He also addresses the health risks associated with formaldehyde and copper sulfate, noting that fewer than half of the surveyed farms reported using personal protective equipment while preparing footbath solutions. Solution management is another important concern. As manure and other organic matter accumulate, footbath products become less effective—often after 150 to 300 cow passages. Keeping a solution too long may mean that cows passing through later receive much less protection. The study also identified major gaps among nonlactating animals: 69% of dry cows and 82% of heifers never passed through a footbath. Because hoof problems in heifers can negatively affect first-lactation milk production and reproduction, farms may need to consider hoof health across the animal’s entire life cycle. Brad concludes by discussing how automated footbaths could improve consistency, shorten solution-retention times, and reduce labor. The key is developing a farm-specific protocol that accounts for cow flow, herd size, chemical safety, solution replacement, and hoof-health challenges across every group of animals. Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message! Linkedin -> The Moos Room Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety Facebook -> @UMNDairy YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy Extension Website AgriAmerica Podcast Directory

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  Episode #358

  Episode 357 - From Calf to Carcass: Early Nutrition for Beef-on-Dairy Success - UMN Extension's The Moos Room

  Jul 27, 202617 min

  Beef-on-dairy calves continue to bring strong prices, but producing calves that perform well from birth through harvest requires careful decisions about genetics and nutrition. In this episode, we look at current Minnesota calf markets, the factors influencing beef sire selection and recent research exploring how early feeding programs affect the long-term performance of Angus-Holstein calves. A University of Minnesota study compared conventional 20:20 milk replacer with a higher-energy 24:24 formulation. Calves receiving the 24:24 milk replacer had greater starter intake, faster weight and frame growth, and improved feed efficiency through eight weeks of age. The results suggest that supplying more nutrients early in life may encourage—not suppress—starter consumption. We also discuss an Iowa State University study that followed beef-on-dairy steers from the nursery through harvest. Although pelleted diets produced faster growth shortly after weaning, cattle raised on forage-based total mixed rations performed better later in the feeding period. The low-starch TMR group finished with heavier body and carcass weights, more Prime carcasses and greater carcass value, while the high-starch TMR group experienced substantially more liver abscesses. The research highlights why early growth should not be the only goal. Rumen health, feed costs, finishing performance and carcass quality all matter when developing profitable beef-on-dairy feeding programs. Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message! Linkedin -> The Moos Room Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety Facebook -> @UMNDairy YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy Extension Website AgriAmerica Podcast Directory

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  Episode #357

  Episode 356 - Heat Stress and Water Intake in Dairy Cows - UMN Extension's The Moos Room

  Jul 20, 202616 min

  This episode examines how heat stress affects water intake in dairy cows—and why farms must prepare their watering systems for increasingly hot weather. A review of studies from 1985–2024 found that Holstein cows producing roughly 65–70 pounds of milk averaged about 24 gallons of water per day under thermoneutral conditions. During heat stress, intake increased by approximately 10 liters, or 2–3 gallons, per cow per day. Each one-unit increase in the temperature-humidity index was associated with another 1.5 liters of water intake. Although heat-stressed cows produce less milk, they drink more because the additional water supports evaporative cooling and body-temperature regulation. Data from the University of Minnesota’s dairy herd revealed a more complicated picture. smaXtec sensors showed that cows averaged around 23 gallons per day, but estimated intake declined during summer. Possible reasons include warmer drinking water, pasture water access, competition at waterers, and changes in drinking behavior. Cows generally drank only four or five times per day, consuming roughly 14–20 liters at each visit. Peak drinking also shifted from midafternoon in winter to around 7 p.m. in summer, often after milking. These patterns highlight the importance of examining when cows drink—not just daily totals. Farms should ensure adequate water flow, tank capacity, access, and cool water during peak-use periods. Sensor readings are most valuable when compared with each cow’s normal behavior and interpreted alongside weather, milk production, rumination, health events, and management changes. The central message is that water intake can be a useful indicator of heat stress, but unexpected changes should prompt investigation rather than an automatic conclusion. As extreme heat becomes more common, dairy water systems must be designed for peak demand rather than historical averages. Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message! Linkedin -> The Moos Room Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety Facebook -> @UMNDairy YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy Extension Website AgriAmerica Podcast Directory

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