In this episode of The Dairy Podcast Show, Dr. Johanna Fink-Gremmels, a veterinarian specialized in pharmacology and toxicology, unpacks the complex role of biofilms in dairy cattle health and farm management. She explains how bacterial communities impact antibiotic resistance, chronic infections, and nutrient utilization, offering insight into prevention strategies, such as quorum sensing manipulation. Learn how understanding bacterial communication can optimize herd health and productivity. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The most important nutrient for a cow is water, and biofilms in water systems can severely affect intake and health."

What will you learn:

• (00:00) Introduction
• (04:28) Understanding biofilms
• (10:20) Antibiotic resistance mechanisms
• (13:20) Biofilms and cow health
• (17:33) Rumen health focus
• (19:56) Quorum sensing explained
• (29:23) Final three questions

Meet the guest:

Dr. Johanna Fink-Gremmels is a veterinarian specialized in pharmacology and toxicology (Dip ECVPT). With over 25 years as a professor and head of department at Utrecht University, her expertise spans antibiotic use, pharmacokinetics, and the toxicity of mycotoxins. Now consulting for the feed and animal health industries, Dr. Fink-Gremmels shares critical insights on biofilms and microbial communication in dairy cattle health.

Connect with our guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

In this episode of The Dairy Podcast Show, Brian Sanford, Eastern US Team Lead at smaXtec, discusses the advantages of bolus technology in dairy herd management. He explains how highly precise, real-time data from the reticulum—such as inner body temperature and water intake—enables early disease detection, improved diagnoses, and better reproductive outcomes. Learn how this technology is helping producers reduce involuntary culling, enhance milk quality, and optimize peak milk production. Listen now on all major platforms!

"By monitoring cows’ internal temperatures in real-time, we can detect health issues days before clinical signs appear, allowing for early intervention and better outcomes."

Meet the guest: Brian Sanford is the Eastern US Team Lead at smaXtec, with over 15 years of experience in dairy nutrition and herd management. Before joining smaXtec, he worked extensively in forage quality and nutrition sales, helping producers optimize dairy herd health and efficiency. Brian’s expertise lies in leveraging technology for precision dairy farming, particularly in early disease detection and reproductive health.

What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:12) Introduction
• (04:47) Early disease detection
• (08:32) Potential influences on data
• (11:18) Improving cow reproduction
• (22:12) Biggest benefits for farms
• (26:12) Using sensor technology
• (33:42) Final three questions

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

SmaXtec

* Priority IAC

* Lallemand

* Adisseo

* Evonik

- Berg + Schmidt

- dsm-firmenich

- Scoular

- ICC

- AHV

- AGRI-TRAC

- Protekta

- Natural Biologics

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Dairy Podcast Show

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In this episode of The Dairy Podcast Show, Lindsay Ferlito and Betsy Hicks from Cornell University Extension explores the complexities of benchmarking in dairy health management. They discuss the challenges of disease recording, the importance of consistent data collection, and how these insights can improve farm management. Don’t miss this episode for valuable knowledge on optimizing herd health practices in dairy operations.

"Benchmarking allows farms to compare themselves to similarly managed farms, driving continuous improvement." - Betsy Hicks

Meet the guests:

Lindsay Ferlito is a Dairy Animal Welfare Specialist at Cornell University PRO-DAIRY, with a Master of Science in Dairy Cattle Behavior and Well-Being from the University of British Columbia. She has led cow comfort assessments nationwide and collaborates with farms to enhance animal welfare and maintain compliance with industry care standards.

Betsy Hicks is an Area Dairy Management Specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension and earned her M.S. in dairy nutrition from the University of Illinois, focusing on nutritional strategies to support herd health and performance.

What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:22) Introduction
• (03:56) Benchmarking in dairy health
• (08:11) Consistent data collection
• (14:31) Uniformity vs. practical farming
• (20:49) Data consistency
• (29:22) Employee training
• (34:48) Final three questions

The Dairy Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Adisseo

* Priority IAC

* Lallemand

* Evonik

- Natural Biologics

- Berg + Schmidt

- dsm-firmenich

- SmaXtec

- Scoular

- ICC

- AHV

- AGRI-TRAC

- Protekta

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Dairy Podcast Show

Instagram: The Dairy Podcast Show

LinkedIn: The Dairy Podcast Show