The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Arthur Behling Neto, professor at the Federal University of Mato Grosso in Brazil, explains the role of sorghum varieties for silage production in tropical regions like Brazil. Discussion highlights productivity, nutritional quality, dry matter management, and how sorghum performs compared with corn under limited rainfall conditions. Learn how different sorghum types support forage systems and dairy nutrition strategies. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Different sorghum categories such as grain, forage, sweet, biomass, and broom types demonstrate the genetic diversity available for distinct agricultural and forage production purposes.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Arthur Behling Neto is a professor at the Federal University of Mato Grosso in Brazil. He earned degrees in Agronomy, Animal Science, and Tropical Agriculture, including doctoral research with international experience in Sweden, focused on forage conservation. Current research examines sorghum varieties, forage conservation, and integrated crop livestock systems that support efficient feed production. 

Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!

What will you learn: 
(00:00) Highlight
(01:36) Introduction
(03:56) Sorghum vs corn
(05:17) Sorghum types
(06:25) Sorghum uses
(08:40) Yield differences
(12:13) Harvest management
(14:48) Closing thoughts

The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:

* Adisseo
* Kemin
* Vetagro
* Barentz
* Fortiva

- Virtus Nutrition
- DietForge

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
Instagram: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
LinkedIn: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Michael Van Amburgh from Cornell University explains how modern dairy cows respond to balanced essential amino acids and why energy-based models reshape requirement predictions. He explains new insights from the CNCPS model, unexpected links between amino acids and milk fat synthesis, and what future high-component cows may be capable of producing. Listen now on all major platforms.

"Energy supply provides a clearer foundation for determining essential amino acid requirements in modern dairy cattle, especially as production levels continue to shift."

Meet the guest: Dr. Mike Van Amburgh is a Professor of Animal Science at Cornell University, where he has been a faculty member for 30 years. He holds a Ph.D. in Animal Science from Cornell and a BS in Dairy Science from The Ohio State University. He is well known for his work on the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System and his leadership in the Cornell Dairy Fellows program.

Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!

What will you learn: 
(00:00) Highlight
(01:58) Introduction
(02:44) Guest background
(03:33) Amino acid needs
(06:46) Milk fat role
(10:27) Production potential
(13:17) Herd performance
(14:58) Closing thoughts

The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:

* Barentz
* Fortiva
* Adisseo
* Kemin
* Vetagro

- DietForge
- Virtus Nutrition

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
Instagram: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
LinkedIn: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Sonia Rodríguez, Ruminant Technical Innovation Manager at Vetagro, explains how rumen protected organic acids and botanicals support intestinal health in lactating cows. She discusses micro encapsulation technology, heat stress mitigation, inflammation control, and performance outcomes. Learn how improving gut integrity can enhance milk production and farm profitability. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Rumen protected combinations of organic acids and pure botanicals can synergistically reduce undesired bacterial load while supporting intestinal barrier integrity under normal and stressful conditions.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Sonia Rodríguez received her DVM from the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, her Master’s in Dairy Science from South Dakota State University, and her PhD in Animal Science from Iowa State University under Dr. Lance Baumgard. Her research focuses on immune activation, heat stress, metabolism, and gastrointestinal health in ruminants. She currently serves as Ruminant Technical Innovation Manager at Vetagro.

Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!

What will you learn: 
(00:00) Highlight
(01:48) Introduction
(03:27) Rumen protected organics
(04:42) Micro encapsulation process
(06:11) Heat stress effects
(06:55) Research results
(08:03) Economic benefits
(08:57) Final Questions

The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:

* Vetagro

* Barentz
* Fortiva
* Adisseo
* Kemin
- Virtus Nutrition
- DietForge

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
Instagram: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
LinkedIn: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, celebrating International Women’s Day, Dr. Megan Abeyta from GPS Dairy Consulting breaks down the physiological and metabolic costs of stress, inflammation, and leaky gut in dairy cattle. She explains how heat stress, acidosis, and management practices influence immune activation and productivity losses. Learn how to use practical indicators like rumination data to identify and reduce risk on-farm. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Leaky gut occurs when the gut lining is compromised, allowing harmful substances like endotoxins into the bloodstream."

Meet the guest: Dr. Megan Abeyta earned her bachelor’s and Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from Iowa State University, focusing her doctoral research on the impact of stress, hindgut acidosis, and leaky gut on dairy cow health and productivity. Now an Independent Dairy Nutrition and Management Consultant with GPS Dairy Consulting, she brings a science-based, practical approach to farm management.

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
(02:32) Leaky gut causes
(03:47) Inflammation and energy
(06:01) Biomarker indicators
(08:38) Identifying farm stressors
(10:04) Diet-energy balance
(12:10) Closing thoughts

The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:

* Vetagro
* Barentz
* Fortiva
* Adisseo
* Kemin

- DietForge
- Virtus Nutrition

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
Instagram: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
LinkedIn: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Mike VandeHaar from Michigan State University discusses his recent studies on short-stature corn hybrids and their impact on dairy cow performance. He breaks down how these hybrids perform in yield, fiber digestibility, and milk production, and what that could mean for on-farm feed efficiency. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The short corn varieties showed better fiber digestibility than the tall hybrid we tested."

Meet the guest: Dr. Mike VandeHaar is a Professor of Animal Science at Michigan State University, where he’s been teaching and conducting research in dairy cattle nutrition and feed efficiency since 1988. He earned his Ph.D. in Animal Science from Iowa State University. His work focuses on improving dairy production efficiency through nutrition and genetics. 

Click here to learn more!

Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!

What will you learn: 
(00:00) Highlight
(01:42) Introduction
(02:47) Short corn variety research
(04:51) Fiber digestibility results
(07:10) Energy-corrected milk yield
(08:56) Hybrid yield comparisons
(11:07) Practical recommendations
(12:20) Closing thoughts

The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by the innovative companies:

* Fortiva
* Kemin
* Adisseo
* Barentz
* Vetagro

- DietForge
- Virtus Nutrition

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
Instagram: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
LinkedIn: The Dairy Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast