real science

We are part of the undersea! What a triumph (for two of us at least). Station 11 tells a gripping story in a compelling way. Listen in to find out What We're Loving (Did you notice the new WWL hit?) and what Station 11 is doing to amaze us (well two of us, anyway).

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Twitter: @confidently_pod
Instagram: @confidently_pod
Website: https://confidentlywrong.simplecast.com

Credits:
Hosted by: Wesley Nakamura, Mike Smith, Brian Redondo, Savon Jones
Edited by: Wesley Nakamura

Theme Music: Implied Authority by Bass Elf
Link: https://soundcloud.com/bass_elf_music

Guests: 
Dr. Jim Drackley, University of Illinois 
Dr. Bill Weiss, The Ohio State University
Dr. Mike VandeHaar, Michigan State University

Tonight, we continue our discussions with the authors of each chapter of the new NASEM, formerly the dairy NRC. We’re focusing on dry cows, calves and heifers for our conversation and it should be a lively one. Here is a link to the webinar on the new report: https://bit.ly/3B5z2MZ. Also, we've got a new co-host tonight with Dr. Jeff Elliott joining us.

Dr. Bill Weiss discusses changes in the chapter regarding dry cows and transition cows. The biggest update was the changes in intake prediction, which changes every day substantially as the cow gets close to calving, making intake prediction difficult to model. There is also up-to-date discussion on all the metabolic problems within the text that doesn’t all show up in the software but is great for users to have as a reference. (7:08)

Dr. Jim Drackley discusses steam-up rations and high energy density diets. He explains there are large steps from the dry cow to the close-up cow but not a large step to the fresh cow. That is part of the problem and why they took a more moderate steam-up approach. The other problem is that cows are becoming catabolic the last few days before calving. So adjustments are made to focus on metabolism and divert nutrients to the mammary gland. (12.05)

Dr. Mike VanderHaar discussed a big change in the composition of gain. They used data from Holstein cattle instead of growing beef cattle. By doing this the intake equations are better than the last model. They also include feed factors and are size scaled. (41:44)

Dr. Jim Drackley discusses updates to the calf chapter. The requirements on the conversion of nutrients into gain are much improved because of better data based on Holstein and Jersey calf studies. (58:14)

As a reminder, we will continue breaking down the new 2021 8th Revised Edition of the Nutrient Requirements of Animals in podcasts releasing over the coming weeks. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any of the new episodes. If you’d like to pre-order a copy and receive a 25% discount, visit Balchem.com/realscience and click on the NRC series for a link and the discount code. 

If you like what you heard, please remember to hit the 5-star rating on your way out. Don’t forget to request your Real Science Exchange t-shirt. You just need to like or subscribe to the Real Science Exchange and send us a screenshot along with your address and size to ANH.marketing@balchem.com.

Please subscribe and share with your industry friends to bring more people to join us around the Real Science Exchange virtual pub table.

This podcast is sponsored by Balchem Animal Nutrition and Health.

Guests: 

Dr. Lou Armentano, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Dr. Mike Vandehaar, Michigan State University. Co-host: Dr. Glen Aines, Balchem

We are just coming off a very successful Real Science Lecture Series set of five webinars where we unveiled the new 2021 dairy NRC, a chapter at a time, and we can’t wait to have these sit-down conversations with each of our presenters and their guest.

Dr. Lou Armentano summarizes the biggest changes from the 2001 edition to the 2021 edition within the energy chapter. He explained that their resource data shows that cows have changed, therefore the maintenance requirements for cows have changed. Since cows have biologically changed with genetic selection, they use more energy to maintain themselves. So that part of the chapter needed to be updated to reflect that change. (14:19)

Dr. Lou Armentano discusses the reporting of fatty acid content in the feed. He expands upon fatty acid digestion, and how those fatty acids affect milk fat. (29:52)

Dr. Mike Vandehaar discusses frame growth, which is the true structural growth of the animal, including muscle, bone, fat, gut tissues and gut fill as well as reserve depletion, which happens in all cows even when they hit maturity. The 2001 model wouldn’t change the equation solution when you entered structural growth as a factor. So they wanted to make sure that oversight was fixed in the new model. (37:33)

Dr. Mike Vandehaar discusses feeding high starch diets versus high fiber by-products to cows through their lactation cycles. (45:47)

Dr. Mike Vanehaar stresses that you can’t just trust the model you have to watch the cows and when you make a diet change try to figure out what the cows are telling you by observing and measuring things like milk production, milk compensation, intake, and body condition score. (1:04:04)

Dr. Lou Armentano says that they have been playing with a functioning model for only about a month and a half so he encourages those who are going to use the new model to speak up if something seems to be a mistake so changes can be made to correct any issues. (1:04:40)

As a reminder, we will continue breaking down the new 2021 8th Revised Edition of the Nutrient Requirements of Animals in podcasts releasing over the coming weeks. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any of the new episodes. If you’d like to pre-order a copy and receive a 25% discount, visit Balchem.com/realscience and click on the NRC series for a link and the discount code. 

If you like what you heard, please remember to hit the 5-star rating on your way out.  Don’t forget to request your Real Science Exchange t-shirt. You just need to like or subscribe to the Real Science Exchange and send us a screenshot along with your address and size to ANH.marketing@balchem.com.

Please subscribe and share with your industry friends to bring more people to join us around the Real Science Exchange virtual pub table.

This podcast is sponsored by Balchem Animal Nutrition and Health.

Guests: 
Dr. Chris Ashwell, North Carolina State University 
Chandler Keck, Graduate Student, North Carolina State University

Tonight, we're going to switch it up a little bit and address some issues within the monogastric realm, but the ideas are ones that are generating a lot of interest across all segments of animal agriculture. And that topic is transgenerational inheritance.

Dr. Chris Ashwell discusses different research studies supplementing nutrients inside of the egg. He described a study that introduced a nutrient to the egg that ultimately had a negative influence on another trait. Trying to understand the equilibrium is always important. 10:30

Chandler Keck described his research and dissertation focusing on various stressors, mainly stocking density and feed restrictions, in poultry and how they affect each bird, as well as the transgenerational effects to the progeny of that bird. 13:45

The conversation then went on for Dr. Chris Ashwell to discuss clones of highly productive milking females in the dairy industry and how that relates to the poultry industry. The difference between species is, birds and reptiles have higher rates of new mutations, or variants in their sequences. The poultry industry is taking advantage of that by focusing on specific characteristics within superior individuals to change the heritability of these characteristics over time, instead of cloning. 20:00

Adding to the conversation, cohost Dr. Zack Lowman discussed a few research projects he worked on regarding early life feeding changes. Some producers are trying to get the birds as big as they can, as fast as they can, but their skeletal structures cannot support the weight at that early stage. He also discussed the research being done on sex ratios, and the statistical differences in poultry. 23:33

We continue with Dr. Chris Ashwell discussing the importance of more data for industry efficiencies and optimization of animal agriculture. But we also must be aware of how consumers are viewing our products in terms of animal welfare. We can grow a safe, efficient food supply, but must be cognizant of consumer concerns. 25:29

Both our guest experts discuss the financial impacts of restricted feeding and if the resources used on the individual bird will be amplified in the enormous population structure in a positive or negative way. 38:07

Closing out the conversation, Dr. Chris Ashwell discusses the idea of machine learning for big data. In machine learning you can analyze data you are currently focused on, while also seeing trends over time. Patterns might be discovered that are not being seen when focusing on certain values. 59:03

Don’t forget, if you want one of our new Real Science Exchange t-shirts, make sure to screenshot your rating, review or subscription, and email a picture to anh.marketing@balchem.com. Include your size and mailing address and we’ll get a shirt in the mail to you.

Please subscribe and share with your industry friends to bring more friends to join us around the Real Science Exchange virtual pub table.

This podcast is sponsored by Balchem Animal Nutrition and Health.

Guests: 
Dr. Kevin Harvatine, Pennsylvania State University
Dr. Isaac Salfer, University of Minnesota

We are back at the Real Science Exchange for another pubcast joined by dairy industry professionals. This week our hosts Scott Sorrell and Dr. Clay Zimmerman are joined by Dr. Kevin Harvatine from Penn State University and Dr. Isaac Salfer from the University of Minnesota. The discussion around the table is focused on understanding seasonal and daily rhythms on milk & component yield.

Earlier this year, Dr. Harvatine joined Balchem for the Real Science Lecture Series on the same topic. Click here to check out his lecture: https://tinyurl.com/yfofvkhq

Dr. Salfer has a unique perspective on this topic as he was the PhD student who focused on daily rhythms when he was in school working under Dr. Harvatine. 

For more than 30 years, Dr. Zimmerman has been working in the dairy nutrition industry and he remembers early in his career having discussions with dairies that were curious as to why they were seeing a dip in the milk fat each spring, and that kicked off the discussion around what the research showed with changes in milk fat percentages through the seasons. 10:55

Dr. Salfer discusses that they would like to understand the differences, if any, between the northern and southern hemispheres, but it’s hard to compare apples to apples when many of the southern hemisphere herds are grazing herds. That being said, through his students he has connections to Kenya and they are exploring research there to compare to the U.S. data set. 16:59

Heat stress and seasonal rhythms are often lumped together as factors for changes in milk yield, but Dr. Harvatine explains their research shows it might not be that simple. 24:05

Dr. Harvatine discusses what to consider if a dairy wants to minimize seasonality and maintain a herd at the high point. 37:58

Both of the guests discuss the importance in adjusting rations to maximize input during season shifts. 42:40

If you want one of our new Real Science Exchange t-shirts, make sure to screenshot your rating, review or subscription, and email a picture to anh.marketing@balchem.com. Include your size and mailing address and we’ll get a shirt in the mail to you.

Please subscribe and share with your dairy industry friends to bring more friends to join us around the Real Science Exchange virtual pub table.

This podcast is sponsored by Balchem Animal Nutrition and Health. 

Science is not just what those people wearing white coats do in labs, and the scientific method isn't a linear process. What?! High school science teacher Andrew Rabin shares his process for exploring authentic science with students.

To learn more, check out the link below:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1fwCWoiYpXhsfAbeKdwutIxZFg6W5DJGUCkRTnXBzTA0/edit?usp=sharing