The Hoard's Dairyman Podcast

Welcome to the Hoard’s Dairyman Podcast, your source for science-based information you can use on your dairy. Hoard's Dairyman Associate Editor Jessica Miller reads the FARM-accredited article from the magazine titled, "Is it time for a change?" by Robert James.

The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management, or FARM, Program, created by the National Milk Producers Federation in partnership with Dairy...

El episodio explica que el bienestar del ganado lechero depende del manejo diario y no solo de evitar el sufrimiento, sino también de ofrecer experiencias positivas. 

Destaca el enriquecimiento animal como clave para mejorar la calidad de vida, siempre que los recursos realmente beneficien a las vacas. 

Se mencionan distintos tipos de enriquecimiento (físico, sensorial, alimenticio, cognitivo y social) y la importancia de reducir el ...

En este episodio exploramos cómo reducir los brotes de diarrea en becerras lecheras mediante prácticas clave de manejo, nutrición e higiene. Basado en las recomendaciones de la especialista Melissa Cantor de la Universidad Estatal de Pensilvania, hablamos sobre la importancia de la vacunación de las vacas antes del parto, el manejo adecuado del área de maternidad, el papel fundamental del calostro y cómo identificar correctamente l...

En este episodio analizamos las ventajas y desventajas de alimentar a las becerras con leche de descarte o sustituto de leche. Exploramos investigaciones recientes que comparan el crecimiento, la salud y el desarrollo de las becerras bajo ambos sistemas, así como los factores económicos y de manejo que influyen en la decisión dentro de cada establo. También discutimos la importancia de la pasteurización y cómo elegir la mejor estra...

The Hoard's Dairyman Express Podcast is available for listening below in Spanish for any Spanish-speaking employees you have on your farm. This podcast is a direct English to Spanish translation of the original podcast in which Associate Editor, Jessica Miller, reads the article titled, "Diagonal lying, is the symptom not the culprit."

The Hoard’s Dairyman’s Express podcast episodes in Spanish are direct translations ...

The Hoard's Dairyman Express Podcast is available for listening below in Spanish for any Spanish-speaking employees you have on your farm. This podcast is a direct English to Spanish translation of the original podcast in which Associate Editor, Jessica Miller, reads the article titled, "Is it time for a change?"

👉 Please follow us on your favorite podcast app, and don't forget to like and subscribe on YouTube. 

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This podcast is sponsored by Alltech.

From five generations of dairy tradition in northern Utah to shaping the future of dairy promotion across the globe, this episode of the Hoard’s Dairyman Podcast is packed with insight, innovation, and real talk from the farm. Utah dairyman Daniel Buttars of Butter-Dell Holsteins joins us to share what it takes to keep a family dairy thriving in the Mountain West while balancing leader...

In this episode of the Hoard's Dairyman Podcast, listeners learn how to recognize the early signs of dehydration in dairy calves and why quick action is critical during cases of calf diarrhea. Veterinarian Amelia Willems explains the importance of water and electrolytes in maintaining normal body function and shares practical tips for evaluating calf health, including checking for sunken eyes and reduced skin elasticity. The e...

If you’ve ever felt like nutrient management is getting more complicated and more expensive than it should be, this episode is worth your time.

We sit down with Professor Dan Kaiser from the University of Minnesota, and he brings a really practical, no-nonsense perspective. He talks about how farming has shifted from simple programs to a flood of data, products, and opinions and how that’s actually making decisions harder,...

In this episode of the Hoard’s Dairyman Podcast, host Kylene Anderson visits with Tyler Hendriks of Hendriks Dairies to discuss building an efficient, high-performing Jersey herd.

Tyler shares how he grew the operation from a young start into a family-run dairy, focusing on feed efficiency, reproduction, and genetic progress. He also offers practical insight on calf care, whole milk feeding, and fine-tuning herd management to improv...

In this episode of the Hoard’s Dairyman Podcast, host Jessica Miller explores the critical topic of fitness for transport and what it means for dairy cattle welfare beyond the farm gate. 

Listeners will learn how proper transport decisions play a key role in maintaining animal health, reducing stress, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. The episode outlines essential factors producers should evaluate before transporting...

Barb Petersen, D.V.M., of Sunrise Veterinary Service PLLC, presents, “Start smart: Maternity pen and newborn calf care tips.”

The goal of this webinar is to share perspectives, ideas farms have implemented, and recent research that supports a strong start for both calf and dam. On dairies of any size, herd health starts with the humans providing care to the animals.

👉 Please follow us on your favorite podcast app, and don't for...

In this episode of the Hoard’s Dairyman Podcast, host Jessica Miller reads the FARM-accredited article: Encourage positive animal interactions.

The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management, or FARM, Program, created by the National Milk Producers Federation in partnership with Dairy Management, Inc, helps ensure the success of U.S. dairy farmers by providing assurances to dairy customers and consumers. The FARM Animal ...

In this episode of the Hoard’s Dairyman Podcast, host Kylene Anderson takes us to Kentucky to visit with Elizabeth Lunsford of Chaney’s Dairy Barn. As a third-generation member of the Chaney family, Lunsford shares how their farm has evolved from a traditional dairy into a destination that blends milk production, on-farm processing, and agritourism.

The conversation highlights the family’s journey to become “price makers” by adding ...

In this episode of the Hoard’s Dairyman Podcast, host Jessica Miller explores the critical role of cow comfort, specifically resting time, in dairy herd performance.

Drawing on insights from Rick Grant, listeners will learn why lying time is a non-negotiable biological need for dairy cows and how it directly impacts milk production, rumination, lameness, and longevity.

The episode highlights how cows prioritize rest even over feed, a...

In this episode of the Hoard’s Dairyman Podcast, host Jenna Byrne connects with Michelle Schack, D.V.M., also known as the Dairy Doc. As a veterinarian working across all areas of the dairy industry, Schack brings a unique perspective that bridges the gap between research, on-farm practices, animal welfare, and consumer understanding.

The conversation explores Schack’s journey from the San Francisco suburbs into a career in dairy ve...

In this episode of the Hoard's Dairyman Podcast, Associate Editor, Jessica Miller, reads "A lesson on the Madigan squeeze," by Associate Editor of Hoard's Dairyman, Jenna Byrne. 

We explore the Madigan squeeze technique, a simple rope method that can help certain newborn calves “wake up” when they seem dull or slow after birth. University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension educator Heather Schlesser explains how gent...

In this episode of the Hoard’s Dairyman Podcast, host Kylene Anderson travels virtually to North Carolina to visit with Corey Lutz of Piedmont Jerseys and Riverbend Creamery. Lutz shares how his family combined a passion for Jersey cattle with on-farm processing to build a thriving dairy business that connects directly with consumers.

The conversation explores the journey from milking cows to producing value-added dairy pr...

In this episode, Hoard's Dairyman Associate Editor Jessica Miller reads the FARM-accredited article from the magazine titled, "Are you a calf feeder or a calf manager?" by Robert E. James.

The calf program has often been relegated to a lower priority for the dairy business, seen as a current expense with delayed impact on future income. However, with the use of genomics, sexed semen, and the increased value of dairy-b...