Past Webinars
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Achieving Better Outcomes When BRD Comes Knocking
Presented by Tiago Tomazi, Ruminant Technical Services, Merck Animal Health.
When it comes to bovine respiratory disease (BRD), it’s typically a matter of “when” and not “if” it will occur. Even dairy operations with the best management practices can still experience cases of BRD. Join Dr. Tiago Tomazi from Merck Animal Health as he discusses why early diagnosis and timely treatment with effective therapeutics are critical to reduce morbidity and mortality, lung lesions, control transmission, and avoid chronic illness.
Tiago Tomazi is a veterinarian from Brazil. Prior to joining the Technical Services team at Merck Animal Heath, Dr. Tomazi completed his Master’s and Ph.D. studies in the areas of Animal Nutrition and Production at the University of São Paulo, Brazil. Part of his Ph.D. was conducted in the Quality Milk Production Services at Cornell University. After his graduation, Dr. Tomazi served as Research Assistant at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, and later as a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences at Cornell University. Most of his career has been focused on preventing and controlling infectious diseases in dairy cattle.
Investing in Advanced Reproductive Technology
Presented by Brad Brundage, Trans Ova Genetics client development manager.
“Investing in new technology can take your operation to the next level,” stated Brundage. During this DCHA webinar, Brundage will dive into the benefits and opportunities of embryo transfer (ET) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) technology. He will also discuss how to set goals around these technologies to set up your dairy business for success.
Brundage grew up on a diversified livestock operation in Northern Missouri and gained experience with commercial cow-calf, feeder-calf backgrounding, feedlot and sale barn operations. Collegiate Livestock Judging gave him the opportunity to attend Texas A&M University and study animal science. Brundage started his career with Trans Ova Genetics eight years ago.
New NASEM Requirements for Calves: Turn Information into Action
Presented by Jim Quigley, Cargill calf and heifer technical lead.
The June 30 DCHA webinar will address the question, “What do new NASEM Nutrition Requirements for Dairy Cattle mean for your calf program?” Quigley will explore how new data affects protein and energy utilization in calf nutrition modeling. Webinar attendees will gain actionable information to positively impact calf nutrition on the farm.
A researcher, author, speaker, and leader, Quigley has helped improve the well-being of young calves for more than 30 years. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire (UNH) in 1979, master’s degree from UNH in 1983, and PhD from Virginia Tech in 1985. Quigley’s previous roles include associate professor at the University of Tennessee, vice president for research at Diamond V Mills, and vice president and director of calf operations at APC, Inc. Currently, he provides technical support for calf and heifer topics for all of Cargill’s business around the world.
Quigley, a well-respected scientist, has authored more than 110 refereed scientific articles and has discussed the topics of calf immunity, health, nutrition, and management around the world. Additionally, he has consulted with several governmental agencies on topics related to calf health.
Optimizing Immune Function in Neonatal Calves-It’s More than Just Vaccination!
Presented by Brian Miller, DVM and sponsored by Merck Animal Health.
Brian Miller, a veterinarian with Merck Animal Health, will focus on management practices to help ensure more calves are successfully immunized. Many producers assume that if they vaccinate animals against a particular disease, that they are fully protected following vaccination. However, there are several factors that influence whether an animal has the ability to respond to the vaccine, as well as the level of protection afforded from vaccination. This presentation will focus on management practices that optimize immune responses in newborn calves before, at and following calving. Included will be a discussion on scour vaccines administered to late-gestation replacement heifers and dry cows, and intranasal vaccines administered to newborn calves.
Born and raised on a dairy farm near Beloit, Wis., Miller earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Illinois. He was a dairy practitioner in Wisconsin for more than 20 years and was an owner/partner in an eight-person mixed animal practice located in Whitewater, Wis. Miller began his industry career as a dairy technical services veterinarian in 2006 and has held positions with Fort Dodge Animal Health, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health and Merck Animal Health. He currently provides technical support and consultative services to dairy producers, calf ranches and veterinary practices located in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois. His primary areas of interest include calf health, dairy production medicine, bovine viral diarrhea virus, hypocalcemia and mastitis control and prevention.
Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction in Cattle: Causes and Consequences
Presented by Sara Kvidera, an Elanco Animal Health dairy technical consultant, sponsored by Elanco
Passionate about promoting gastrointestinal (GI) tract health at every stage in a calf’s growth and development, Kvidera will address the question, “Can ‘leaky gut’ explain suboptimal production, which is frequently observed in animal agriculture?” Additionally, she will unpack research case studies and share highlights and insights purposed to supply producers and nutritionists with effective target mitigation strategies to prevent systemic inflammation and support wellness.
Key objectives for the DCHA webinar include:
- Explore topics in cattle GI/immune system health
- Identify the causes and consequences of intestinal dysfunction in ruminants, and how these factors affect health and potential growth in youngstock
- Implement research-backed mitigation strategies to prevent infections and leverage feed additives that maximize GI tract health in cattle
Kvidera grew up on a row-crop and beef cow-calf farm in Traer, Iowa. She attended Kansas State University for her bachelor’s degree in animal science, where she also ran track and worked in a research lab. She completed a PhD in nutritional science – studying under Lance Baumgard at Iowa State University in 2017. Kvidera has studied and published in areas related to dairy cow metabolism, heat stress, inflammation and gut health. She has worked as a technical consultant in the industry since 2017 and joined Elanco Animal Health in April of 2021.
Scours prevention starts with colostrum
Presented by Phillip Jardon, Elanco Animal Health dairy technical consultant, and David Prentice, Elanco Animal Health dairy technical consultant, sponsored by Elanco
This webinar will share some ideas on colostrum management and some common mistakes, as well as antibody production in colostrum.
Practical Considerations Before Implementing a Monitoring System for Breeding Age Heifers
Presented by Steve Pavelski, Monitoring Success Manager, Allflex Livestock Intelligence, sponsored by Merck Animal Health
Reducing the Impact of Calfhood Respiratory Disease
Presented by Dr. John Champagne and Dr. Tiago Tomazi, sponsored by Merck Animal Health
Keeping calves healthy is always top priority. Don’t let respiratory disease impact their future. Join Dr. John Champagne and Dr. Tiago Tomazi from Merck Animal Health as they discuss prevention strategies and the potential costly effects respiratory disease can have on a herd.
Foundational Calf Health-Improving immune response and rumen development
Presented by Craig Louder & Tyler Spore, sponsored by Axiota
Antibiotic Stewardship-Ensuring judicious antibiotic use and mitigating the impact of antibiotic resistance in veal calves
Presented by Greg Habing and Jessica Pempek, sponsored by Beef Checkoff
The three modules featured in the 90-minute webinar on Antibiotic Stewardship include:
Healthy Heifers have Healthy Lungs
Presented by Lowell Midla, Sponsored by Merck Animal Health
Heifers are the future of all dairy operations, with herd managers striving for healthy heifers on the day of calving. Most respiratory disease events occur prior to approximately 4 months of age. Therefore, preventing respiratory disease in young heifers is important to the future of any dairy farm business. This DCHA webinar will focus on how to preserve lung health in heifers less than 4 months old.
Your Calves Are Shedding Cocci: The Magnitude of the Problem
Presented by Dr. Gerald Mechor, Sponsored by Rumensin®
When diarrhea is present in weaned calves, a quick diagnosis of coccidiosis is made and treatment of the condition is begun. But what if it’s the wrong treatment? What if the problem isn’t coccidiosis? While diarrhea is a common symptom of coccidiosis, its occurrence in calves does not always equate to coccidia. Bacteria, viruses, parasitic infections and dietary changes are other common causes of diarrhea in weaned calves.
“Treating for the disease without confirming it’s the cause of symptoms in dairy calves could be a costly mistake,” says Dr. Mechor. “Taking appropriate steps to prevent coccidiosis and accurately diagnosing positive cases can save time and money.” Join us to learn more.
This webinar has been approved by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards for 1 credit.
Tips to Manage Heat Stress in Calves and Heifers
Presenter: Dr. Jennifer Trout, Sponsored by Diamond V
It’s commonplace for dairy producers to implement heat abatement management practices that help minimize the impacts of heat stress on lactating cows. However, hot weather doesn’t just affect lactating and dry cows. Youngstock also experience the effects of heat and humidity. “From the dry cow pen to the AI (artificial insemination) pen, heat can negatively impact calves and heifers,” says Trout. This webinar will discuss ways to keep calves healthy and thriving during the challenging months of summer.
Consumer Perceptions and Animal Welfare Considerations
Presenter: Dr. Marissa Hake, Sponsored by TechMix
Animal welfare is an ever-increasing concern for our consumers. In a world where we have endless dietary options and choices, we must build consumer trust around our farming practices. Animal welfare and calf care specifically, are highly sensitive topics for consumers. We will discuss consumer insights around production animal agriculture and dive into specific future considerations for management, diet, health treatments, housing and more.
Genetic Focus: Creating the Most Valuable Calves Across the Dairy Herd
Presenters: Matthew A. Cleveland & Brandon Sowder, Sponsored by ABS Global
Maximizing and cultivating the right genetics from your herd is no easy feat, particularly in our shifting and consolidating dairy market. As we strive to improve the efficiency and profitability of our dairy herd, it’s more important than ever to assess opportunities to tie in a quality beef solution on our lower genetic animals. Let’s take a closer look at the impact of using a differentiated beef-on-dairy program to drive profitability and give thought to its place in a high-caliber genetic strategy.
Considerations for the Use of Antimicrobial Metaphylaxis for BRD in Dairy Calves
Presenter: John Champagne, DVM, Technical Services with Merck Animal Health, Sponsored by Merck Animal Health
In this webinar, Dr. Champagne will discuss the importance of controlling BRD in calves, how to balance therapeutic needs, including the judicious use of antibiotics, with proper animal care while also aligning with consumer demands.
New Research on Reproductive Management of Dairy Heifers
Presenters: Luís Mendonça, DVM, Technical Services with Merck Animal Health, Sponsored by Merck Animal Health
Join Luís Mendonça, DVM, Technical Services with Merck Animal Health in this RACE-approved webinar as he shares the findings of recent research studies and discusses how technology can be used to optimize fertility. He will also discuss the pros and cons of using heat detection, or timed AI programs for first service in replacement heifers.
EcoFeed Profitable Sustainability
Presenters: Jocelyn Johnson and Sara Westberry, Sponsored by STgenetics
Join Jocelyn Johnson and Sara Westberry, researchers at STgenetics, as they present data on feed efficiency indexes and learn how to create more sustainable animals.
A new way of thinking: Added value to your heifers and your operation
Presenter: Cathy Bandyk, AB Vista ruminant technical director, Sponsored by AB Vista
Bandyk will discuss how replacement heifers are a dairy herd’s future foundation. “We can all agree that the main goal for managing heifers is to control costs while achieving daily gains,” said Bandyk. “Calves never get over a bad start – or a good one.” Bandyk will explain how heifer growth can create a “ceiling” for future production. “Data shows that the increase in milk yield between lactations one and two, and two and three are fairly static – regardless of starting point.” Consider this rule of thumb: 100 pounds less body weight at calving results in about 700 pounds less milk produced in the first lactation.
Are you frustrated by abomasal bloat in your calves?
Presenter: Brian Miller, D.V.M. with Merck Animal Health, Sponsored by Merck Animal Health
For the past 20 years or more, abomasal bloat has been a sporadic disorder in calves less than 3 weeks of age. Although the etiology is unknown, several risk factors have been proposed as contributors to this disease. Treatment is often futile, so the key is prevention. During this webinar Brian Miller will outline the clinical signs of abomasal bloat, discuss possible causes, treatment options and detail preventative measures to reduce the frequency of this frustrating disease.
Economic cost of respiratory disease in dairy replacement heifers
Presenter: Kevin Dhuyvetter, Ph. D., Elanco cattle technical consultant, Sponsored by Elanco
Dr. Dhuyvetter will dive into the short-term cost effects of BRD on replacement dairy heifers as well as the long-term effects on growth and milk production. New data will be shared pertaining to BRD incidence and how this impacts the cost of raising heifers with the intent to help producers make ROI-driven decisions for the years ahead if BRD is present within the herd.
Electrolyte therapy in calves
Presenter: Geof Smith, professor of ruminant nutrition in the department of population health and pathobiology at North Carolina State University, Sponsored by TechMix
Smith will explain calf diarrhea goals – rehydration, replenish electrolytes, correct acid-base abnormalities and provide nutritional support. “If diarrhea is recognized early, oral electrolyte solution (OES) can successfully address these goals,” said Smith. He will provide insights regarding OES product selection and feeding protocols to achieve optimal success.
Healthy gut, healthy calf, healthy future
Presenter: Michael Steele, associate professor of animal physiology at the University of Guelph, Sponsored by Lallemand
On U.S. dairies, the average mortality rate for pre‐weaned calves is about 7.8 percent,1 which means nearly all operations can make improvements in this area. Supporting calf health can pay dividends in reduced treatment costs, lowered death loss and improved gain and productivity. To meet these goals, operations must ensure calves get a good start before they are challenged with stress. That takes attention to management practices and nutrition.
Know your flies and how to control them around your dairies
Presented by: Rick Hack, an independent business consultant with RJH Consulting, LLC, Sponsored by Elanco
A nuisance to animals and people, adult flies continue to lay eggs if adult fly and larval populations are not controlled. Eliminating all fly breeding material is not feasible to prevent adults from repopulating. However, controlling larvae is a proactive process that helps prevent adult flies from laying eggs and repopulating. Thus, Hack recommends continuously managing larvae and adult flies throughout fly season. “Program success is dependent on using the right products at the right time in the right way,” says Hack.
Raising the bar on passive transfer
Presented by: Dave Cook, Milk Products technical services manager and Adam Geiger, Zinpro Corporation research nutritionist, Sponsored by Milk Products and Zinpro
Feeding colostrum immediately after birth is not optional. Rather, it’s a requirement to ensure that calves receive the immunity provided by immunoglobulin G (IgG). Without it, both morbidity and mortality in calves can be high. In fact, many industry experts regard colostrum delivery as not just a performance issue but also an animal welfare issue.
What’s new in colostrum management?
Presented by: Sandra Godden, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, Sponsored by Elanco
The foundation of bovine health and productivity, colostrum provides antibodies and other factors that stimulate a calf’s immune system and gut development. Not all colostrum is created equal.
Calf Rearing Bottlenecks
Presented by Dr. Kelly Reed, Sponsored by Diamond V
- Maternity management and colostrum
- Sanitation and cleaning
- Delivery of milk focusing on consistency in temperature, total solids and volume, and calories
- Dry bedding, air quality, and ventilation