In this solo “Emily Show” episode of The Moos Room, Emily takes a timely look at mastitis management during the winter months. While mastitis and high somatic cell counts are often associated with summer heat and humidity, Emily reminds listeners that cold weather brings its own risks and requires just as much attention to udder health.

She begins by emphasizing the foundation of mastitis prevention: clean, dry bedding, cow comfort, and good ventilation. These basics reduce stress on cows and limit bacterial exposure, which is especially important when winter conditions can lead to damp or dirty housing.

Emily then dives into winter-specific milking routine challenges, especially when cows are exposed to cold temperatures after milking. Wet teats are at much higher risk of frostbite, which can permanently damage teat ends and predispose cows to infections. While this makes some producers hesitant to use post-milking teat dip in cold weather, Emily strongly advises against skipping this crucial step. Instead, she shares a practical guideline:
“Don’t skip dip—but don’t drip.”

In other words, apply teat dip thoroughly, but avoid excessive dripping that can freeze. Letting cows stand for 20–30 seconds after dipping and wiping off excess dip before they go outside can provide protection against both mastitis and frostbite.

She also discusses udder hair management, noting that long hair can trap teat dip, manure, and moisture. Options like singeing or clipping udders can help keep teats cleaner and drier, especially in winter.

Finally, Emily highlights the role of nutrition in mastitis prevention. Cold stress increases a cow’s energy needs, and inadequate nutrition can weaken immune function. Ensuring cows receive enough energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals helps support immune defenses and overall udder health. Working closely with a nutritionist during the winter is key.

Emily wraps up by reminding listeners that even if mastitis seems less severe in winter than in summer, it still requires consistent attention year-round. With proper milking routines, clean housing, good nutrition, and smart winter management, producers can protect teat health and keep somatic cell counts in check all season long.

Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

Linkedin -> The Moos Room
Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
Facebook -> @UMNDairy
YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy
Extension Website
AgriAmerica Podcast Directory

In the first episode of 2026, Emily and Brad kick off a New Year’s “resolution” to record more episodes together and dive into one of their favorite themes: management. The conversation is sparked by a German case study Brad found that followed 10 German dairy herd managers (average ~600 cows; range 200–1,200) for three weeks, tracking their work minute-by-minute to see how managers spend time—and what actually drives herd performance.

The key concept is “controlling activities,” defined as proactive checks and analysis (not just reacting and “putting out fires”). They break these into three categories: animal controls (pen walks, fresh/sick cow monitoring, reviewing sensor alerts), feeding controls (bunk/refusal checks, feed sampling, monitoring mixing and storage), and process controls (reviewing herd records, equipment checks, ventilation/manure systems, cleanliness).

A big takeaway: herd managers spent much of their day on communication and logistics, while only about 15% of time went to controlling activities (animal ~9%, feeding ~1%, process ~5%). Yet the study found that performance wasn’t linked to total hours worked, but to how much time was dedicated to these proactive controls. Farms where managers spent more time on controlling activities showed better outcomes, including lower mortality, lower somatic cell count, higher lifetime production, and reduced youngstock losses.

They also highlight a concerning “disconnect” around feeding: managers often had minimal involvement in feed-related controls even though feed is a major cost and driver of health and production. The episode closes with practical guidance for any farm size: prioritize time intentionally, increase proactive controlling activities (even slightly), and ensure herd managers stay connected to the feeding process—setting the tone for a more efficient, resilient 2026.

Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

Linkedin -> The Moos Room
Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
Facebook -> @UMNDairy
YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy
Extension Website
AgriAmerica Podcast Directory

In the final episode of 2025, Emily and Brad reflect on another big year for The Moos Room, marking more than 300 episodes since launching in 2019. They look back on key 2025 topics, including real-world dairy case studies from the Morris Research Dairy, health and safety conversations, emerging disease issues, beef markets, virtual fencing, and growing interest in agrivoltaics.

Brad highlights the value of openly sharing on-farm challenges—from calf health issues to nutrition troubleshooting—so listeners can learn alongside the research process. Emily shares how 2025 deepened her understanding of virtual fencing, renewable energy in agriculture, and farm safety, while continuing to champion sunscreen use year-round.

Looking ahead to 2026, they preview upcoming projects and episodes on virtual fencing, agrivoltaics, genetics, feed efficiency, and a new study raising purebred Angus calves in a dairy system. They also hope to expand global perspectives on livestock and agriculture and invite listeners to suggest topics, guests, and on-air case studies.

They close by thanking listeners for another year of support and looking forward to more conversations in 2026.

Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

Linkedin -> The Moos Room
Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
Facebook -> @UMNDairy
YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy
Extension Website
AgriAmerica Podcast Directory

In this short solo episode of The Moos Room, Emily takes the mic to talk about managing holiday stress through setting healthy boundaries. With the holidays approaching, Emily shares practical guidance on navigating family dynamics, uncomfortable conversations, and competing demands on time and energy.

She outlines three simple steps for setting boundaries—being clear and direct, stating what you need, and accepting any discomfort that may follow—and walks through real-world examples such as saying no, redirecting conversations, asking for time, and stepping away when needed. Emily emphasizes that boundaries can be temporary or permanent, and that setting them is an important form of self-care.

The episode closes with a reminder that boundaries help reduce unnecessary stress, support resilience, and contribute to healthier relationships. Emily encourages listeners to reflect on their own needs this holiday season and to remember that taking care of yourself is not selfish—it’s essential.

Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

Linkedin -> The Moos Room
Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
Facebook -> @UMNDairy
YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy
Extension Website
AgriAmerica Podcast Directory

In this episode of The Moos Room, Brad dives into a landmark new study examining the effects of short- and long-distance transport on the health, survival, and growth of pre-weaned dairy and dairy–beef crossbred calves. Drawing on data from nearly 392,000 calves across multiple farms and transport durations (ranging from 30 minutes to 24 hours), the study challenges common assumptions about calf transport. Surprisingly, mortality upon arrival was extremely low and unaffected by transport length. Differences in mortality by weaning (60 days) were also modest and, importantly, were driven far more by early-life factors than by time spent on the truck.

The discussion highlights colostrum management as the single most critical factor influencing calf outcomes. Calves fed two colostrum meals had higher serum protein levels, significantly lower rates of failure of passive transfer, and were about 50% less likely to develop diarrhea—one of the leading causes of pre-weaning mortality. Other key drivers of calf survival included diarrhea, pneumonia, dam parity, gestation length, and birth season, with transport duration explaining relatively little of the variation in outcomes. Brad emphasizes that a calf’s “destiny is largely sealed before the wheels start rolling,” underscoring that management decisions made at birth—especially colostrum feeding, dam health, and environmental stress mitigation—matter far more than transport distance alone.

Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

Linkedin -> The Moos Room
Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
Facebook -> @UMNDairy
YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy
Extension Website
AgriAmerica Podcast Directory

In this episode, Brad and Emily welcome a special guest: Dr. Angie Varnum, the University of Minnesota Extension’s new livestock veterinarian. After some banter about Minnesota winters—and a classic round of The Moos Room’s “super-secret” cattle breed questions—the crew dives into Angie’s unique path to Extension.

Angie shares how she went from growing up in suburban Maple Grove to studying Spanish education, teaching in schools, and eventually being inspired to pursue veterinary medicine. Her training and work took her across the western U.S., where she gained experience in beef and dairy systems before returning to Minnesota to practice large-animal medicine. Her love for both animals and education ultimately led her to Extension.

The conversation explores:

• How Angie’s Spanish language background shapes her work and the opportunities it creates for better outreach and training with Spanish-speaking livestock employees.
• Current and emerging livestock health concerns, and the importance of distinguishing real risks from media frenzy—while still preparing producers with good information.
• The evolving role of veterinarians in dairy and beef systems, from herd health and data-driven decision-making to the value of strong producer–vet relationships.
• Animal behavior and welfare science, an area Angie is especially passionate about integrating into herd health discussions.

Angie also highlights upcoming Extension programs she’ll be involved in, including the new Artificial Insemination School, Beef Quality Assurance certification sessions, Cow/Calf Days, and several small ruminant programs—from webinars to hands-on lambing and kidding workshops.

It's a fun, thoughtful conversation introducing a new member of the Extension livestock team and setting the stage for exciting work ahead.

Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

Linkedin -> The Moos Room
Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
Facebook -> @UMNDairy
YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy
Extension Website
AgriAmerica Podcast Directory

In this solo episode of The Moos Room, Brad dives into a deep, honest look at production challenges in the University of Minnesota dairy herd and the nutrition and management factors that may be holding cows back. After noticing low udder fill during classification and reviewing herd data, Brad confirms a troubling trend: cows across all lactations are producing 20–30% less milk than predicted. Early-lactation health issues—ketosis, metritis, and retained placentas—are also more common than they should be, especially in first-lactation animals.

A recent visit from an outside nutrition team helped uncover several key issues contributing to poor performance. Brad walks listeners through what those “fresh eyes” found across young stock, calves, dry cows, and both the organic and conventional lactating herds. From overconditioned heifers to transition problems at weaning, ration inconsistencies, possible ingredient imbalances, and major concerns with hammer-mill screen size causing undigested corn to pass straight through cows—each discovery points to opportunities for improvement.

The conversation also highlights the importance of forage management, including the need for a silage facer, better bunk management, and a long-overdue TMR audit to evaluate mixing order, load prep, refusals, shrink, and ration consistency.

Throughout the episode, Brad emphasizes transparency and the value of bringing in additional perspectives. Even well-managed dairies can develop blind spots, and small issues add up fast when milk is left on the table. He outlines the farm’s next steps and promises future updates as changes are implemented.

If you’re interested in nutrition, transition cow health, TMR audits, or practical herd-level troubleshooting, this episode is a real-world case study in identifying problems and planning for better performance.

Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

Linkedin -> The Moos Room
Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
Facebook -> @UMNDairy
YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy
Extension Website
AgriAmerica Podcast Directory

Brad and Emily reunite on the podcast to dive into an essential—and timely—topic: farmer mental health. With fall wrapping up and winter on the horizon, stressors on the farm shift and often intensify. Emily shares updates on her recent travels and outreach work in farm safety, health, and wellness, highlighting the seasonal rise in mental health–related concerns across rural communities.

Together, Brad and Emily walk through:

• Why stress is so high right now — uncertainty in markets, weather, disease, economic pressure, and social isolation.
• Common mental health concerns in farmers, including chronic stress, anxiety, and depression.
• Key warning signs to watch for in yourself and others—physical symptoms, behavioral changes, and emotional red flags.
• How to reach out when you're concerned about someone, and why it matters more than people realize.
• Barriers rural residents face when accessing mental health care, including service shortages and stigma.
• University of Minnesota Extension’s work supporting mental health, including training programs like COMET, resources on ambiguous loss, and broader regional efforts to make help more accessible.

Emily emphasizes that checking in, offering support, and connecting people to resources can make a meaningful difference. The episode wraps with reminders that it’s okay to not be okay—but it’s not okay to keep it to yourself. Brad and Emily also point listeners to a long list of mental health and farm stress resources in the show notes, including Emily’s recent appearance on RFD-TV discussing this very topic.

COMET: Changing our mental and emotional trajectory Training

Ambiguous loss and farming

UMN Extension Farm Safety and Health webpage

Minnesota Farm Stress resources

Farm Aid Farmer Resource Network

Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

Linkedin -> The Moos Room
Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
Facebook -> @UMNDairy
YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy
Extension Website
AgriAmerica Podcast Directory