Clean, comfortable cows are happy, healthy cows that are productive both in the bulk tank and reproductively. Any stressor we subject a cow to will compromise immune function and shift nutrients away from normal biological processes, such a reproduction. When looking to improve conception rates and overall fertility on your farm, looking to improve your cow comfort should be the first place you start. We are excited to have Kevin Bousquet of World Wide Sires join us on this episode to continue the conversation on cow comfort's affect on fertility, a topic he is truly passionate about.

Headlocks can be an incredibly useful tool on the dairy. However, when cows are restrained for too long in headlocks, it's time taken away from laying down and resting, and ultimately producing milk. Join Dr. Rick Grant, former President of the William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute, as we discuss the delicate balance between maximizing efficiency and ensuring the welfare of dairy cows when using self-lock systems. We'll explore best practices for managing self-locks to promote optimal productivity while prioritizing the health and comfort of your herd.

Proper maintenance is crucial to keeping any equipment running at full capacity. Field and milking equipment is routinely maintained, and your fans should not be any different. When you are purchasing any piece of equipment, it is an investment that needs to be properly taken care of. Dennis Spurlock of Western Cow Comfort joins us and is a true maintenance guru and keeps many ventilation systems on dairies in the central valley of California in tip-top shape!

In the world of dairy farming, the pursuit of innovation and genetic advancements is constant. Jeff Ziegler of Select Sires Inc. joins us to explore the fascinating but not as well-known genetic trait, slick genes. These genetics are not only helping dairy producers "beat the heat" but also hold the potential to transform the way we think about breeding and herd management.

In many parts of the world, the warmer months are long gone. And with the end of summer weather, means the end of running your barn ventilation, right? WRONG! Off season ventilation for your herd is just as crucial as the warmer months in terms of cow health and productivity. Dr. Mike Wolf, consulting veterinarian for VES-Artex, walks us through the challenges that come with ventilation during the off season, proper fan care and maintenance and solutions to utilize for ventilation efficiency and herd profitability.

How exactly should you design a proper cow flow system in your barn? Well, the answer will depend on who you ask. Your herd manager will have a different answer than your veterinarian, and your calf care team's answer will differ from your milkers. However, most will agree that a correct cow flow system should allow cows to simply be cows. Ron Dehli of Nedap is a true expert on how to design sorting and routing systems to keep cows moving and shares his experience with us.

When building a dairy barn, it seems there are a never-ending number of options to consider. Will my cows be more comfortable in freestalls or a bedded pack? What type of ventilation and lighting strategy will I need? What's the proper amount of space I should allot per head? Should I build now or wait and see what costs are in the future? This is where working with a cow comfort expert is crucial! Join Henry Collins, Asia-Pacific Sales Manager for VES-Artex as he reviews considerations you should have when building a barn and gives you the tools to make the best decision for your herd.

Trace minerals are essential nutrients required for numerous functions in the body of a cow, especially during the transition period. While forages and grains contain some trace minerals, additional supplementation for cows is generally required.  This is the topic of our conversation with Dr. Craig Louder of Axiota Animal Health.

The dairy industry is challenged with pressures to lower our carbon footprint and our focus needs to provide a solution in all areas of sustainability. LED lighting is one area that can aid in lowering dairy's carbon footprint by lower electric usage and improving the ROI of the farm. Join Richard Hill of VES-Artex on the Dairy Intelligent podcast as we explore barn lighting basics and the benefits to your cows, employees and bottom line.

There are strong seasonal and daily patterns to milk yield and composition. Although the rhythms are rather robust, lighting and feeding times have an impact on these rhythms and provide an opportunity to increase milk component yields.  Dr. Kevin Harvatine of Penn State University joins us to discuss what we know about these rhythms and highlight opportunities to better manage them.