The Rumen Room Podcasts

Sliced on our morning cereal or perched on top of our iconic New Zealand dessert Pavlova, kiwifruit deliver a tasty powerpack of valuable nutrients for us humans. What about ruminants? Are reject kiwifruit from your local packhouse equally as good for our dairy cows and other animals on farm? Yes! A valuable source of energy delivered largely as water soluble carbohydrates, whole kiwifruit can be a very useful feed. However… as for any byproduct feed, kiwifruit may not always meet our expectations as a stockfeed. Join us for this latest podcast that explores the good, the bad and the (occasionally) ugly aspects of kiwifruit as a feed for ruminants, with a specific focus on kiwifruit feeding to lactating dairy cows. Although this is a kiwifruit-focused topic, we include content that applies equally to the feeding of other byproduct fruit and vegetables. Enjoy! Where to find the various topics within this podcast: 2.35 Overview of the episode 5.35 The nutritive value of kiwifruit – “so changeable as the fruit ripens” 6.45 Water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) 7.45 Neutral detergent fibre (NDF) 8.30 Crude protein (CP) 10.40 Ash and mineral content 13.10 Risk of rumen acidosis associated with kiwifruit feeding 19.00 Best practice approaches to minimise risk of rumen acidosis when feeding kiwifruit 20.30 The importance of knowing your kiwifruit on a dry matter (DM) basis - and not just a wet weight basis 21.35 Gradual adaptation by ruminants to a kiwifruit diet 22.40 The protective role of a rumen-full of long stem fibre in reducing risk of rumen acidosis 23.10 Day to day consistency when feeding kiwifruit is the key! 23.50 Maximum daily amounts of kiwifruit you can feed to dairy cows. The answer? “It depends” 25.05 Feed planning with kiwifruit – the “Three Versions” of a diet that contains kiwifruit 27.30 The role for Kiwi ingenuity and innovation when feeding kiwifruit 33.15 Handling kiwifruit storage on farm 34.00 What to do if kiwifruit is overripe? 35.00 Are rumen additives protective against kiwifruit-induced acidosis? 37.00 Risk of “choke” and rumen bloat with kiwifruit feeding 41.00 Know how much your kiwifruit are costing you. Converting $ per tonne wet weight to $ per tonne DM 44.15 The paperwork. Dairy Feed Declaration. Making sure your kiwifruit are fit to feed 45.45 Preventing birds from eating your stockpiled kiwifruit, helping out your local Regional Council.

A fundamental basic of ruminant nutrition – energy density of feeds – is covered in this latest Rumen Room Podcast. Expressed as Megajoules of Metabolisable Energy per kilogram of dry matter (MJME/kgDM), energy density is an important driver of animal productivity and profitability. In a down to earth, practical “gumboot level” manner, Dr Charlotte Westwood explores the basics of MJME as a concept and covers how feed testing laboratories measure MJME. How we use MJME values of a feed on farm on a day to day basis is explained. The strengths and possible limitations with the use of MJME in our day to day farm-level decisions is discussed. Don’t be put off by what is often thought to be a rather "dry" topic of MJME - actually, it’s a straightforward concept - we’re sure you’ll learn a lot from this latest podcast! Here’s where to find the various sections within the MJME podcast, below: 2.02 Outline of this MJME podcast 3.40 What is “energy”? 6.30 Defining Megajoules and Metabolisable Energy 7.50 Megajoules compared to Megacalories – what’s the difference? 10.25 What is gross energy and why might we be interested? 14.25 Why ruminants can’t use all of gross energy in feeds for useful things 15.10 Faecal energy – what a waste! (#1) 16.10 Digestible energy 17.25 Methane – what a waste! (#2) 18.10 Finally arriving at the MJME number…. How this is calculated 19.00 How different feeds change energy losses as methane 21.00 Measuring MJME – inside the sheep 23.00 Feed testing laboratories estimates of MJME 25.40 Using the digestibility value to calculate MJME 26.20 NIRS technology - digestibility and MJME 31.15 Strengths and weaknesses of MJME as a measure of feed quality – an overview 32.00 Typical MJME values of feed 34.40 Valuing our feeds on a cents per MJME basis – a simple task on farm! Valuing a bale of pasture baleage on an MJME basis as an example 38.00 Using MJME as part of your feed budgeting – MJME demand vs. MJME supply. A 30kg liveweight lamb as an example 40.30 Limitations of MJME as an indicator of suitability of a feed for animals 41.30 MJME is a calculated measure only! 42.00 MJME doesn’t tell us about all of the other interesting stuff in feeds 44.10 Summing up the MJME topic

Our latest podcast explores DCAD - one specific aspect of the diet of “springer” (“close-up”) dairy cows. The Rumen Room Podcast has briefly discussed DCAD previously (Episodes 10 and 34). Changing the DCAD of a springer cow diet potentially reduces risk of hypocalcaemia (low blood calcium) in cows before, during and immediately after calving. This latest episode takes a deeper dive into the detail of DCAD, explaining what DCAD is, what stock class stands to benefit the most from changing dietary DCAD, and how dietary DCAD influence risk of hypocalcaemia. Practical approaches to DCAD management for pasture-fed cows are covered and options for dietary DCAD additives are investigated. Location of topics within our latest podcast. 1.00 DCAD as just one aspect of the springer dairy cow diet. 1.45 Introduction to the DCAD podcast 4.55 The definition of DCAD 5.45 Dietary cations and anions explained 6.45 The four dietary elements contributing to DCAD: Potassium, sodium, sulphur and chloride 7.50 The DCAD equations – there are a few out there, we like “equation 1” for calculating DCAD 9.10 How does changing DCAD work? DCAD simplified! 10.50 What’s the “ideal” DCAD for springer diets? 11.35 How long should springer dairy cows be exposed to low or negative DCAD diets before calving? 12.55 DCAD once a cow has calved 14.41 How slight changes to blood pH reduce risk of hypocalcaemia 22.00 High potassium ryegrass (and other types of feeds) and DCAD in springer diets 23.40 Ryegrasses can accumulate lots of potassium! 24.42 Whey applied to pasture as a risk factor for high potassium and high DCAD pastures 25.45 Lucerne silage, baleage or hay and DCAD and calcium in springer diets 27.25 Sodium as a driver of DCAD for New Zealand pasture-fed springers 28.35 Lower DCAD feeds for springer diets – Maize (corn) silage 30.40 Additives that change the DCAD of springer cow diets 35.30 “Do no harm when trying to solve a milk fever problem” – the risk of reducing feed intake by springer cows when unpalatable / not very tasty anionic products are added to diets 37.45 Negative DCAD additives that also deliver calcium: Calcium chloride & calcium sulphate 40.35 Measuring DCAD of feeds – the role for feed testing and springer cow urine testing 43.20 Concluding / summing up the DCAD podcast

Our latest podcast carries on with our heat stress 'theme' from episode 43, where we explored the challenges of hot temperatures on pasture species. We’ve moved the theme of heat stress across to how heat stress effects dairy cows. We discuss how heat stress bothers cows, and investigate strategies to reduce the effects of summer heat on lactating cows of hot summer temperatures. Featuring expert heat stress guest podcaster, Lori Grinter, this episode covers a wide range of heat-related topics. Lori first explains how her heat stress studies as part of her Masters undertaken at the University of Kentucky uncovered different cow responses to heat stress, and gave industry new insights into how cows respond to hot weather. The remainder of the podcast returns very much to a New Zealand-based discussion around how heat stress influences lactating cows, and farm-level strategies that reduce the heat load on our cows. If you’re short on time listening to our latest podcast, here’s where to find the various discussion sections: 1.46 Introducing guest heat stress podcaster, Lori Grinter 3.05 University of Kentucky heat stress research completed by Lori 4.12 Cows voluntarily taking a cool shower (we kid you not!) 9.10 The 5 hour time delay between exposure by cows to heat and cows seeking a cooling shower 12.45 “THI” the temperature humidity index defined – knowing when conditions are hotting up 15.15 Signs that our cows show us, when they’re getting hot and bothered 17.00 The rumen heat chamber – high fibre feeds and heat stress 17.20 Rumen acidosis risk, as worsened by heat stress 22.15 Shady dealings – The importance of shade for keeping cows cool 28.55 Exercise – hotting things up, the importance of walking and moving cows during cooler parts of the day 32.20 Cow nutrition – Concepts for keeping cows cooler during hot conditions 40.45 Cool clean stock water – a critical factor when managing hot cows 44.10 Cow wearable technologies – useful things to monitor for early signs of heat stress 47.00 Resources for learning more about hot and bothered cows Below are the links for Lori Grinter’s publication in the highly esteemed Journal of Dairy Science https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(19)30151-1/fulltext https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(22)00677-4/fulltext (Note that this heat stress study made editors choice!)

With the New Zealand summer in full flight during early 2024, it’s timely to review how hot temperatures potentially alter the dry matter yields and nutritive value of our temperate pasture species. Exploring first how hot temperatures impact dry matter yields (kilograms of dry matter grown per hectare per day), the podcast looks at effects of hot weather on New Zealand’s most common pasture species combination, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and white clover (Trifolium repens). Other species discussed include continental (summer active) tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata, otherwise known as orchard grass) and red clover (Trifolium pratense). Nutritive value of temperate pasture species, as influenced by hot temperatures is covered, looking specifically at digestibility and MJME, as well as NDF, NDFd and non-structural carbohydrates as influenced by hot temperatures. A note that we make within this podcast is that the selection of pasture species should never be made simply on the basis of heat tolerance, in isolation from other factors to consider. Multiple factors also requiring consideration include soil fertility, pH, rainfall/irrigation, and paddock aspect - to name but a few factors other than heat tolerance. Talk with your local PGG Wrightson Seeds agronomy expert for all the information you need around your regrassing requirements. Various sections within the podcast can be found below. Hope that you find this topic a "cool little topic" to tune into (pun totally intended). Happy listening! 0.55 Introduction 1.39 Overview of the content of our latest podcast 2.05 Scene set – Overview of New Zealand pastures (for the benefit of our non-New Zealand based listeners) 3.40 The wide range of pastures from the north to the south of New Zealand 6.35 Dry matter yield by pasture species when hot summer temperatures arrive (along with other factors including moisture deficit) 8.35 The “ideal” daytime temperatures that support optimum growth rates by our temperate C3 pasture species? 9.50 How hot is too hot for our temperate C3 pastures? Perennial ryegrass, continental tall fescues & cocksfoot 10.05 How hot does it need to be before perennial ryegrass gets hot and bothered? 10.40 Tolerance to temperature by tall fescue compared to perennial ryegrass 11.45 Adequate moisture allows C3 grasses to better tolerate hot temperatures. 14.10 Cocksfoot tolerance to hot temperatures and moisture stress/dry conditions compared to perennial ryegrass 15.50 The role for endophytes in perennial ryegrass and tall fescue and tolerance of heat 17.25 How frequent irrigation helps temperate grasses handle hot temperatures – “transpiration” and evaporative cooling 20.00 **Don’t select a temperate grass species ONLY on the basis of heat tolerance, there are so many other factors to consider when moving away from perennial ryegrass as you core grass species.** 22.30 Legume (clovers, lucerne) growth during hot weather 23.40 Chicory handling hot conditions – but only if adequate moisture is available 25.40 Nutritive value of temperate pasture during hot weather – changes to digestibility, MJME, NDF and NDFd 30.50 Digestibility and NDF changes by tall fescues and perennial ryegrass as summer temperatures increase 35.55 Legumes – changes in nutritive value with hot temperatures 39.50 Legume quality changes over summer – not related to grazing management and temperature 40.20 More clovers in pastures swards – the rumen bloat conundrum 42.35 Temperate grasses - Non-structural carbohydrates (water soluble carbohydrates and starch) changes with temperature 43.30 Temperate legumes - Non-structural carbohydrates changes with temperature 48.50 Recap / conclusion of topics covered

Thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency - a nutrition/diet-mediated animal health condition sometimes seen in ruminant species - features in this, our latest Rumen Room Podcast. Most often seen in young, spring-born ruminants during their first summer of life, thiamine deficiency is a sporadic animal health condition that most New Zealand dairy, sheep and beef farmers will be familiar with. Featuring five sections packed with information about thiamine, Dr Charlotte Westwood steps us through this podcast in a down to earth, practical manner. Thiamine as a vitamin is defined and clinical signs of thiamine deficiency are discussed – the “neurological” form of deficiency (Polioencephalomalacia, sometimes called "polio", "PE" or "PEM") and the “Ill-thrift” form of deficiency. Why all ruminants are not equally at risk of thiamine deficiency is explored. How your vet will likely help you with dealing with thiamine deficiency is covered. Strategies that can reduce risk of thiamine deficiency in New Zealand ruminant species are suggested. *Note* The information about thiamine contained in this podcast episode is NOT intended to replace the expert advice from your own veterinarian. If you have any concerns about animal wellbeing and/or underperformance by your ruminant animals, please contact your own veterinarian.

Our latest episode features guest speaker Dr Ginny Dodunski who joins Rumen Room host Dr Charlotte Westwood for a chat about all things internal parasites. As a New Zealand-based veterinarian and self proclaimed “gumboot parasitologist”, Ginny requires little introduction to most kiwis involved in farming. With a background in veterinary practice, farm consultancy and more recently, working part time with Wormwise, Ginny joins us to cover a range of topics relating to internal parasite management in sheep and cattle. Given the concerning scale of resistance by internal parasites to our range of anthelmintic (drench) products, Ginny steps us through a range of down to earth, practical recommendations to managing internal parasites – including the important role for top quality nutrition for maternal and young stock. Anyone who is involved in managing young stock should tune in - there will be some practical tips and tricks for everyone. Have a scroll (below) through the content for our latest episode featuring Ginny Dodunski. 0.50 Ginny’s background and how her passion for all things animal health, and how her journey working with internal parasites began. 6.05 The timeline of New Zealand resistance since the days of effective anthelmintics 7.00 The cost of internal parasites (including resistance issues) to the New Zealand pastoral industries - and at the level of individual farms 8.40 The novel drenches, Zolvix™ Plus (monepantel and abamectin) and Startect® (derquantel and abamectin) help uncover the true cost of internal parasite resistance in lambs 9.50 Picking up sub-clinical internal parasite challenges (or not!) – especially when other autumn health challenges are occurring 12.10 Who to talk to if you suspect internal parasite resistance issues at your place 13.45 Is my drench working or not? Faecal egg counts 15.15 Starting the internal parasite journey – starting with the ewe/lamb(s) unit 16.25 Higher lambing percentages and internal parasite challenges (and opportunities) 18.40 Well fed ewes support good lamb weaning weights, reducing numbers of lambs on farm post-weaning 22.40 Anthelmintic treatments for ewes pre-lambing (or not) 24.10 Ewe nutrition and body condition– building tolerance to internal parasites 28.35 Hatching and development rates of larvae – differs for eggs from ewes and lambs 30.20 Ewe stocking rate combined with other stock classes – optimising ewe nutrition 32.50 Three Pillars of Parasite Management 33.30 First Pillar = well fed, healthy robust breeding stock 33.35 Second Pillar = young stock on clean feed (less worm larvae than average hill country pasture) 34.40 What’s the best crop for lambs? 37.45 Feeding lambs the best quality feed that you can – the Third Pillar 38.10 Gross margin analyses on forage crops – understates the value of crops for young stock 39.00 Preparing pasture areas to finish lambs on – integrating cattle with sheep 40.00 100kg calves (dairy replacements, dairy beef) and internal parasites 43.00 Buying in 100kg calves – cautions around risk of parasite resistance 44.20 Holding young stock in yards to empty out after quarantine drenches 46.30 Faecal egg counting in young cattle – usefulness for different ages of cattle 48.40 Trace elements / trace minerals and internal parasites 52.05 Where to go to learn more about internal parasites

This episode takes a deep dive into the topic of dietary iodine requirements of cows - and the relationship (or not) of iodine intake with the reproductive performance of cows. Iodine is well down the priority list when tackling challenges of poor reproductive performance. Body condition score at calving and the extent and duration of body condition loss (‘negative energy balance’) are by far the more important factors that drive successful reproductive outcomes in dairy cows. That said, iodine features every season in conversations on farm about improving mating outcomes. “Iodine improves expression of heat by cows” has been around for a long time as a topic of conversation. Fact or fiction? Join us in this latest podcast to explore the potential relationship between dietary intake of iodine by cows (and some discussion of ewes too) and the wellbeing of ruminants. As always, the content of this podcast is of a general nature only and is never intended to replace the advice of your very own local veterinarian and qualified dairy nutritionist. Where to find different parts of this podcast: 1.20 Overview of the topic of iodine and the reproductive performance of pasture-fed dairy cows 1.55 Iodine might play a possible role in cow fertility but more than 100 other factors determine if cows will mate successfully – particularly cow body condition score at calving and extent and duration of body condition loss between calving and mating 5.00 Iodine increases expression of signs of oestrus (heat) by cows – fact or fiction? 7.45 Why do cows require iodine in their diet? It’s all about thyroid hormones, needed particularly by the unborn calf. 9.30 What do thyroid hormones do inside the cow (and unborn calf) or indeed inside the ewe (and unborn lamb) 12.00 Goitre in newborn calves and lambs – very rarely seen in adult stock 14.10 Aside from clinical signs in newborn animals born to cows and ewes, there’s not much to see in iodine deficient cows and ewes 16.40 Iodine and the functionality of the reproductive system in cows 17.00 The “HPO” axis that drives reproductive function and the role for iodine 18.45 Possible changes to reproductive function when iodine status is low 22.30 The challenges of diagnosing iodine deficiency in cows (but discuss this topic further with your vet) 25.15 Pasture levels of iodine are very variable! 25.50 Salt spray off the sea – adds small amounts of iodine to pasture 26.30 Other factors that influence iodine intake by pasture-fed cows 27.05 Goitrogens in forage feeds – reduced conversion of iodine to thyroid hormones 29.05 Types of goitrogens in NZ forages 31.50 Iodised teat sprays and iodine status of lactating dairy cows 33.25 Taking the simple approach, not testing for iodine, can we just add iodine to the diet? 33.55 Care with supplementing with iodine, some countries, upper limits to iodine supplementation! 34.20 Selenium deficiency contributes to thyroid hormone challenges as well

With the ever-increasing inconsistencies of summer weather impacting on dryland dairying, forage crops deliver a valuable bulk of high-quality summer and early autumn feed. In our latest dairying-themed podcast, host Charlotte Westwood is joined by Waikato dairy farming couple, Mark and Courtney Harris - to learn of their investigations into the fit of different summer forage crops for their dairy business. Farming across two properties in the northern and southern reaches of the Waikato, summer crops form an important feature of Mark and Courtneys dairy systems. Chicory and summer brassicas are cost effective feeds for their herds, helping to to offset the absence of sufficient quantities of high quality pasture that would otherwise compromise summer milksolids production. Mark and Courtney discuss how four years of on-farm work that has compared cow responses to either chicory or summer brassicas has taught them much about the fit of summer crops within their dairy business. Which is better as a summer forage crop for cows? Chicory or brassicas? Which crop type should we plant? Tune in, Mark and Courtneys findings might surprise you.

With spring planting coming up fast for us here in New Zealand, our latest episode focuses on decisions around choosing the right pasture and forage crop seeds. Host Charlotte Westwood chats with guest podcaster, Southland agronomist Brian Young about all things seeds. Brian’s background includes farming (sheep and beef, and dairy), shearing, working as a rural retail rep and, for the last 9 years, working with PGG Wrightson Seeds, advising farmers how to grow the very best pastures and forage crops. What’s involved in choosing the right type of seed? Just what is in that bag of seed?? How do we know that the seed will be right for us, will grow lots of feed for our stock, and won’t bring in unwanted weeds? Brian steps us through the information we need to make informed choices when choosing the right seed for us. There’s a bit of info for everyone in our latest podcast.

This episode carries on from Episode 36, expanding the topic around feeding ewes well through lambing. First up, we cover off on the challenges of stress, and of pre-existing animal health conditions on the ability of a heavily inlamb ewe to look after herself and her unborn lambs well, from a nutritional point of view. The importance of getting stocking rate right at the point of set stocking is discussed, and we investigate ways to calculate what your stocking rate should look like. Lower than ideal pasture covers at the time of set stocking - such a challenge! Short and longer terms ideas of improving pasture-feeding levels at lambing are discussed. Content of our latest podcast: 1.50: Feeding ewes well; more kg of lambs weaned per ewe mated 3.00: Non-nutritional factors that impact on the nutritional status of ewes in late pregnancy 4.20: The role of stress in late pregnancy; Weather, yarding, disrupting lambing ewes, pre-lambing shearing too close to lambing 7.30: Internal parasites and nutritional status of ewes 10.20: Illness and injury – risk of ewe undernutrition 12.15: Ewe body condition score (BCS) and ewe nutritional wellbeing through lambing 17.35: Working to improve ewe BCS at lambing – a longer term view 19.45: Pregnancy scanning – An incredibly valuable tool in managing ewe nutrition 22.00: Setting the stocking rate for twin/triplet-bearing ewes at set stocking, prelamb 25.50: Beef and Lamb FeedSmart – just one of many tools available to define ewe nutrition through lambing 33.10: Feeding ewes well vs. risk of bearings 36.00: Managing pasture deficits at set stocking; (a) Short term strategies 39.10: Managing pasture deficits at set stocking; (b) Longer term strategies

Our latest sheep-themed podcast covers a topic that can challenge our pregnant ewes when they have a belly-full of lambs in late pregnancy. Pregnancy toxaemia is a metabolic disease of ewes caused by underfeeding and/or stress when ewes, often those carrying twins or triplets, reach the final stages of late pregnancy. The podcast covers off what pregnancy toxaemia is (and how and why it occurs), clinical signs you might see in affected ewes, then finishes up with an overview of approaches to treating ewes with pregnancy toxaemia. *NOTE: This podcast contains information about pregnancy toxaemia in ewes, however podcast content is NOT intended to substitute advice and recommendations from your own veterinarian about the health and wellbeing of your ewes* Content of our latest podcast: 1.30: An introduction to the current episode 3.50: What is pregnancy toxaemia in ewes? 7.50: Do we know the incidence of pregnancy toxaemia in New Zealand ewes? 9.50: The two ‘syndromes’ of pregnancy toxaemia in New Zealand ewes 12.10: Why is pregnancy toxaemia more likely to occur in twin and triplet bearing ewes? 14.10: What signs should we look out for if we suspect pregnancy toxaemia in ewes? 21.10: Impacts of pregnancy toxaemia on as yet unborn lambs, and ewe colostrum and milk production 22.00: How pregnancy toxaemia impacts a ewes immune response (ability to ‘fight off’ infections and internal parasites) 24.25: Basic approaches to treating ewes with pregnancy toxaemia (these suggestions are NOT intended to replace the advice and recommendations from your own veterinarian)

During mid-winter, it’s not uncommon to start the morning with frosted forages (pastures, winter brassicas, fodder beet and green feed cereals). For break / strip grazed animals that are hungrily waiting for their regular shift onto a new break, frosted forages can potentially increase risk of rumen bloat or "frost bloat". In this our latest “bite-sized” Rumen Room Podcast, we cover why grazing ruminants, cattle particularly, are at greater risk of rumen bloat when they eat frozen pastures and winter forage crops. Preventative strategies that reduce risk of “frost bloat” in animals that graze frozen, frosted forages are discussed.

In this our latest podcast, we focus exclusively on the diet of “springer” dairy cows (otherwise known as “close up dry cows”). Many factors are important when designing springer cows diets – relating not only to calcium metabolism but also to do with dietary energy, protein, fibre and, of course, the requirements for other minerals and vitamins. Focusing specifically on how a springer cow diet influences calcium metabolism through calving and during early lactation, we’ll cover a range of different topics. First up, the basics of calcium metabolism are discussed then moving onto the reasons why recently calved cows end up vulnerable to low blood calcium (hypocalcaemia), particularly when freshly calved cows are milked for the first time. Strategies to lessen the extent and duration of hypocalcaemia in freshly calved cows inevitably start with the design of a springer cow diet. A range of springer pre-calving diet-based strategies exist, including but not limited to focusing on appropriate dietary magnesium management, dietary DCAD (dietary cationic anionic difference), supplementation with very low or very high rates of calcium, use of calcium/phosphorus binders, avoiding high dietary phosphorus before calving, and vitamin D supplementation for springers. We don’t cover anything about fresh cow (colostrum) and early lactation management in this podcast, all content focuses wholly on the springer cow. Watch this space for future podcasts covering further aspects of management of the periparturient cow. **Disclaimer – this podcast is NOT intended to replace the advice from your own veterinarian and qualified dairy nutritionist specific to your farm, your feeds and your cows. Please consult directly with your vet and nutritionist about challenges of low blood calcium / milk fever / downer cows in your herd**

Intramuscular fat (IMF) is fat that’s deposited between and within individual muscle fibres (cells) in the skeletal muscle of animals. Also referred to as ‘marbling’, consumers of red meat often prefer meat that contains a higher level of IMF due to an enhanced eating experience. In this, our second in a two-part series focusing on IMF in ruminant animals, we carry on a discussion around IMF from part one (Episode 32) that covered the basics of IMF in red meat. In Episode 33, our current episode, we further explore the subject of IMF, covering first up, some of the animal-based factors that influence extent of IMF deposition. In the second part of this podcast we discuss the importance of the dietary nutrition of finishing animals to achieve desired levels of IMF in red meat. The following topics are covered within Episode 33, at times within the podcast, listed below at 2.41: An introduction to the current episode 3.45: The importance of animal genetics as a key driver of IMF deposition in finishing animals 6.33: Animal-specific factors, other than genetics, that influence IMF 11.08: The conflict of outcomes between (a) keeping fattening animals on farm for longer, to achieve higher IMF %, when (b) mature, fattening animals are extremely inefficient converters of feed to liveweight gain 12.22: The differences in feed conversion efficiency (kg of dry matter per kg of liveweight gain) for young growing animals, compared to that of older fattening animals 16.47: The effects of the sex of an animal on efficiencies of IMF deposition 20.44: Effects of dietary nutrition on IMF deposition 21.00: Maternal nutrition and subsequent potential IMF deposition by progeny 26.08: IMF deposition during the finishing phase – the influence of dietary nutrition 26.56: Blood glucose drives IMF deposition – the ‘101’ basics of biochemistry helps define why blood glucose is important - including the “cricket wicket” of fat structure 29.51: IMF fat cells – glucose is the IMF cells ‘fat manufacturing ingredient of choice’ 34.40: Maintaining high blood glucose levels on temperate pasture & forage crop systems 37.00: Developing a farm plan for more IMF within temperate forage systems 40.10: High dry matter intakes and IMF deposition 41.55: Very high quality forages and the potential role for rumen pH and IMF 43.29: Lamb finishing on chicory and chicory/temperate clover blends – IMF and Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids 44.33: Trying to understand the “black box” of how chicory/clovers support more IMF and/or more Omega 3 fatty acids 47.23: Length of time on finishing feeds for ideal IMF deposition 48.43: Micronutrients and IMF deposition

Intramuscular fat (IMF) is fat that’s deposited between and within individual muscle fibres (cells) in the body of animals. Often also referred to as ‘marbling’, the consumers of red meat often have a preference for higher IMF meat due to an enhanced eating experience. In this, our first in a two-part series that focuses on IMF, we lay the foundations for our discussion around IMF. We define what IMF is, and describe why the increasingly discerning consumers prefer meat that contains a higher percentage of IMF. We further scene set around fat metabolism with a discussion around the four key fat depots found in a finishing animal and what roles these fat depots play in the day to day existence of our sheep and cattle. In Episode 33, we’ll build further on this IMF topic by looking at a deeper level of detail around animal and nutrition-based factors (at a farm level) that influence the extent of IMF deposition in finishing cattle and sheep. Have a search within this current Episode 32 for topics of interest relating to an introduction to IMF. 0:55 Introduction to Episode 32 2:52 Outlining the content of the episode 4:12 Intramuscular fat (IMF) defined and is ‘marbling’ the same thing? 7:30 Why do consumers of red meat specifically request high IMF meat and why does IMF improve the eating experience for consumers? 14:10 Fat depots around the body, it’s not all about IMF! 14:40 Fat as an essential energy reserve for animals – both white a brown fat (Brown Adipose Tissue; BAT) 17:18 The role of fat to protect internal vital organs inside the animal 18:18 The role of fat to protect the musculoskeletal system 18:44 Intermuscular fat is not the same as intramuscular fat 19:15 Fat as an endocrine organ (that produces hormones, who would have thought!) 21:02 IMF is the last of the four fat depots to be laid down as an animal ages/matures 25:08 IMF is the first of the four fat depots to be mobilised when animals are underfed, eat poor quality feed and/or are stressed

This is our second of a two part series all about “drying off” lactating dairy cows. Part One of this two-part series (Episode 30) covered off the basics of why the cow and her udder need a dry period to rest and recuperate in preparation for a new lactation. What a “good” dry off process might look like was discussed, as well as the impact of once-a-day milking before dry off for cows that are still producing a lot of milk in late lactation. In this, Part Two of the two-part series about drying off dairy cows, we explore the role for nutrition before, through and after the dry off process. We’ll cover different ways to reduce the intake of energy and other nutrients for cows during dry off, with the aim to make the process as successful as we can - for both the cow but also for you and your business. Below hopefully will help you find the content if you’ve not got time to listen in to the whole podcast. Enjoy! 3.00 Introduction and overview of this podcast 4.50 Combining nutritional manipulation and milking frequency for high producing cows at dry off 5.35 Nutritional strategies to help dry cows off – things to consider 7.35 Making decisions around drying off – how much milk are your cows producing? 10.20 Nutritional concepts to help drop milk production before dry off 13.10 Concentrate (grains, meals) feeding before dry off 16.00 Total amount of feed on offer and/or reducing nutrient density of feeds through dry off 21.35 Unintended consequences during dry off; condition loss and immunosuppression 29.50 Importance of adequate trace mineral status through dry off 31.15 Reducing dietary protein intake as a potential option to help with dry off 42.40 Planning ahead for nutritional approaches to dry off – starting the year before 49.20 Conserved feeds for dry off 54.30 Specific points around use of high rates of maize silage for drying off 56.10 Provision of ample, top quality tasty drinking water for cows through dry off – an essential part of the dry off process

“Drying off” lactating dairy cows is the process of successfully and efficiently closing down the lactation process in readiness for the dry period – a time of rest and recuperation for not only the cow but also her hard-working milk secretory cells in her udder. In this, part one of a two-part series about drying off dairy cows, we explore the basics of just why the cow and her udder deserve a well-earned break over the dry period. What “good” might look like for the ideal dry-off process is defined, and the role (or not) for gradual step down from twice-a-day to once-a-day milking before the dry off process. The second part of this two-part series (Episode 31) covers the role for nutrition in the dry off process for lactating cows. Search within this current Episode 30 for topics of interest if you've not got time to listen to the entire episode: 1.00 Just what do we mean by the term “drying off” of dairy cows? 1.40 Introduction around what will be covered in this podcast 5.22 The “why” around the need for a dry period for lactating cows 7.55 Fitting in lactation and dry periods within 365 days in seasonal calving systems 10.05 Do New Zealand cows gain any benefits of our relatively long dry period of 90 days vs. shorter dry periods? 11.18 The benefits of a dry period for both the cow and her udder 14.00 What might happen if a cow doesn’t have a dry period at all? 18.10 Defining the outcome “what does a good dry off process look like?” 25.18 Setting up paddocks to dry off on 27.40 The two approaches to dry off 1) Reduce nutrient supply to the cow and / or 2) Reduce milking frequency from twice to once a day before dry off 34.20 Things to consider before deciding if a short period of once-a-day milking might be useful before dry off for your twice-a-day milked cows 37.00 Abrupt dry off (and not stepping cows from twice to once-a-day) remains the default recommendation for most dairy herds in New Zealand 38.30 Why “skip-a-day” milking before dry off is NOT recommended under any circumstances

In this our latest “bite sized” Rumen Room Podcast, we cover off a brief overview about rusty grasses. Often the first time you realise your pastures contain Crown rust (Puccinia coronata) or Stem rust (Puccinia graminis) fungi is when your boots turn an orange colour as you walk through the paddocks. (Note that these aren’t the only types of fungi to cause rusty coloured mottling on your grasses - we’re focusing on just these two in this podcast. Ask your local agronomist for more advice around what types of fungi might be turning your grasses unusual rust and orange colours). This latest podcast discusses what rust fungi are, why they appear in your paddocks and what weather conditions favour the accumulation of rust on your pastures. What rust might mean for your grazing animals is discussed – both from an animal nutrition point of view, as well as the risk of unintended consequences to animal performance and wellbeing when stock graze rusty pastures.

For spring lambing businesses, autumn means it’s time for the rams to head out with the ewes. Ovulation, conception rate and embryo implantation are all influenced by nutrition before and during mating. In this our latest Rumen Room Podcast, we’re focusing on the importance of a rising plane of nutrition for ewes (otherwise known as “flushing”) before the ewes meet the rams. We’ll cover a range of information, everything from how we think that flushing might work specifically to improve ovulation rates, and the importance of ewe body condition score as a modifier of and reproductive success. Feeding for flushing success is covered, including everything from pasture grazing management, different non-pasture forages and supplementary feeds for flushing. Here’s where to find the various sections of our latest ewe mating podcast: 2:05 Scene setting around the importance of ewe nutrition before and during the early weeks of mating. 5:30 What does “flushing” ewes mean before mating and what we are trying to achieve by flushing ewes? 14:48 Does flushing always work to lift ovulation rate in ewes? 16:42 The static vs. the dynamic effect of ewe body condition score on flushing outcomes. 23:00 How long do we need to flush for – the “ideal” six weeks vs. what’s practical. 23:55 What to think about if we don’t have enough feed to flush for 6 weeks? 26:00 How much more feed (over and above feed demands for maintenance) do we need to feed ewes to achieve the “flush” effect? 32:45 Importance of feed quality for successful ewe flushing outcomes. 37:10 What does a good flushing pasture look like? 38:25 Non-pasture forages for flushing. 43:30 Supplementary feeds – which ones for flushing ewes? 47:45 Crude protein content of feeds for flushing 51:55 Lucerne and red clover – can we flush ewes on these forages? 1:00:10 Short acknowledgement of non-nutritional factors that influence ovulation in sheep