Join us for a very special episode of Dairy Digressions with our first-ever guest cohost, Kimmi Devaney of the Progressive Dairy Podcast and former ADSA Undergraduate Student Division president. Joining host Matt Lucy, the two sit down with Daryl Nydam, DVM, PhD, dairy health and production professor who serves as a director in Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine and the faculty director at the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability. Daryl’s journey—from his childhood in a dairy and veterinary medicine family to a college student studying science
while shooting hoops to working at the nexus of dairy, veterinary medicine, and human health—has been fascinating. Amidst growing consumer concerns about environmental and animal welfare issues, Daryl reassures listeners that cows today are thriving because of monumental advancements in veterinary care
and management. The discussion covers the importance of optimal replacement decisions to reduce enteric methane production and ensure that each herd has the best cows in the barn. The trio also gets into another critical conservation issue: antimicrobial resistance. Daryl explains a novel, pathogen-based strategy for clinical mastitis treatment during lactation so farmers can make economical and stewardship-driven decisions, thereby reducing the need for antibiotics and hospital pen time. Listeners can also learn more about selective dry cow therapy: For some farms, gone are the days of treating every cow at dry off; now, with advanced diagnostics, we can treat only those cows with infections or at high risk of acquiring an infection during the dry period, maintaining milk quality and herd health without unnecessary antimicrobial exposure. Join us in this enlightening episode as we navigate the intricate landscape of dairy stewardship and why we should all feel optimistic about the dairy industry.
 
Episode Ten Show Notes
Learn more about the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability
and Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and connect with Daryl Nydam on LinkedIn.
Read Progressive Dairy, explore the Progressive Dairy Podcast, and connect with Kimmi Devaney on LinkedIn and Twitter/X.
Are you interested in participating in future Discover Conference meetings? Save the date for the 46th Discover Conference on precision dairy farming (May 6–9, 2024; Itasca, IL).
Catch up on the papers and article discussed on the episode:
Herd turnover rate reexamined: A tool for improving profitability, welfare, and sustainability, American Journal of Veterinary Research (2023)
Dairy production sustainability through a one-health lens, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (2022)
Implementing selective dry cow therapy on farms across New York state, Progressive Dairy (2022)