Dairy Digressions

ADSA
  • 5.0 (6)
  • NATURAL SCIENCES
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

Welcome to Dairy Digressions, the podcast from the American Dairy Science Association. Every other month, host Matt Lucy, PhD, explores the latest developments, fascinating discoveries, and breaking trends in the world of dairy science. From pioneering technologies to innovative research, we cover a range of topics related to the dairy industry and go behind the scenes of the top labs and minds in dairy research. Listen in as we dig deep into the science of dairy and discover what’s new and exciting in this ever-evolving field.

  1. 12/31/2025

    Understanding Animal Welfare and Giving Cows a Voice Through Science with Jennifer Van Os, PhD

    How might dairy science involve dancing and video games? Find out as Matt sits down with Jennifer Van Os, PhD, associate professor and extension specialist in the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Jennifer’s path to dairy began in an unexpected place—human psychology—where her early love of applied science set her on a course toward solving challenges for farmers and their cows. Today, her motto, “Giving cows a voice through science,” guides her lab’s work on understanding animal welfare and developing accessible tools to improve the physical, behavioral, and social well-being of dairy cows. The two discuss one such tool, Mooving Cows, a gaming app inspired by flight simulators that allows dairy staff to practice cow-handling skills in a safe, interactive way to keep animals calm and secure during daily movements on the farm. Although she never set out to work in gaming, Jennifer explains how cow handling is like a dance, and that direct feedback from her local farming community inspired the active, hands-on learning solution. Beyond technology, Matt and Jennifer discuss broader themes of public perception of dairy welfare, industry resilience, and herd longevity. Jennifer explains why pair housing can be a win-win for both calves and farmers, and why the future of animal welfare may hinge on giving cows more agency through choice. Along the way, she shares career advice from mentors such as Cassandra Tucker and Paul Fricke, and reflects on the vital role of extension specialists in bridging science with daily farm practice to make improvements for farmers and their cows alike.   Episode Thirty-Three Show Notes Learn more about Jennifer Van Os, download the Mooving Cows game, explore other free resources from her AWS@UWM lab, and see more of Jennifer’s work on Instagram, Facebook, or X/Twitter. Curious about the latest animal welfare research and what cool new tools Jennifer’s lab might be working on? Join us at the ADSA 2026 Annual Meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, next June and submit your research during our call for abstracts, closing February 10, 2026! Are you looking to publish dairy research in 2026? Save on your article costs via the ADSA Loyalty Rewards Program for the Journal of Dairy Science and JDS Communications when you join the ADSA member community! Want a chance to speak directly with—and learn from—dairyscience experts like Jennifer? Look out for the next ADSA Discover Conference coming in fall 2026! Explore the articles discussed in the episode: Engaging dairy farming stakeholders in developing the Mooving Cows digital tool for practicing appropriate cow handling, Journal of Dairy Science (2025) Thermo-physiological responses and hutch microclimate of outdoor hutch-housed dairy heifers with or without continuous ventilation during a continental summer, Journal of Dairy Science (2025) Producer perceptions of dairy calf management, behavior, and welfare, Journal of Dairy Science (2024) Perceptions of dairy cow–handling situations: A comparison of public and industry samples, Journal of Dairy Science (2024) Public attitude toward and perceptions of dairy cattle welfare in cow-calf management systems differing in type of social and maternal contact, Journal of Dairy Science (2022) Youth and adult public views of dairy calf housing options, Journal of Dairy Science (2020) Dairy cow preference for access to an outdoor pack in summer and winter, Journal of Dairy Science (2019) Separation from the dam causes negative judgement bias in dairy calves, PLOS One (2014) Invited review: Sustainability of the US dairy industry, Journal of Dairy Science (2013) Retrieval monitoring and anosognosia in Alzheimer’s disease, Neuropsychology (2007) Injury or infection in udders of heifers may terminate in blind quarters, Journal of Dairy Science (1939) Expectation of life in dairy cows, Journal of Dairy Science (1939)

    55 min

  2. 12/16/2025

    What We Know About Biofilms and Dairy—Interview with Authors of the Journal of Dairy Science Special Issue | cohosted by Nicole Martin, PhD

    Explore the fascinating, frustrating world of microbial biofilms in this special episode of Dairy Digressions! Matt is joined by returning guest and special cohost Nicole Martin, PhD, assistant research professor in dairy foods microbiology and director of the Milk Quality Improvement Program in the Department of Food Science at Cornell University. In this episode, they host two  contributors to the recent Journal of Dairy Science special issue devoted to biofilm formation in dairy: Mérilie Gagnon, PhD, coeditor of the Biofilm Formation in Dairy: A Food Safety Concern special issue and microbiology researcher at the Centre ACER, and Tara Wilson, a food science PhD candidate from the University of Guelph. They explain that these invisible communities of bacteria and fungi cling to surfaces from farm to factory, potentially contaminating milk, causing mastitis in cows, and compromising dairy quality and safety. Given the high level of interconnection in the dairy sector, this special issue aimed to present a holistic “One Biofilm” perspective, emphasizing that understanding and controlling biofilms necessitates an integrated strategy that connects farms, processing plants, and the environment. Mérilie walks listeners through the process of how biofilms form and explains that while not all biofilms are bad—some are central to the development of culture and flavor in dairy and maple syrup products, for example—understanding and controlling them is critical for both human and animal health. Nicole and Tara discuss the miles and miles of piping and equipment in dairies and processing plants, explain the power of a good acid wash, review current cleaning protocols, and explore promising new tools like improved equipment design, ultraviolet detection, and machine learning data-prediction tools that can anticipate increasing biofilm risk. Whether you’re in production or dairy, don’t miss this introduction to the microbes that rule our world!   Episode Thirty-Two Show Notes Learn more about our guests and connect with them onLinkedIn: Nicole Martin, PhD, Mérilie Gagnon, PhD, and Tara Wilson. Want even more of the latest dairy food science? Join us atthe ADSA 2026 Annual Meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, next June, and submit your emerging dairy foods research during our call for abstracts, closing February 10, 2026! Do you have publishing plans in 2026? Save on your articlecosts via the ADSA Loyalty Rewards Program for the Journal of Dairy Science and JDS Communications. Explore each of the special issue articles: Biofilm Formation in Dairy: A Food Safety Concern—Introduction, Journal of Dairy Science (2025) Microbial community tracking from dairy farm to factory; Insights on biofilm management for enhanced food safety and quality, Journal of Dairy Science (2025) Biofilms in the milking machine, from laboratory scale to on-farm results, Journal of Dairy Science (2025) Insights into the prevalence of Pseudomonadota and yeasts on milking system surface biofilms, Journal of Dairy Science (2025) Recent progress in antibiofilm strategies in the dairy industry, Journal of Dairy Science (2025) Effect of biofilm production on antimicrobial susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus bovine mastitis strains from the most prevalent Canadian spa types, Journal of Dairy Science (2025)

    59 min

  3. 12/02/2025

    Solving the Puzzle of H5N1 in Dairy: A One Health Conversation with Jason Lombard, DVM

    In this episode of Dairy Digressions, host Matt Lucy welcomes Jason Lombard, DVM, veterinary epidemiologist, associate professor, and dairy systems specialist at Colorado State University, and lead author of the Journal of Dairy Science invited review, The One Health Challenges and Opportunities of the H5N1 Outbreak in Dairy Cattle in the United States. Drawing on his experience as the point person on the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 outbreak and the learnings he gleaned from his expert coauthors on the review, Jason provides an update on the latest science we have on the virus and reviews its immense impact to date on animals, the US food supply, and people working in agriculture. He explains what the One Health concept means in practice, showing how dairy farms function as complex ecosystems where animals, humans, and environments are linked. The conversation also explores why the exact mechanisms of transmission—whether through the movement of cows, people, trucks, milk, or aerosols—remain so difficult to pin down. Beyond the science, Jason reflects on his career path from veterinary private practice to his time with the US Department of Agriculture to Colorado State University, describing how epidemiology feels like solving a crime, and how curiosity and humility in the face of what we still don’t know fuel his work. This episode offers a critical update on the H5N1 outbreak and connects breaking research with the lived realities of the dairy sector. It underscores why a One Health perspective will be essential not only in navigating H5N1 but also in strengthening the dairy and agricultural sectors for outbreaks yet to come. Episode Thirty-One Show Notes Learn more about Jason Lombard, DVM, and connect with him on LinkedIn.   Want more science on the H5N1 outbreak in dairy? Catch up on the JDS Communications special issue on highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in dairy cattle, and join us at the ADSA 2026 Annual Meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, next June! Start earning rewards and journal savings via the ADSA Loyalty Rewards Program for the Journal of Dairy Science and JDS Communications. Catch up on the papers and presentations discussed in theepisode: H5N1 in dairy cattle: What we have learned in the past 18 months, Hoard’s Dairyman webinar (2025) Dairy environments with milk exposure are most likely to have detection of influenza A virus, medRxiv preprint (2025) Invited review: The One Health challenges and opportunities of the H5N1 outbreak in dairy cattle in the United States, Journal of Dairy Science (2025) The devil you know and the devil you don’t: Current status and challenges of bovine tuberculosis eradication in the United States, Irish Veterinary Journal (2023) Bovine tuberculosis at the interface of cattle, wildlife, and humans, pages 829–846 in Tuberculosis: Integrated Studies for a Complex Disease (2023) Human-to-cattle Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex transmission in the United States, Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2021) An impossible undertaking: The eradication of bovine tuberculosis in the United States, The Journal of Economic History (2004)

    1h 5m

  4. 10/29/2025

    Mastitis, Microbial Stewardship, and the Importance of Service with ADSA Fellow Pam Ruegg, DVM, MPVM

    In this candid and inspiring episode, host Matt Lucy is joined in conversation by Pam Ruegg, DVM, MPMV, ADSA fellow and David J. Ellis Chair in Antimicrobial Resistance and Large Animal Clinical Sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University. Pam shares her remarkable and diverse path in dairy science, from working in private practice to corporate technical service at Monsanto and extension appointments to roles in academia. Throughout her career, she has remained focused on improving dairy animal health, milk quality, and farm sustainability. She and Matt discuss her professional passion: understanding, treating, and preventing what she calls the most interesting disease in dairy, mastitis. She explains what we know now about responsible antibiotic use on dairy farms, and her work to identify animal, environmental, and pathogen factors that reduce disease risk. Through her journal publications, worldwide talks, and outreach work (don’t miss her  YouTube channel, @TopMilkQuality), Pam provides evidence-based recommendations for mastitis treatments that factor in animal welfare, the economic health of the farm, and social responsibility. She dives into the evolution of US dairy farms over her career, the economics of milk quality, and her views on service and mentorship. Along the way, we hear about why she loved being a section editor for the Journal of Dairy Science and JDS Communications, plus her advice for young scientists: Align your career with what you want to do with your day—and don’t let pushback and self-doubt stop you. Whether you’re a student, researcher, or industry pro, Pam’s story is a masterclass in persistence, progress, and purpose. Episode Thirty Show Notes Learn more about Pam Ruegg, DVM, MPVM, connect with her on LinkedIn, and follow her on YouTube.  Want more dairy health science and connections with mentors? Join us at the ADSA 2026 Annual Meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, next June! Start earning rewards and journal savings via the ADSA Loyalty Rewards Program for the Journal of Dairy Science and JDS Communications. Catch up on the papers discussed in the episode: The future of udder health: Antimicrobial stewardship and alternative therapy of bovine mastitis, JDS Communications (2025) Making Economically Efficient Treatment Decisions for Clinical Mastitis, Veterinary Clinics: Food Animal Practice (2025) A focus group study exploring necessary competencies and contextual factors for effective antimicrobial stewardship on dairy farms, Journal of Dairy Science (2025) Impact of training dairy farm personnel on milking routine compliance, udder health, and milk quality, Journal of Dairy Science (2025) Economic impact of subclinical mastitis treatment in early lactation using intramammary nisin, Journal of Dairy Science (2024) Mastitis in Dairy Cows, pages 339–365 in Production Diseases in Farm Animals: Pathophysiology, Prophylaxis and Health Management (2024)

    50 min

  5. 09/02/2025

    Understanding Nutrients as Metabolic Signals, Postcalving Inflammation, and the Value of University Research Dairies with Barry Bradford, PhD

    In the latest installment of Dairy Digressions, host Matt Lucy sits down with Barry Bradford, PhD, professor and C. E. Meadows Endowed Chair in Dairy Management and Nutrition at Michigan State University’s (MSU) Department of Animal Science, senior editor for the Journal of Dairy Science, and co-host of The Dairy Podcast Show. After growing up on a seedstock beef operation, Barry was drawn to dairy science because of its incredible complexity. After some gentle pressure from the renowned Don Beitz (and without ever taking a dairy science class!), Barry went to graduate school and now oversees a diverse research program focused on dairy cattle metabolic physiology and providing evidence-based dairy management tips to producers. Listeners will hear Barry’s elevator pitch on the hepatic oxidation theory, which posits that the liver may play a crucial role in appetite regulation in cows, acting as the “traffic cop” of metabolism by sending signals to a cow’s brain regarding feeding behavior. He and Matt also discuss his recent work on inflammation and nutrition during the transition period, touching on how nutrients—including rumen-protected choline and niacin—can act as signals to influence cell physiology and boost performance. Barry also gives us a behind-the-scenes look at MSU’s brand-new, state-of-the-art research dairy, and shares how the facility came to life and why university dairies are essential to advancing real world solutions for producers and the global dairy sector as a whole. From mentoring young scientists to solving on-farm challenges, Barry reflects on the moments that make the long haul of research worthwhile—and offers his best advice on finding your calling and setting the world on fire.   Episode Twenty-Nine Show Notes Learn more about Barry Bradford, PhD, and connect with him on LinkedIn. Want even more of the latest dairy food science? Join us at the ADSA 2026 Annual Meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, next June! Start earning rewards and journal savings via the ADSA Loyalty Rewards Program for the Journal of Dairy Science and JDS Communications. Are you looking for tips on crafting your own “on fire” graphic for your next scientific paper? We’ve got you covered with tips and resources for maximizing your research’s visual appeal. Catch up on the papers discussed in the episode and takea virtual tour of MSU’s new dairy: MSU hosts tour of new Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center, Michigan State University (2025) Invited review: Inflammation during the transition to lactation: New adventures with an old flame, Journal of Dairy Science (2015) Effects of prenatal dietary rumen-protected cholinesupplementation during late gestation on calf growth, metabolism, and vaccine response, Journal of Dairy Science (2022) Symposium review: Fueling appetite: Nutrient metabolism and the control of feed intake, Journal of Dairy Science (2023) Effects of dietary rumen-protected choline supplementation to periparturient dairy cattle on inflammation and metabolism in mammary and liver tissue during an intramammary lipopolysaccharide challenge, Journal of Dairy Science (2024) Effects of rumen-protected niacin on inflammatory response to repeated intramammary lipopolysaccharide challenges, Journal of Dairy Science (2024) Effects of rumen-protected choline supplementation on lactation performance of dairy cows: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis, Journal of Dairy Science (2025) On-farm supplementation of rumen-protected niacin: A randomized clinical trial, Journal of Dairy Science (2025)

    58 min

  6. 07/08/2025

    Consumer Perceptions of Dairy, Milk in School Lunches, and Finding Your Passion and Purpose with MaryAnne Drake, PhD

    We’re bringing you a dairy food science icon on this episode of Dairy Digressions. Host Matt Lucy, PhD, is joined by MaryAnne Drake, PhD, a William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor of Food Science at North Carolina State University. MaryAnne is the director of the Sensory Service Center, director of the Southeast Dairy Foods Research Center, an ADSA Fellow who served as ADSA’s first female president, and a fellow of the Institute of Food Technologists. MaryAnne explains her journey from food microbiology to being a leading authority in sensory science, dairy flavor chemistry, and consumer research after a stint working in a creamery during graduate school. She now runs a lab focused on sensory analysis and flavor chemistry of dairy products and ingredients, working to understand how flavor varies with processing and storage, and how these parameters relate to consumer perceptions. Listen in as MaryAnne shares her valuable insights on pressing issues in dairy, from the influence of packaging on school milk flavor—including why the milk carton might not be the best option—to consumer attitudes toward dairy versus plant-based alternatives. The two also discuss sustainability messaging around dairy, milk marketing, and the critical role of school lunch programs in shaping a lifelong love of milk and dairy products. She takes us behind the scenes of her massive lab (which she lovingly calls her “flying three-ring circus”), her work with industry, tips on getting a job in food science, and why finding your passion and purpose is the key to success in science. Finally, she discusses the importance of purpose driven work, the evolving role of women in science, and the intellectual joy of progress, even if it happens on a quiet holiday.   Episode Twenty-Eight Show Notes Learn more about MaryAnne Drake, PhD, and connect with her on LinkedIn. Want even more of the latest dairy food science? Join us at the ADSA 2026 Annual Meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, next June! Start earning rewards and journal savings via the ADSA Loyalty Rewards Program for the Journal of Dairy Science and JDS Communications. Catch up on the papers discussed in the episode: Parental perception of children’s school lunch milk, Journal of Dairy Science (2023) The role of packaging on the flavor of fluid milk, Journal of Dairy Science (2023) Parents’ implicit perceptions of dairy milk and plant-based milk alternatives, Journal of Dairy Science (2022) Children's perceptions of fluid milk with varying levels of milkfat, Journal of Dairy Science (2022) Child preferences and perceptions of fluid milk in school meal programs, Journal of Dairy Science (2021) Invited review: Maintaining and growing fluid milk consumption by children in school lunch programs in the United States, Journal of Dairy Science (2020)

    37 min

  7. 05/31/2025

    Understanding the Dairy Matrix, Its Uses in Human Health and Precision Nutrition, and Why Dairy Is So Cool with Grace Lewis, PhD, and David Everett, PhD

    We’re celebrating dairy foods in the latest installment of Dairy Digressions! Host Matt Lucy sits down with two of the voices behind the recent Journal of Dairy Science special issue, “Dairy Foods: A Matrix for Human Health and Precision Nutrition.” Devoted to the latest science on dairy food nutrition, the selected articles in this issue emphasize the crucial role dairy plays in human health from infancy through adulthood. Join us with Grace Lewis, PhD, assistant professor of animal and food science and Dairy Innovation Hub Affiliate at the University of Wisconsin (UW) River Falls, Journal of Dairy Science section editor, and guest editor of the special issue, and David Everett, PhD, a principal investigator and international stakeholder–relationship manager at the Riddet Institute, incoming ADSA President, and author in the special issue. Grace introduces the special issue articles and the exciting studies happening around the dairy matrix, which is helping to usher in a new era of nutrition science. This new era recognizes that dairy can’t be reduced to its parts—we need a holistic understanding of how the interconnected matrix profoundly affects digestion, absorption, and how we fuel our bodies. Grace and David are passionate about advancing the science and spreading the story of dairy’s important part in human health. They delve into the history of dairy’s consumer perceptions and the evolving science around how we think about full-fat dairy products in particular. Milk is a whole food that delivers all essential amino acids, meaning it’s a complete protein that’s also highly digestible and a vital source of vitamins and minerals like calcium. David dives further into his article on understanding the physical structures in dairy foods that uniquely fuel the human body. He also answers our burning dairy questions, including what the true color of milk is, how we process the most valuable whey powder, and the scandalous history of margarine and butter. Finally, the group debates whether it’s okay to top your pizza with cottage cheese. Do you have a vote? Sound off in the comments on your favorite podcast platform! Episode Twenty-Seven Show Notes Learn more about Grace Lewis, PhD, and connect with her on LinkedIn, and learn more about David Everett, PhD, and connect with him on LinkedIn. Want even more of the latest dairy food science? Join us atthe 2025 ADSA Annual Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, this June! Start earning rewards and journal savings via the ADSA Loyalty Rewards Program for the Journal of Dairy Science and JDS Communications. Catch up on the papers and presentation discussed in theepisode: Engaging today’s undergraduate students in the field of dairy science with a focus on the female student population, JDS Communications (2025) Dairy Foods: A Matrix for Human Health and Precision Nutrition—Introduction, Journal of Dairy Science (2025) Dairy Foods: A Matrix for Human Health and Precision Nutrition—The impact of the dairy food matrix on digestion and absorption, Journal of Dairy Science (2025) Dairy Foods: A Matrix for Human Health and Precision Nutrition—Effect of processing infant milk formula on protein digestion and gut barrier health (in vitro and preclinical), Journal of Dairy Science (2025) Dairy Foods: A Matrix for Human Health and Precision Nutrition—The relevance of a potential bioactive ingredient; The milkfat globule membrane, Journal of Dairy Science (2025)

    1 hr

  8. 04/30/2025

    Feeding Fats and Fatty Acids, Finding Transition Balance, and Making Science Actionable with Adam Lock, PhD

    Growing up on a dairy farm in the United Kingdom, Adam Lock, PhD, always thought he would take over the family business and milk cows for a living. Instead, he now works to help dairy professionals increase their cattle’s health, productivity, and profitability through nutrition. Join us to find out how! Host Matt Lucy sits down with Adam, a professor and associate chair for farm operations in the Department of Animal Science, and interim chair of the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at Michigan State University. He explains the central focus of his research on fatty acid digestion and metabolism in the dairy cow and the impact of bioactive fatty acids on animal production and human health. The two focus on Adam’s recent work optimizing fat-feeding strategies during the transition period. The previous dogma around feeding fresh cows recommended against supplementing fats, but that is now changing. Adam and his team are proving that particular blends of individual fatty acids can help fill a cow’s unique needs during this time, promote energy balance, and increase milk production. The pair also discuss Adam’s focus on making all of his work immediately applicable to farmers and industry professionals, and the importance of extension work in dairy. Finally, he shares his philosophies around ensuring his lab is fun for students, the best way to connect with and train students, and how to embrace the fortuitous twists and turns your career in science might take. Episode Twenty-Six Show Notes Learn more about Adam Lock and connect with himon LinkedIn.   Are you interested in learning applied nutrition strategiesdirectly from Adam? Join us at the 2025 ADSA AnnualMeeting in Louisville, Kentucky, this June! Adam is speakingduring our first-ever applied nutrition symposium and panel discussion focused on feeding high oleic soybeans and balancing diets for milk fat. Start earning rewards and journal savings via the ADSA Loyalty Rewards Program for the Journal of Dairy Science and JDS Communications. Catch up with the discussion of dairy nutrition dogma in Arandom view of the world: Because we are never absolutely sure of anything from Normand St-Pierre at the 2024 ADSA Annual Meeting. Catch up on the papers and presentation discussed in theepisode: Effects of raw and roasted high oleic soybeans on milk production of high-producing dairy cows, Journal of Dairy Science (2024) Effects of increasing dietary inclusion of high oleic acid soybeans on milk production of high-producing dairy cows, Journal of Dairy Science (2024) Milk production responses of dairy cows to fatty acid supplements with different ratios of palmitic and oleic acids in low-and high-fat basal diets, JDS Communications (2024) Increasing palmitic acid and reducing stearic acid content of supplemental fatty acid blends improves production performance of mid-lactation dairy cows, Journal of Dairy Science (2024) Oleic acid abomasal infusion limits lipolysis and improves insulin sensitivity in adipose tissue from periparturient dairy cows, Journal of Dairy Science (2023)

    42 min
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out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Welcome to Dairy Digressions, the podcast from the American Dairy Science Association. Every other month, host Matt Lucy, PhD, explores the latest developments, fascinating discoveries, and breaking trends in the world of dairy science. From pioneering technologies to innovative research, we cover a range of topics related to the dairy industry and go behind the scenes of the top labs and minds in dairy research. Listen in as we dig deep into the science of dairy and discover what’s new and exciting in this ever-evolving field.

Information

  • Creator
    ADSA
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © ADSA
  • Show Website
    Dairy Digressions

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