Our third writing was done by Caleb Newman. He is a recent graduate of the University of Tennessee with a BS in Animal Science. He will be pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Vermont, working in the lab of Dr. Eric Testroet.

Student Affiliate Division: Dairy production oral competition allows for opportunity to share knowledge

The ADSA Student Affiliate Division (SAD) oral competition in dairy production was a great opportunity for students from across the country to share their knowledge about research in the dairy industry. Presentations in this session covered multiple topics related to production, including heat stress, nutrition, water usage, housing, and welfare.

·      Will Strickland, a recent graduate from the University of Georgia, presented on the potential for dairy producers to improve cow cooling by implementing strategies used in other animal industries, with an emphasis on strategies currently used in the poultry industry.

·      Caleb Newman, a recent graduate from the University of Tennessee, discussed the benefits of increasing the proportion of omega-3 fatty acids in the dairy cow diet, including potential improvements in milk fat composition and reproduction.

·      Gregory Norris, a recent graduate from The Pennsylvania State University, discussed the importance of improving water productivity on dairy farms by installing water monitoring systems, installing water-efficient equipment, and growing forages which require less water.

·      Isabell Revere, a student from the University of Florida, emphasized the role of housing type on the welfare of dairy cows, including a comparison of loose and tethered housing systems. She also discussed how different calf housing systems impact welfare and performance.

·      Valerie Rakoczy, a student from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, discussed the connection between animal behavior and how the animal experiences pain. She then explained how this connection relates to the practice of disbudding in dairy calves and explained the pros and cons of various disbudding protocols.

·      Madison Sifford, a student from Virginia Tech, discussed the negative impacts of heat stress on dairy cows, particularly in dry cows. She also explained that heat stress can negatively impact production in the offspring of cows that experience heat stress during the dry period.

The winners of the SAD oral competition in dairy production will be announced later this week!