Virtual fencing is gaining attention in livestock production, and this episode breaks down what dairy producers need to know before trying it. Brad explains how virtual fencing uses GPS-enabled collars or ear tags, audio cues, and electrical cues to manage grazing animals within digital boundaries. He also shares lessons from training heifers with virtual fence collars, including the adjustment period, the importance of using a physical fence during training, and how animals typically learn the system within about a week.

The episode also compares several virtual fencing systems available to U.S. producers, including Vence, Gallagher, Halter, and Nofence. Brad walks through major considerations such as collar weight, cellular versus base station connectivity, battery life, subscription fees, and upfront costs. He also discusses how virtual fencing may compare financially with traditional physical fencing and why more research is needed to understand its fit in dairy grazing systems.

Brad also previews upcoming virtual fencing work at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center, where multiple systems will be tested with dairy cattle to better understand labor needs, cost, practicality, and overall performance in real grazing conditions.

Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

Linkedin -> The Moos Room
Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
Facebook -> @UMNDairy
YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy
Extension Website
AgriAmerica Podcast Directory

This episode highlights new research on Salmonella Dublin in dairy-beef systems and what it means for calf health and farm management.

The disease is a major threat to young calves, causing severe illness and high mortality, while often spreading silently through carrier animals and contaminated environments. New PCR testing shows the pathogen is far more common than traditional methods suggest.

Key risk factors include frequent introduction of new calves, mixing animals post-weaning, and human movement (boots, equipment) spreading contamination between areas.

Bottom line: Salmonella Dublin isn’t random—it reflects management. Strong biosecurity, better calf flow, delayed weaning, and improved monitoring are critical to reducing risk.

Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

Linkedin -> The Moos Room
Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
Facebook -> @UMNDairy
YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy
Extension Website
AgriAmerica Podcast Directory

Spring may be slow to arrive in Minnesota, but research season is heating up. In this episode of The Moos Room, Brad revisits a large Minnesota-based study exploring the true cost of health events in dairy cows—and why tracking cost, not just disease incidence, could transform genetic selection and farm profitability.

Using data from thousands of Holstein cows across multiple herds, the team found that health costs are heavily concentrated in the first 30 days of lactation, when cows face metabolic stress from calving and high milk production. However, issues like lameness and mastitis continue to accumulate costs throughout the lactation, especially in older cows. In fact, total health costs more than double from first to later lactations, reflecting wear, immune fatigue, and management differences.

A key takeaway: management determines cost, but genetics influence risk. While some high-cost conditions (like reproductive disorders) are difficult to improve genetically, others—such as mastitis and metabolic disease—show stronger heritability.

The breakthrough insight is that total health cost itself is moderately heritable (~0.25)—much higher than traditional “sick vs. not sick” measures. This means selecting animals based on overall health cost could drive faster genetic progress than current methods.

Brad also highlights important genetic and phenotypic relationships:

• Higher milk production is linked to increased health costs
• Lower somatic cell count strongly reduces total health costs
• Taller, more angular cows tend to have higher health costs
• Shallower udders are associated with better health outcomes

From a practical standpoint, the episode emphasizes:

• The need for consistent, detailed health and cost recording
• Moving beyond binary disease tracking to full economic impact
• Incorporating total health cost into sire selection decisions

Bottom line: Selecting for lower total health cost can improve profitability, extend cow longevity, and enhance animal welfare—potentially saving tens of thousands of dollars at the herd level in just one generation.

Questions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!

Linkedin -> The Moos Room
Twitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafety
Facebook -> @UMNDairy
YouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and Health
Instagram -> @UMNWCROCDairy
Extension Website
AgriAmerica Podcast Directory