The Allied Nutrition Podcast

The immune system is complex and constantly changing.  In this episode, Alex chats with Hanna on how the immune system is like an elite military force with specialist snipers, foot soldiers and communications and strategy personelle all working off databases of information collected in the field to keep us alive and healthy.  We apply this knowledge to how we can best bolster the immune response of the production animals that we care for.  Minerals, Selenium, Zinc, Manganese and copper are all critical.  Glucose partitioning in the body can make or break profits.  The exciting field of phytonutrients also holds great opportunity to move away from a dependence on antibiotics to a more natural way of supporting our animals.

Flavours, Smells and Sweeteners.These products are used extensively in animal nutrition to draw animals to the feed bunk, drive aggressive eating and to mask unpleasant tastes and smells. In this episode we discuss the use of flavours to achieve certain nutritional goals.  We also dive into the practical application of sweeteners to diets in order to drive intake and we have a look at the surprising gut response to artificial sweeteners which might make you reconsider that diet soda with your next burger.Join us as we continue to define the Nutraceutical Frontier.

Silage is a key ingredient that drives profitability on most dairy farms.Making good silage requires careful timing to ensure that the crop is harvested at the optimal moisture content. Of the many management activities around silage, the weather is one factor which is completely out of our control.   Heavy rains can cause delays in harvest and, even though the crop is standing in water, it dries out beyond the optimal point for silage making. Dry silage may not be our fault but it is our problem to solve.In this episode, we discuss what can be done in order to make the most of very dry silage.  We look at how Amaferm can be successfully used to increase digestibility of the hard fibres and how Acid Buf can protect your herd against the risk of acidosis and rumen scarring.Join us as we dive into the practical challenges of working with a key ingredient that is not what we ideally want to use.

All farmers have to deal with baby animals.  In this episode Alex Jenkins and Hanaa Solomon discuss the commonalities and differences between the early life experiences of piglets, chicks and dairy calves.

The summer months can be brutal for dairy cows and many people do not understand what goes on inside a cow when they get very hot.  This episode explores some of the biology behind heat stress in dairy cattle. Questions such as:·         Do cows sweat?·         What's the effect of chili's on cows?·         Why do we get dizzy when we hyperventilate?·         What can I practically do on my dairy to help with excessive heat?Join us as we take a technical dive into these topics  Reference ListHabibu B,  Yaqub L.S., Dzenda T., Kawu M.U. 2019 Sensitivity, impact and consequences of changes in respiratory rate during thermoregulation in livestock – A REVIEW Ann. Anim. Sci., Vol. 19, No. 2 (2019) 291–304 https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2019-0002Szallasi, A. The Vanilloid (Capsaicin) Receptor TRPV1 in Blood Pressure Regulation: A Novel Therapeutic Target in Hypertension? Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24, 8769. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24108769

Summer time tick and fly control is a constant challenge on many farms.While there are several good options to dip cattle and sheep, a recurring issue is that of resistance and effectiveness.Natural remedies exist that are effective at reducing tick populations.When used wiht a dip program, they and can prolong the time that the ticks take to develop resistace.See the English translation on our YouTube channel.

Today, we're diving into a challenge that impacts farms globally: heat stress. It's not just about the animals being uncomfortable; it's a complex biological cascade that hits everything from milk production to fertility.We'll be looking at the four major ways a cow responds to heat: By altering her blood flow, sweating and panting and by reducing her feed intake. These aren't just random reactions, they're the animal's attempt to maintain balance, but they can lead to a cascade of issues. In this episode, we'll explore the science behind these reactions, what they mean for animal health and production, and, crucially, what farmers can do about it. We'll look at innovative solutions, from specialised feed additives to address the altered floow flow, to buffers that help with summeritme acidosis all the way through to management ideas that youc an apply to your farm today.So, whether you're a seasoned dairy farmer or just interested in the science of animal health, join us as we uncover the hidden biology of heat stress. Stay tuned, and let's get to the heart of it.