The Rumen Room Podcasts
Episodes
68. Internal parasites (worms) in young ruminants: Part One. The importance of top shelf nutrition
21 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How might improving the nutrition of young sheep and cattle help with our battle against sheep and cattle internal parasites (worms) that’re resista...
67. Protein Nutrition. Part Two. Crude Protein or Metabolisable Protein?
04 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing the dietary protein journey started in Podcast No. 66, our latest podcast picks apart the pros and cons of crude protein (CP) as a proxy fo...
66. Protein Nutrition. Part One, The basics of protein nutrition
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In our latest short, ‘bite-sized’ podcast, we start a two-part series on the basics of protein in ruminant nutrition. This first episode explains ...
65. Weaning of hand reared dairy calves. Part two - the weaning process
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do we wean calves from liquid milk or calf milk replacer (CMR)? For each and every calf weaning set up, there’s no doubt a broad range of differ...
64. Weaning of hand reared dairy calves. Part one - When is a calf ready to wean?
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
All the hard work has been done, your four day old calves have grown well and it’s time to think about weaning the calves from milk or calf milk rep...
63. Frosty frozen forages – Cold crops and pastures
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With winter just around the corner for New Zealanders, our latest topic focuses on the effects of cold temperatures and frost on forage plants. We inv...
62. Autumn Ill thrift in grazing ruminants. Part Two - Animal Health issues
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is the second in a two part series all to do with Autumn Ill thrift in grazing ruminants. Part one (Episode 61) explored some of the nutritionall...
61. Autumn ill thrift in grazing Ruminants. Part One - Possible nutritional challenges
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After a long, hot and often dry summer when pasture quality might be rather poor and in short demand, we’re always keen to see the onset of autumn r...
60. Copper nutrition – Part Four, copper toxicity in ruminants
12 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Like anything in life, too much of a good thing can end badly. The same can be said for copper nutrition in ruminants. Required in just trace amounts,...
59. Copper nutrition – Part Three, defining copper status and resolving deficiencies
05 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What are some of the ways that we can test feed or other samples to assess the likelihood of copper deficiency in sheep, cattle or deer? Part three of...
58. Copper nutrition – Part Two, clinical signs suggestive of copper deficiency
03 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dairy, sheep, beef, or deer farming? There’s something for everyone in our latest “bite sized” copper-themed miniseries podcast. Building on the...
57. Copper nutrition – Part One, why do ruminants need copper?
03 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Read the side of any bag of trace mineral additives or feed products, and there’s good chance copper will be listed as one of the ingredients. Just ...
56. Ruminants aren’t the only herbivores that eat forage crops!
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This latest “bite sized” short podcast takes a look at summer crop establishment in New Zealand, including a detailed look at the tiny (unwanted) ...
55. Baleage – A mystery surprise or valuable nutrients for our ruminants? Part 2
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Amazing feed quality or compost? This second of a two part podcast series focuses on how to make sure we get the very best quality feed from plastic-w...
54. Baleage – A mystery surprise or valuable nutrients for our ruminants? Part 1.
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Baleage can be a fantastic way to conserve pasture or crop, moving forage from times of feed surpluses to times of feed deficits. Once wrapped in plas...
53. Switching on ‘the heater’ inside newborn ruminants – The role for brown fat reserves
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hypothermia is a real risk for newborn lambs and calves - and is a significant cause of loss of newborns born outdoors during cold weather. When bo...
52. Wild winter weather. Part Two, Farm-level practical concepts
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Building on this mid-winter topic introduced in Episode 51, this podcast explores practical, farm-based things that we can do to help our cows well in...
51. Wild winter weather. Cattle outside, how we can help - Part One
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cold winter weather. Great if you love skiing, not so great for us and our ruminants when we’re out and about in rough weather. That said, ruminants...
50. Soil contamination of feeds – any issues for our ruminants?
04 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ingestion of soil during grazing of pastures and forage crops is a common and unavoidable event. Soil contamination of silage and baleage is anothe...
49. Dry cow and transition cow management – it’s all about the COW. Featuring Dr Sue Macky
31 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Well known New Zealand-based veterinarian, nutritionist and farmer Dr Sue Macky joins Charlotte Westwood in our latest podcast. Sue steps us through e...
48. Lignin – From pine trees to pastures – What do your grazing animals reckon?
19 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
All plants would be green slime growing sideways along the ground if it wasn’t for lignin– True! Find out more in our latest podcast covering ev...
47. Kiwifruit as a feed for ruminants
28 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sliced on our morning cereal or perched on top of our iconic New Zealand dessert Pavlova, kiwifruit deliver a tasty powerpack of valuable nutrients fo...
46. Metabolisable Energy in Ruminant Nutrition - it’s an interesting topic, we promise!
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A fundamental basic of ruminant nutrition – energy density of feeds – is covered in this latest Rumen Room Podcast. Expressed as Megajoules of Met...
45. Dietary Cationic Anionic Difference (DCAD) – One strategy for reducing challenges of low blood calcium in dairy cows
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our latest podcast explores DCAD - one specific aspect of the diet of “springer” (“close-up”) dairy cows. The Rumen Room Podcast has briefly d...
44. Hot and bothered lactating dairy cows - the how, the why and what we can do to help our cows
28 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our latest podcast carries on with our heat stress 'theme' from episode 43, where we explored the challenges of hot temperatures on pasture species. W...
43. Hot and bothered summer pastures – less dry matter and poorer nutritive value for your grazing ruminants
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With the New Zealand summer in full flight during early 2024, it’s timely to review how hot temperatures potentially alter the dry matter yields...
42. Thiamine deficiency in sheep and cattle – a nutritional challenge with an animal health twist
23 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency - a nutrition/diet-mediated animal health condition sometimes seen in ruminant species - features in this, our latest...
41. Internal parasite management– the role for good nutrition (plus many other parasite topics!)
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our latest episode features guest speaker Dr Ginny Dodunski who joins Rumen Room host Dr Charlotte Westwood for a chat about all things internal paras...
40. The role for dietary iodine in dairy cows before and during mating
06 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode takes a deep dive into the topic of dietary iodine requirements of cows - and the relationship (or not) of iodine intake with the reprodu...
39. Summer forages for lactating dairy cows. The Mark and Courtney Harris story
25 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With the ever-increasing inconsistencies of summer weather impacting on dryland dairying, forage crops deliver a valuable bulk of high-quality summer ...
38. Feed for your stock - Spring planting decisions; “What’s In the Bag” – with agronomist Brian Young
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With spring planting coming up fast for us here in New Zealand, our latest episode focuses on decisions around choosing the right pasture and forage c...
37. Setting ewes up well through lambing – Pasture-based tips and tricks
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode carries on from Episode 36, expanding the topic around feeding ewes well through lambing. First up, we cover off on the challenges of str...
36. Pregnancy Toxaemia (“Sleepy Sickness”) in pregnant ewes
25 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our latest sheep-themed podcast covers a topic that can challenge our pregnant ewes when they have a belly-full of lambs in late pregnancy. Pregnancy ...
35. Rumen bloat (“frost bloat”) in cattle that eat frosted, frozen winter pastures and forage crops
11 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
During mid-winter, it’s not uncommon to start the morning with frosted forages (pastures, winter brassicas, fodder beet and green feed cereals). F...
34. Reducing risk of low blood calcium at calving - Dairy cow springer (pre-calving) diets
23 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this our latest podcast, we focus exclusively on the diet of “springer” dairy cows (otherwise known as “close up dry cows”). Many factors a...
33. Intramuscular fat (IMF) deposition in finishing animals – animal-related factors, and dietary nutrition
19 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Intramuscular fat (IMF) is fat that’s deposited between and within individual muscle fibres (cells) in the skeletal muscle of animals. Also referred...
32. An introduction to intramuscular fat (IMF) deposition in finishing animals
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Intramuscular fat (IMF) is fat that’s deposited between and within individual muscle fibres (cells) in the body of animals. Often also referred to a...
31. The dry off process for lactating dairy cows. Part Two
06 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This is our second of a two part series all about “drying off” lactating dairy cows. Part One of this two-part series (Episode 30) covered off the...
30. The dry off process for lactating dairy cows. Part One
29 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“Drying off” lactating dairy cows is the process of successfully and efficiently closing down the lactation process in readiness for the dry perio...
29. Rusty grasses – what might these mean for grazing animal performance and wellbeing?
23 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this our latest “bite sized” Rumen Room Podcast, we cover off a brief overview about rusty grasses. Often the first time you realise your pastu...
28. Ewe flushing for mating success
12 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For spring lambing businesses, autumn means it’s time for the rams to head out with the ewes. Ovulation, conception rate and embryo implantation are...
27. Magnesium Sulphate or Magnesium Chloride for dairy cows. Which one?
03 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With this, our latest and all new “bite-sized” short Rumen Room podcast, we discuss the specific topic of magnesium salts... magnesium chloride an...
26. Flood damage; Part Two – Deciding what to do with flood damaged Crops
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this, our latest Rumen Room Podcast episode, we’re going to carry on with the topic of flood damage to ruminant feeds. Episode 25 was part one of...
25. Flood damage; Part One – Deciding what to do with flood damaged Supplementary Feeds
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With recent flood damage across many New Zealand regions, it’s timely to explore flood-associated nutritional and feed challenges being faced by man...
24. Summer bulb turnips for lactating dairy cows: Part Two
30 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A relatively common feed for lactating dairy cows, summer bulb turnips deliver top quality feed crop when the amount and/or nutritive value of summer ...
23. Summer bulb turnips for lactating dairy cows: Part One
12 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Summer bulb turnips are a key component of the diet for many lactating dairy cows. In this two-part series, we’ll be exploring everything to do with...
22. Primary Photosensitisation (“sunburn”) in lambs and cattle
30 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this, our latest Rumen Room podcast, we’ve got a summer-themed podcast for you. With many of us heading away to beaches and lakes and lots of out...
21. Mating of dairy cows: Part Two. Anoestrus (non-cycling) cows, silent heats and heat detection efficiency.
10 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this, our latest Rumen Room Podcast episode, we’ll carry on with the theme of dairy cow nutrition and reproductive performance. Episode 20 covere...
20. Mating of dairy cows: Part One. Effects of nutrition on 3-week submission rate
25 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For seasonally mated dairy cows, 3-week submission rate is an important driver of a herds reproductive efficiency. There’re a huge number of factors...
19. ”Where are my missing milksolids?” Part three - Pasture-based factors that influence post-peak decline in milksolids production
06 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this, the third of our three part series exploring “Where are my missing milksolids”, we’ll continue on from topics covered in parts one (Epi...
18. “Where are my missing milksolids?” Part two – Cow-based factors that influence post-peak decline in milksolids production
28 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In our first podcast in this three-part series, we explored factors that influence milksolids production from calving through to peak production in Ne...
17. Wellbeing of young ruminants grazing summer crops
21 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this latest podcast, well known veterinarian Andrew Dowling joins Charlotte Westwood to discuss all things to do with animal wellbeing and performa...
16. ”Where are my missing milksolids?” Part One - Calving through to peak lactation
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In theory, our pasture-fed cows should simply eat pasture and produce milksolids. Shouldn’t they? Well yes, but sometimes on a whole herd basis, we ...
15. Milk urea in pasture-fed dairy cows
24 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Urea concentration in the milk of pasture-fed cows, what’s it about? In this latest Rumen Room Podcast, veterinarian and nutritionist Dr Charlotte W...
14. SMCO toxicity (aka kale anaemia, red water) in ruminant species
03 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Forage brassicas are simply an amazing, low cost feed for our ruminant species. Over 300,000 ha of brassicas are planted in New Zealand annually and t...
13. Summer crop planning – The journey from seed to feed
22 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Spring is just around the corner and before we know it, it’ll be Christmas. It’s never too early to be planning for your summer forage crop requir...
12. Calf Nutrition: Nutritional scours
19 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this second of a two part series about preweaned calf nutrition, this episode covers all things to do with nutritional scours (diarrhoea) in calves...
11. Calf nutrition: All you wanted to know but were afraid to ask!
06 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Such a magical transformation - a newborn calf that becomes a fully fledged and functioning ruminant within just a matter of months. How does this ama...
10. Transition feeding of dairy cows through calving – Keeping cows well, the practicalities!
17 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Keeping our cows happy, healthy and well through the transition period. What are some practical tips and tricks to help make calving a whole lot less ...
9. Udder oedema in calving dairy cows
13 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Udder oedema is a condition that sometimes affects our younger dairy cows around calving time. This latest Rumen Room podcast covers off information a...
8. Magnesium metabolism – the inside story!
02 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Magnificent magnesium – a mineral that all animal species require to keep the body ticking along. And a very relevant mineral given lambing and calv...
7. “Feed Test Lab Reports: Just what on earth do all those numbers mean” - Part Two
15 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Cattle are picky critters and oh such fussy eaters! The backstory to this Podcast is that our cattle have decided “No thanks”, they’d rather not...
6. “Feed Test Lab Reports: Just what on earth do all those numbers mean” - Part One
09 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How many of you routinely collect feed samples and send them away for feed testing? Ever wondered what all those numbers mean? No worries – you are ...
5. Nitrate toxicity in ruminants
24 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nitrate toxicity - the most commonly encountered toxicity challenge in New Zealand ruminants. This podcast breaks nitrate toxicity down into seven "bi...
4. Checklist for success - wintering sheep and cattle on winter crops and pastures
18 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are you looking after pregnant cows or ewes through the winter months? Then this podcast is designed for you. With an emphasis on looking after cows a...
3. The basics of ruminant nutrition - with a difference! Part Two
07 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Assuming you've survived the dizzying journey of a ryegrass leaf from the front (biting) part of a cow to the back (emptying) end of a cow in Part One...
2. The basics of ruminant nutrition - with a difference! Part One
02 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us have suffered the rather dry and boring nature of ruminant nutrition lectures at school, college or university. Fear no more, The Rumen Roo...
1. Welcome to The Rumen Room Podcasts
02 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A brief welcome to introduce ourselves before we head off on a journey of exploration and discovery about all things ruminant.