August Journal Club

August Journal Club

Author: Balchem Animal Nutrition & Health August 8, 2023 Duration: 51:36

Guests:  Dr. Gonzalo Ferreira from Virginia Tech and Dr. Bill Weiss from The Ohio State University

A Journal Club podcast is a staff and fan favorite, and joining us for today’s Journal Club is Dr. Gonzalo Ferreira from Virginia Tech and Dr. Bill Weiss from The Ohio State University. Dr. Ferreira will be discussing his paper about including alfalfa in multigravida Holsteins. 

Dr. Ferreira starts with an overview of his research and said that he did a preliminary trial in Virginia Tech and saw that the urine pH was being decreased by using a product called polyhalite. (5:36) 

Dr. Weiss pointed out that the study had a fair number of clinical hypocalcemia, about 10-15%, which is high. (27:39) 

Dr. Ferreira said that in testing the polyhalite, he included between 400-500 grams per cup per day. And everything was going well in the case of Calcium Chloride; it is stronger, so you can add less and have the same acidification process. (37:03) 

Dr. Ferreira wrapped up by encouraging people doing research not to get stuck in a theory. Sometimes you need to get out of the box and try different things. (48:45) 

You can find Dr. Ferreira’s paper here: https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(23)00170-4/fulltext

Please subscribe and share with your industry friends to bring more people to join us around the Real Science Exchange virtual pub table.  

If you want one of our new Real Science Exchange t-shirts, screenshot your rating, review, or subscription, and email a picture to anh.marketing@balchem.com. Include your size and mailing address, and we’ll get a shirt in the mail to you.


Ever wonder what animal scientists talk about after the formal presentations are over and the notebooks are put away? Real Science Exchange-Dairy captures that exact spirit, moving beyond the lecture hall to explore the ideas shaping dairy and animal nutrition. Presented by Balchem Animal Nutrition & Health, this series feels more like a lively, insightful table conversation among colleagues than a staged interview. You’ll hear leading researchers and experts discuss pressing topics in the field, but in a relaxed, unfiltered way that reveals the person behind the data. The dialogue is driven by genuine curiosity and a shared passion for natural sciences, covering everything from emerging research to practical applications. Each episode is an exchange of perspectives, offering a range of new ideas that challenge conventional thinking. It’s a podcast for anyone interested in the real-world science that impacts animal health and productivity, delivered with the authenticity of a discussion among friends. Tune in for thoughtful, accessible conversations that connect complex concepts to the bigger picture of life and scientific discovery.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 205

Real Science Exchange-Dairy
Podcast Episodes
2023 Poultry Science Association Highlights Day 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:11
Guests: Emmillie Boot and Dr. Ramon Malheiros, North Carolina State University; Catherine Fudge, University of Georgia; Dr. Lisa Bielke, North Carolina State University; Kyle Venter, University of Pretoria; Letecia Orell…
2023 Poultry Science Association Highlights Day 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:46
Guests: Andy Vance, PSA; Dr. John Halley, J. Halley Poultry Consulting; Addison Elstner, Texas A&M University; Dr. Chasity Pender, DSM Nutritional Products; Dr. Valentina Caputi, USDA-ARS Poultry Production and Product S…
2023 ASDA Winners & Organizers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:41
Today’s episode was filmed at the American Dairy Science Association Annual Meeting in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Joining us are the ADSA organizers and research winners to discuss their projects. Dr. Clay Zimmerman is our…
2023 ADSA Research Highlights Day 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:13
Guests: Dr. Billy Brown, Kansas State University; Dr. Heather White, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Kelli Brost, University of Illinois; Dr. Jim Drackley, University of Illinois; Dr. Sergio Martinez Monteagudo, New Mex…
2023 ADSA Research Highlights Day 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:26
Guests: Omid McDonald, Vodkow; Andres Ortega & Dr. Mike Van Amburgh, Cornell University; Matheus Santos & Dr. Eduardo Ribeiro, University of Guelph; Dr. Faith Reyes, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Mariana Marinho and D…
May Journal Club [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:03
Guests: Dr. Bill Weiss, The Ohio State University and Dr. Corwin Nelson, University of FloridaJoining together for another Journal Club to discuss vitamin D as a lactation influence on dairy cows are dairy leaders and nu…