Advertise on podcast: The Rumen Room Podcasts

Ruminants have been ruminating (cud chewing) for millions of years, so why the recent increased interest in ruminating? Wearable technologies (cattle collars, ear tags, rumen boluses) have changed our world, providing real time data around all sorts of things that our cattle are up to - including but not limited to rumination. Our latest podcast takes a deep dive into the topic of rumination, exploring why ruminants chew cud, and factors that change rumination activity. Join us on a journey of exploration around animal, feed and farm-level factors that influence rumination activity.

Our latest episode in our four-part, worm-themed podcast series focuses on setting up forage crops for success, to maximise the chances of crops helping beat the worms in lambs and calves. Forage crops fit so very well into the worm-battling, whole-farm based Wormwise ‘FARMED’ approach to managing youngstock on farm (F=Feed, A=Avoidance, R=Refugia, M=Monitor and ED=Effective Drenches) https://beeflambnz.com/knowledge-hub/PDF/wormwise-resource-book In the podcast, hear how to optimise the chance of achieving low populations of worm eggs and larvae within your crop. We’ll revisit the importance of monitoring lambs and calves on crop through faecal egg counting, and (ideally) the regular weighing of youngstock. Finally, we’ll bring together the theory of cropping and reduced worm burdens in lambs and calves with proof of concept, farm level research. Hear about recent research by PGG Wrightson Seeds and PGG Wrightson Ltd that demonstrates that forage cropping is a viable option to reduce drench use on farm.   For more information about the forage crop vs. internal parasite (worm) research, read the research paper by  Westwood et al (2025) Liveweight gain and faecal nematode egg counts from Romney lambs grazing five contrasting forage treatments.  New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production Vol 85. 61-66 https://www.nzsap.org/proceedings/brief-communication-liveweight-gain-and-faecal-nematode-egg-counts-romney-lambs-grazing

Ongoing resistance challenges by sheep and cattle worms to drenches - what a headache for us!! We're now needing alternative, non-drench strategies to work alongside a more limited and targeted use of effective drenches to beat worms. Might forage crops help reduce the need for regular, repeated drenching of our lambs and calves? YES, potentially! Forage crops fit perfectly into the worm-battling, whole farm based 'FARMED' approach endorsed by Wormwise (F=Feed, A=Avoidance, R=Refugia, M=Monitor and ED=Effective Drenches). https://beeflambnz.com/knowledge-hub/PDF/wormwise-resource-book Forage crops work in at least two different ways to battle worms - based on the FARMED approach to worm control. Compared to pasture feeding, crops can deliver better ruminant nutrition (feed = F) and help animals avoid ingesting large numbers of infective L3 worm larvae (avoidance = A). Our latest podcast dives deep into detail around forage crops vs worms. Listen in to hear more about how and why forage crops might be the extra tool in the toolkit you’ve been looking for to help win the battle against worms.

Could bigger, faster-growing young ruminants be better equipped to handle incoming worm L3 larvae than smaller, slower growing animals of the same age? Yes, potentially! In our latest podcast, the second in our four part series all about nutrition and worms, we explore the reasons why fast growing heavier lambs and calves (expressed as a % of mature weight) are potentially more resilient in the face of incoming infective L3 worm larvae.   Practical farm-level strategies to grow young stock faster are discussed. The importance of improved maternal nutrition as a key driver for well grown young stock is covered. Better nutrition of ewes to improve placental development, together with better nutrition during late pregnancy increases lamb birthweight and improves lamb survival. Higher lamb birthweights mean better weaning weights, more prime lambs away off mum, better forward store lambs, and/or lambs finished off farm sooner = fewer drenches per lamb. Better, faster grown young stock will be one useful ‘tool in the toolkit’ to consider in our on-farm battle against worms. For more information about ruminant nutrition and worms, refer back to Episode 68. Subscribe so that you don't miss out on our next episode, number 70, all to do with nutrition, forage crops and internal parasites!

How might improving the nutrition of young sheep and cattle help with our battle against sheep and cattle internal parasites (worms) that’re resistant to common anthelmintics (drenches)?   Our latest podcast explores ways in which improved nutrition of lambs and calves might reduce our reliance on regular, repeated use of drenches to control worms. This is part 1 of a 4 part miniseries that will explore the role for improved nutrition as a “tool in the toolkit” to consider when you’re dealing with problems of worm resistance on farm. Part 1 covers how and why worm burdens reduce the performance of parasitised lambs and calves. Hear about the importance of dietary protein in helping young stock cope with worm burdens, and the role for high quality forages in helping to keep young stock well. Keep an eye (ear?) out for the next part of this four part series, subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!

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 for dietary protein. Fantastic as CP is for quickly and easily balancing diets on the basis of CP supply vs. CP demands of ruminants, some limitations of CP mean that sometimes protein nutrition needs a bit more detail than just CP. Metabolisable protein (MP) is introduced and defined in the podcast, and we explore the value of MP vs. CP in a farm-level, down to earth manner.  Will you ever look at CP in the same way ever again after listening to this podcast? Or will you be a “MP convert” from now on? Take a listen and make up your own mind about protein nutrition!

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 what determines a ruminant animals' demand for protein, and explains why protein requirements differ across animal classes with different physiological states (e.g. lactation, pregnancy). We break down the fundamentals of amino acids and their role in building protein, and introduce the concept of ‘crude protein’ (CP) as reported by feed testing labs, highlighting where CP values fit into practical feed planning.

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 different ways to wean calves - and no two systems will be the same! In this our latest Rumen Room Podcast, we explore some of the different approaches to weaning dairy calves (heifer replacements and dairy beef) off milk or CMR. The sudden stopping of milk feeding isn’t an option – being way too stressful on the calf! What’re some ways to reduce the stress on the calf associated with the weaning from liquid feeds? There should be something for everyone in this, our latest podcast – enjoy!

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 replacer (CMR). Our latest Rumen Room Podcast steps through the range of factors that collectively give us guidance to when a calf is ready to wean. There're many factors to think about, including the age and liveweight of the calf, daily liveweight gain, perhaps the wither height of the calf as well as rumen capacity and rumen function. Topped up of course by a healthy dose of your very own “gut feel” and intuition around if a calf is ready to wean or not.  Keep an eye (ear?) out for part two of this weaning-themed calf podcast - this will follow shortly, focusing on the different approaches that we can take to the weaning process itself.

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 investigate how frosts damage our plants during the freeze-thaw cycles, “messing” with a plants wellbeing. Thankfully – and given time for plants to adjust to the cold - Mother Nature steps in and helps a plant develop some degree of resilience to cold and frosty weather.  Despite this, frosts can damage pasture plants, causing a drop / fall in pasture mass (kgDM/ha) through the winter - as well as reducing the nutritive value of pasture during long cold winter months.  Rug up warm and tune in for this, our latest podcast!! If you’ve enjoyed this podcast, tune in to some of our earlier winter-themed podcasts: 4. Checklist for success – wintering sheep and cattle on winter crops and pastures 35. Rumen bloat (“frost bloat”) in cattle that eat frozen winter pastures and forage crops 51. Wild winter weather. Cattle outside, how can we help – Part One 52. Wild winter weather – Part Two. Farm-level practical concepts

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 nutritionally-based reasons that may contribute to animals appearing ‘ill thrifty’ when pasture quality shifts from standing, poor quality summer pasture to very high quality, lush autumn green feed. The potential for animal-health related challenges to contribute to autumn ill thrift issues is covered in this, our latest episode. First up, the role for internal parasites to cause autumn ill thrift issues is briefly discussed (but acknowledging the excellent resources for managing internal parasites can be found here with NZs very own Wormwise programme here https://beeflambnz.com/wormwise ). Other topics tackled in this podcast include the role for ‘facial eczema’ (sporidesmin toxicity), endophyte alkaloids found in ryegrasses that contain standard (but not novel) endophytes, growth of Fusarium spp. on autumn pasture thatch, and trace mineral deficiencies. Last but not least, we cover the potential for sub-clinical effects of high levels of nitrate in autumn pastures (and crops) to reduce feed intake and therefore animal productivity. This nitrate topic builds on a previous discussion of nitrate toxicity covered in one of our earlier Rumen Room podcasts, Episode 5. As always, animal health topics discussed in this podcast are of a general nature only, and information provided is not intended to replace the advice of your own veterinarian and/or qualified nutritionist.

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 rains. At last, we can expect improved amounts of pasture on hand and the silage wagon can be parked up for a while. Improved feed quality of autumn pasture is an added bonus, likely being much better than what stock have been grazing through the summer months. With the change of season from summer to autumn, pasture quality can shift dramatically from poor quality to very lush, leafy pasture. Why then, do sheep or cattle sometimes not do as well as they should, when they first meet this new, high quality autumn pasture? This is an issue often called (in a rather nondescript manner!) “Autumn Ill Thrift”.  This first of a two part podcast series will explore some of the nutritional reasons why grazing animals might not do as well as they should on this changeable autumn pasture. Not enough feed? Low dry matter percentage, low NDF/high NDFd, or the sudden lift in crude protein?  Or more likely, a combination of multiple nutritionally-based factors. Keep an ear out for part two of this two part podcast (episode 62) where we’ll continue this discussion around autumn ill thrift, by covering some of the animal health issues that might contribute to animals doing poorly during autumn months.

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, copper is needed by all ruminants - but too much copper places the wellbeing of ruminants at risk. Worst case, too much copper can prove fatal for our farm animals. Part four in our four-part copper themed podcast covers off risk factors for copper toxicity. Just why some ruminant species can be at greater risk of copper toxicity than others is explored. Reasons why some breeds of sheep may accumulate very high levels of liver copper and therefore be at greater risk of copper toxicity is covered. Acute and chronic forms of copper toxicity are compared, and what clinical signs you might see in ruminant species are explained.  **Note: The content within this episode is NOT intended to replace the nutritional advice specific to your animals as provided by your veterinarian or qualified ruminant nutritionist. If you suspect that your animals are showing signs of copper toxicity or may be at risk of copper toxicity, urgently contact your veterinarian **

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 this four-part copper themed miniseries moves the topic to defining the copper status of your farmed ruminants. The strengths and weaknesses of different testing methods for copper status are discussed. If a copper deficiency is very likely / has been defined, this episode covers different ways to provide additional copper to your ruminants. **Note: The content within this episode is NOT intended to replace the nutritional advice specific to your animals - as provided by your veterinarian or qualified ruminant nutritionist**

Dairy, sheep, beef, or deer farming? There’s something for everyone in our latest “bite sized” copper-themed miniseries podcast. Building on the introduction to copper nutrition in Episode 57, this podcast explores signs that ruminants might (or might not) show when copper deficient. Often we don’t see obvious signs of copper deficiency - this is called a “sub-clinical” deficiency. Which means animals simply don’t grow or perform well but don't show any classic signs of copper deficiency.  A "clinical" copper deficiency simply means that we see obvious signs in animals that are suggestive of a low copper status. Our latest podcast covers clinical signs that can be linked with copper deficiency. Covering all ruminant species, we explore a a range of clinical signs of copper deficiency. Topics discussed include a possible role for copper deficiency in shoulder fractures in young dairy heifers, scouring in young cattle, swayback in sheep and deer, and the classic changes in coat colour when black cattle become severely copper deficient.