The Research on Calf Diarrhea | Dr. David Renaud by ACER Consulting | Understand. Inform. Influence.

Hi everyone, welcome to a new short podcast series we’re calling, Dairy Digest - the Science and Practice Behind Dairy Cattle Health and Welfare. This series is brought to you by Alberta Milk and a series of industry partners, who are keen on helping showcase dairy farming stories, industry updates, and the latest science, advice and perspectives on different health and welfare topics relevant to Canadian dairy farmers.

My name is Steven Roche and I’ll be the host of this series. I’m an epidemiologist and own an agricultural research consulting company called ACER Consulting. I have a passion for working with dairy producers and their advisors to improve dairy cattle health and welfare.

You’ll find our first series of episodes features perspectives from farmers, veterinarians, and researchers on two key topics: calf health (managing diarrhea specifically), and pain management. Our goal is to provide farmers and their advisors with useful information that can be applied back home on the farm.

Our next discussion takes place with Dr. Dave Renaud, a veterinary epidemiologist and assistant professor in the Department of Population Medicine, at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph. Dr. Renaud’s research focuses on the health and welfare of dairy calves. I sat down with him to discuss his perspectives and the science behind the causes of calf diarrhea, and strategies and best practices to prevent, control, and treat cases of diarrhea.