Dairy Digressions

About Dairy Digressions

Welcome to Dairy Digressions, the podcast from the American Dairy Science Association. Every other month, host Matt Lucy, PhD, explores the latest developments, fascinating discoveries, and breaking trends in the world of dairy science. From pioneering technologies to innovative research, we cover a range of topics related to the dairy industry and go behind the scenes of the top labs and minds in dairy research. Listen in as we dig deep into the science of dairy and discover what’s new and exciting in this ever-evolving field.

Publisher

ADSA

Category

science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

22 Mar 2023

Latest episode

30 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

42 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   30 Sept 2026

   Rethinking Statistics and P-Values in Dairy Science Publishing, Plus Dairying in New Zealand with Richard Laven, BVSc, PhD

   Are we really looking at what our data might be saying, or are we all overrelying on a blanket approach to p-values? This is the discussion that inspired the paper at the center of our latest episode. Richard Laven, BVSc, PhD (https://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/expertise/profile.cfm?stref=510930), professor of production animal health and welfare at Massey University’s Tāwharau Ora School of Veterinary Science in New Zealand, joins host Matt Lucy to talk about his JDS Communications article, “Common misinterpretations of statistical significance and P-values in dairy research,” (https://doi.org/10.3168/jdsc.2025-0835) coauthored with D. AaronYang, a statistician and epidemiologist with Nanjing Agricultural University. The Editor’s Choice article came out in late 2025 and ranked among the journal’s most downloaded papers of the year. Richard and Matt start by discussing Richard’s path to veterinary science and some of the unique features of New Zealand dairying. They then work through the three issues the paper addresses: comparing results by their significance levels, treating a nonsignificant result as proof of no effect, and calling results near a significance thresholda trend or tendency. Drawing on real examples from the peer reviewed literature, including a fertility study that reported no effect despite a 7% difference in pregnancy rate, Richard makes the case for confidence intervals, effect sizes,and practical importance as a clearer way to show what the data can and can’t rule out. While it may take longer, he recommends that all of his students actually look at the effect their work found, since that is the interesting thing. They also dig into the paper’s calls to action toward four reporting standards for journals and reviewers, and why taking the extra time with your statistics is an investment in good scientific practice and results in better information for you and your readers. Episode Forty Show Notes Connect with Richard on LinkedIn (https://nz.linkedin.com/in/richard-laven-694a0521) The Journal of Dairy Science and JDS Communications are society-based journals committed to supporting ourauthors and making the path to publication as easy as possible. Explore our growing library of publishing resources, from webinars (https://www.adsa.org/Meetings/Webinars) to a guide to designing and creating graphical abstracts (https://www.adsa.org/Publications/JDS-Communications/Savvy-Science-Styling), and easy-to-use article templates for JDS (https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/pb-assets/Health%20Advance/journals/jods/JDS-Research-Article-Template-2026-1769166796097.docx) andJDSC (https://www.adsa.org/Portals/0/SiteContent/Docs/Publications/JDSC/JDSC-Article-Template_2025.docx?ver=HXmrAOHHV0zOGNq5RUkOjQ%3d%3d). ADSA cares about keeping you connected to the experts andlatest science across the entire dairy spectrum. Ensure you never miss a breaking finding by subscribing to ADSA’s newest newsletter, JDS | JDSC Selects (https://www.adsa.org/Publications/JDS-JDSC-Selects). Get a personalized delivery of the most relevant articles from both the Journal of Dairy Science and JDS Communications directly to your inboxin one streamlined, monthly email. Explore the papers and resources discussed in theepisode: Common misinterpretations of statistical significance and P-values in dairy research (https://doi.org/10.3168/jdsc.2025-0835), JDS Communications (2025) The ASA Statement on p-Values: Context, Process, and Purpose (https://amstat.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00031305.2016.1154108), The American Statistician (2016)

2. 

   11 Aug 2026

   In Vitro Breeding, Genetics of Feed Efficiency, and Transitioning from Academia to Industry with Pablo Ross, DVM, PhD

   Members of the ADSA community represent the full spectrum of careers in dairy science, from academia to industry, dairy production to dairy foods, and everything in between. Join us for an episode that takes us into the vast options and impacts of dairy science work as host Matt Lucy is joined by Pablo Ross, DVM, PhD (https://www.linkedin.com/in/pablo-ross-116957339), chief scientific officer at STgenetics and former professor of animal science at the University of California, Davis. Pablo, the son of a veterinarian, grew up in a small town in Argentina and found his career path through swine pathology research, which showed him what a life in science could actually offer. A conversation at a conference with Jose Cibelli, DVM, PhD, then led him to academia, where he spent years working on animal reproduction with an emphasis on gametes, early embryos, and embryonic stem cells. He explains his contributions to the explosion of efficiencies in animal genetic improvement, including the science of induced pluripotency—how an oocyte erases a cell’s epigenetic memory, sending a differentiated cell backward to an embryonic state and then forward into whatever tissue is needed. He and Matt trace that work to in vitro breeding, which could shorten the generational interval by keeping the whole cycle in a dish, generating embryos, isolating stem cells from the strongest candidates, and starting again without waiting on an animal to grow up. Along the way, he explains how he came to transition from research and teaching to his industry role at STGenetics. At STgenetics, Pablo works on how genetic improvements can help farmers and producers be more efficient and more profitable, highlighting his work on ECO$ (https://www.stgen.com/article/article.aspx?code=9645&language=dutch&category=104) and EcoFeed (https://stgen.com/article/article.aspx?code=4247&language=english&pego=consulta), selection indexes designed to help producers achieve these goals. He also makes the case for industry as a place to do serious science, approaching genetics, as he puts it, through the mind of a physiologist. Episode Thirty-Nine Show Notes Connect with Pablo on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/pablo-ross-116957339) ADSA is committed to creating spaces for the open exchange of science and information between all members of the dairy science community. The Discover Conference series is the perfect place for interdisciplinary conversations between researchers, academics, students, and industry professionals in a setting small enough to ask real questions and get real answers. Explore the program for the forthcoming Dairy and the Environment: Challenges and Opportunities (https://www.adsa.org/Meetings/49th-Discover-Conference) session and register to join the event running from August 31 through September 3, 2026, at Eaglewood Resort & Spa in Itasca, Illinois. Do you have emerging data you’re hoping to publish? Save on your article costs via the ADSA Loyalty Rewards Program (https://www.adsa.org/Publications/Journal-Rewards) for the Journal of Dairy Science (https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/) and JDS Communications (https://www.jdscommun.org/) when you join the ADSA member community! Explore the papers and resources discussed in theepisode: Phase I/II trial of iPS-cell-derived dopaminergic cells for Parkinson’s disease (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08700-0), Nature (2025) Watch Pablo’s interview with the University of California, Davis, Animal Science Advising Center (https://www.facebook.com/reel/978878785655005) Improving feed efficiency with the EcoFeed index reduces greenhouse gas emissions in dairy cattle (https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2025-27149), Journal of Dairy Science (2026) Effect of dose of fresh sex-sorted semen on fertility of lactating dairy cows (https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2026-28487), Journal of Dairy Science (2026)

3. 

   21 Jul 2026

   The Science and the Stakes of Raw Milk Consumption with Pam Ruegg, Nicole Martin, and Daniel Griffin

   If you study or work in dairy, chances are high that you’ve recently fielded a question or seen a headline about raw milk. Join us for an episode of the pod where host Matt Lucy brings together three experts from across the cow-to-consumer spectrum to work through the science of unpasteurized milk and cheese and to help us all be better communicators and stewards of the science of raw milk and risk. We’re thrilled to have two beloved return guests: Pam Ruegg, DVM, MPMV (https://cvm.msu.edu/directory/ruegg), ADSA fellow and David J. Ellis Chair in Antimicrobial Resistance and Large Animal Clinical Sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University, and Nicole Martin, PhD (https://cals.cornell.edu/people/nicole-martin), assistant research professor in dairy foods microbiology and director of the Milk Quality Improvement Program and Cornell Dairy Foods Center in the Department of Food Science at Cornell University. The trio is joined by special new guest Daniel Griffin, MD, PhD (https://asm.org/biographies/daniel-griffin), instructor in clinical medicine, associate research scientist in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics at Columbia University, and host of two podcasts, This Week in Virology (https://www.microbe.tv/twiv/) and This Week in Parasitism (https://www.microbe.tv/twip/), from the American Society for Microbiology. Together, the group explores why raw milk is seeing a sudden resurgence in public interest and examines the risks from what’s happening on the farm to what happens in the human body. Despite massive advancements in milk quality, pathogens like Campylobacter, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Listeria can still find their way into bulk tanks. Because spot testing can’t guarantee 100% safety, Nicole explains how pasteurization steps in to eliminate these risks. Daniel then adds the human health perspective, outlining what these infections look like in patients and why certain groups face much higher stakes. The conversation covers everything from why even dairy calves drink pasteurized milk to how we can communicate clearly when public perception clashes with established science. Finally, the group connects on a shared truth: Many consumers choose raw milk out of a desire to connect with their food and local farmers. Fortunately, safety doesn’t require sacrifice—countless small, local producers offer exceptional, safe, and pasteurized dairy products that you can trust. Episode Thirty-Eight Show Notes Learn more about each of our guests and connect with them on social media: Pam Ruegg, DVM, MPMV (https://cvm.msu.edu/directory/ruegg) (LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-ruegg-87458b166)) Nicole Martin, PhD (https://cals.cornell.edu/people/nicole-martin) (LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-martin-08027a52)) Daniel Griffin, MD, PhD, (https://asm.org/biographies/daniel-griffin) (X/Twitter (https://x.com/DanielGriffinMD?lang=en)) and explore his work on Parasites Without Borders (https://parasiteswithoutborders.com/) ADSA cares about keeping you connected to the experts andlatest science across the entire dairy spectrum. Ensure you never miss a breaking finding by subscribing to ADSA’s newest newsletter, JDS | JDSC Selects (https://www.adsa.org/Publications/JDS-JDSC-Selects). Get a personalized delivery of the most relevant articles from both the Journal of Dairy Science and JDS Communications directly to your inbox in one streamlined, monthly email. Do you have emerging data you’re hoping to publish? Save onyour article costs via the ADSA Loyalty Rewards Program (https://www.adsa.org/Publications/Journal-Rewards) for the Journal of Dairy Science (https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/) and JDS Communications (https://www.jdscommun.org/) when you join the ADSA member community! Explore the papers and resources discussed in theepisode: Perspective: Understanding raw milk quality and processing—Optimizing the dairy value chain from production through processing (https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2026-28263), Journal of Dairy Science (2026) The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guide to raw milk (https://www.cdc.gov/food-safety/foods/raw-milk.html) Clinical Update with Dr. Daniel Griffin (https://www.microbe.tv/twiv/twiv-1308/), This Week in Virology podcast, episode 1308 Ask the expert: The facts about raw milk (https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2026/02/raw-milk-facts), Michigan State University Today (2026) Why Pasteurize? The Dangers of Consuming Raw Milk (https://cals.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/2023-04/raw-milk-dangers-v1.pdf), Cornell University (2023)

Who has been a guest on Dairy Digressions

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Grace Lewis
• David Everett
• David Yáñez-Ruiz
• André Bannink

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

19,208

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

19 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 71 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

82

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

77

Contact Dairy Digressions

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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