The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast - Dr. Douglas Reinemann: Milking Machines & Mastitis | Ep. 1
Jun 18, 2025Welcome to the first episode of The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast, your go-to source for practical, science-based talk about dairy cattle health. I’m Dr. Mark Thomas, your co-host, here to bring you straight-to-the-point conversations with top experts and real-world takeaways that connect research to everyday farm life. You’ll also be hearing from my fellow hosts, Dr. Luciano Caixeta and Dr. Craig McConnel, as we kick things off together.
In this episode, Dr. Douglas Reinemann from the University of Wisconsin–Madison breaks down how milking equipment influences udder health. He shares what really drives mastitis risk from a machine perspective: liner fit, overmilking, and teat-end condition. He also discusses vacuum fluctuations, why they’re outdated concerns with today’s cows and machines, and how veterinarians and producers can assess equipment and milking procedures in the field. Listen now on all major platforms!
What will you learn:
- Milking machine risks
- Overmilking consequences
- Liner fit importance
- Vacuum fluctuation myths
Meet the guest:
Dr. Douglas Reinemann is a Professor and Associate Dean for Outreach and Extension in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He holds an M.S. and B.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering from Cornell University. He has directed the UW Milking Research and Instruction Lab since 1990. His work focuses on machine milking biomechanics, mastitis risk, and cow-milking system interactions.
Connect with our guest on Social Media: LinkedIn