The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast - Dr. Stephen LeBlanc: Longevity Versus Performance | Ep. 35

In this episode of The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Stephen LeBlanc, Professor and Director of Dairy at the University of Guelph, explains why longevity should not be used as a simple indicator of dairy cow health, welfare, or profitability. He challenges common assumptions around culling rates, survivorship bias, and replacement economics, emphasizing data-driven, cow-specific decisions. Listen now on all major platforms!

What you’ll learn: 

• Longevity misconceptions
• Culling decision logic
• Survivorship bias
• Replacement economics
• Performance-based retention

Meet the guest:

Dr. Stephen LeBlanc is a Professor at the University of Guelph and Director of Dairy at the Centre for Dairy Research and Innovation. His research focuses on dairy cattle reproduction, transition cow health, and metabolic disease prevention, integrating epidemiology, physiology, nutrition, and management. His work supports applied, data-driven strategies that improve dairy health, productivity, and welfare. 

Learn from Dr. Stephen LeBlanc on The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.
Connect with our guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

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