The Dairy Podcast: Ignacio Artavia, Vitamin D & Dairy Cows

Ignacio Artavia, Global Marketing Manager for Ruminants at dsm-firmenich, explores the critical role of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25OHD3) in dairy cattle health. Unlike traditional vitamin D3, which requires metabolic conversion in the liver and kidneys before becoming bioavailable, 25OHD3 bypasses the first step, allowing for faster absorption and improved efficiency. Learn how this can enhance calcium metabolism, immune function, and milk production, helping dairy cows stay healthier and productive.

Meet the guest:

Ignacio Artavia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agronomic Engineering from EARTH University in Costa Rica and a Master’s in Animal Sciences with a specialization in Animal Nutrition from Wageningen University in the Netherlands. With a background in ruminant nutrition, he has worked extensively in dairy cattle health, focusing on mycotoxin risk management and vitamin supplementation. Currently serving as Global Marketing Manager for Ruminants at dsm-firmenich, Ignacio is dedicated to improving dairy farm sustainability and efficiency.

What you’ll learn:

(00:00) Highlight

(00:50) Introduction

(03:06) Guest background

(07:03) Why vitamin D matters

(10:35) Sunlight vs. dietary vitamin D

(18:40) Vitamin D conversion

(22:14) Milk production and immunity

(33:40) Final three questions