Dairy Doc

Dairy Doc Veterinarian - dairy cows 🐄 Mom - 2 kiddos đŸ„° Be kind to cows đŸ€ DairyKind
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Today I had a student ride along who reminded me how powerful early curiosity and intentionality can be.She’s just finis...
25/06/2025

Today I had a student ride along who reminded me how powerful early curiosity and intentionality can be.

She’s just finishing high school and already thinking ahead, not only about becoming a wildlife vet, but about curating a broad range of experiences to get there. That’s how you do it: by exploring the field, asking questions, and learning what you love (and what you don’t) before you’re deep in the trenches. I didn’t figure this out until I started shadowing vets in college. My career now is nothing I even imagined when I was her age. I wish I had started earlier!

I actually did a YouTube video recently about what makes a great ride-along, and this student checked every box:
✅ Showed up on time
✅ Brought thoughtful questions
✅ Stayed engaged the entire time
✅ Wanted to learn, not just observe

If you’re mentoring or shadowing, or thinking about it, I hope this encourages you. These early steps matter. They build the foundation for a career that fits you.

Tell me about a great student you’ve worked with, or drop your advice for students in the comments! 👇

Check out my video here: https://youtu.be/bT2_ejUb-fE?feature=shared

Grateful for the opportunity to get up on stage with fellow veterinarians at the Precision Dairy Conference, discussing ...
20/06/2025

Grateful for the opportunity to get up on stage with fellow veterinarians at the Precision Dairy Conference, discussing how we as vets can help bridge the gap between technology, farm teams, and animal welfare.

We explored what veterinarians are really looking for when it comes to on-farm tech, and I focused on how better training and documentation can unlock the full potential of the tools we already have.

Key takeaway: It’s not just about flashy tools like drones and AI (though they’re exciting!). True progress means using technology in every aspect of the dairy, from employee management to animal care. We can be just as innovative with our training and communication strategies as we are with our sensors and software.

Thanks to Precision Dairy for bringing us into this important conversation and to everyone working to strengthen the connection between farms, veterinarians, industry, and ultimately, the consumer.

Recently I was featured in a FarmHER Dairy Month Spotlight! In this piece, I share what it means to be a dairy veterinar...
17/06/2025

Recently I was featured in a FarmHER Dairy Month Spotlight!

In this piece, I share what it means to be a dairy veterinarian, why I’m passionate about the people and animals in this industry, and even a few fun facts—like my love of hot chocolate and my go-to overboots for farm visits.

It’s a joy to be part of a community that celebrates the hard work and heart behind dairy. Huge thanks to for highlighting the women who help keep the industry moving forward.

Read the full article here: https://farmher.com/dairy-month-spotlight-meet-dr-michelle-schack-a-k-a-the-dairy-doc

Yesterday, I spoke with a group of teachers learning about agriculture—and it reminded me just how much misinformation i...
12/06/2025

Yesterday, I spoke with a group of teachers learning about agriculture—and it reminded me just how much misinformation is out there.

After a recent post, people shared what they were taught in school:
đŸ„› “Skim milk is just rinse water.”
đŸ„› “Chocolate milk is rotten milk with flavoring.”
đŸ„› “Milk causes the common cold.”
đŸ„› “Cows are killed to make milk.”
đŸ„› “Dairy is ruining the planet.”

These weren’t from activists—these were classroom lessons.

If we in ag don’t show up to tell the truth, someone else will.
Often someone who’s never stepped foot on a farm.

We don’t need to be perfect. But we do need to be present.
Because these conversations matter. And the next generation is listening.

Want me to speak to your group? Reach out:
🌐 www.michelleschack.com

I had the chance to speak with a group of amazing teachers this week as part of a summer program focused on learning abo...
09/06/2025

I had the chance to speak with a group of amazing teachers this week as part of a summer program focused on learning about agriculture.

These educators are spending their break diving into where our food comes from—asking great questions, exploring the science behind farming, and discovering how to bring those lessons back to their classrooms.

As a dairy veterinarian, I love connecting with people outside of ag and helping bridge the gap between farms and families. When we equip teachers with real, hands-on agricultural knowledge, they carry it forward to the next generation. That’s powerful.

Thanks for letting me be a part of the conversation!

There’s a lot of noise out there about dairy—but not always a lot of truth.That’s why I partnered with Dr. Leah Dorman t...
05/06/2025

There’s a lot of noise out there about dairy—but not always a lot of truth.

That’s why I partnered with Dr. Leah Dorman to help clear things up in a new blog:
“Dairy Demystified: 3 Things This Veterinarian Wants You to Know”
👇
https://exploreanimalhealth.org/dairy-demystified-3-things-this-veterinarian-wants-you-to-know/

In this piece, I share what I see every day as a dairy vet: the real story behind cow care, milk safety, and modern farming. Because when people are informed, they can feel confident in the food they choose.

Thanks to Leah for opening the door to honest conversations about agriculture. Let’s keep building bridges between farms and families.

I’m excited to share that I’ll be speaking at the Precision Dairy Conference on June 17-18, 2025! I’ll be joining a vete...
30/05/2025

I’m excited to share that I’ll be speaking at the Precision Dairy Conference on June 17-18, 2025! I’ll be joining a veterinarian panel to talk about the veterinarian’s role in on-farm training. This is a crucial piece of the puzzle when it comes to making precision dairy tech truly work on the ground.

This year’s theme is: “On-Farm Dairy Technology: How Far Have We Come and How Far Will We Go?”

I’m proud to be speaking alongside an incredible lineup of experts, industry leaders, and researchers. From real-world Q&A sessions to meaningful networking, this event is a neutral space where all kinds of technologies and perspectives come together.

If you’re passionate about dairy, technology, or improving farm outcomes—mark your calendar and come say hi!

See you June 17-18, 2025 at the Precision Dairy Conference!

30/05/2025

I had to show you this extreme case of a freemartin! It’s a wild example of how twinning can affect development.

When a female calf is born as a twin to a male, she may become a freemartin, essentially a chimera, where the male's chromosomes and hormones can influence the female’s development. That can mean partial or full masculinization of her reproductive organs.

Definitely one of the most fascinating parts of large animal vet work!

10 years ago, I walked across the stage and became a veterinarian. I had no idea what the next decade would hold, but I ...
25/05/2025

10 years ago, I walked across the stage and became a veterinarian. I had no idea what the next decade would hold, but I knew I wanted to make a difference.

I didn’t grow up on a farm. I wasn’t raised in agriculture. But I found my purpose in dairy medicine, working with cows and the people who care for them. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of:

🐄Being a partner in a great dairy practice
🐄Co-founding DairyKind
🐄Creating DairyDoc to connect consumers with the real stories behind their food
🐄Speaking and advocating for animal and human well-being
🐄 Helping farms become safer, more sustainable, and more compassionate places
🐄And learning something new every single day

The past 10 years have been full of challenges, changes, and growth. I’ve learned that compassion is just as important as clinical skill, that sustainability starts with people, and that you can do a lot of good when you lead with your heart.

To every farmer, vet, client, mentor, and colleague who has been part of my journey: thank you. I wouldn’t be here without you.

Here’s to the next 10!

Spoke at the Herd That! Nutrition Conference this week, and had a blast!I shared stories from the field (literally), tal...
10/05/2025

Spoke at the Herd That! Nutrition Conference this week, and had a blast!

I shared stories from the field (literally), talked through what cows really eat (including byproducts from beer), and challenged a few common fears around dairy.

But mostly, I tried to make the case that milk isn’t just food—it’s the result of thousands of daily choices about animal care, sustainability, and people. And the people in that room? They’re helping others make food choices every day.

So yeah, milk matters. And how we talk about it does too.

I was interviewed by  to share my journey into food animal medicine — from growing up in the suburbs to working as a dai...
08/05/2025

I was interviewed by to share my journey into food animal medicine — from growing up in the suburbs to working as a dairy veterinarian.

I never imagined I’d end up in agriculture, but UC Davis opened that door for me. Now, I help farmers, workers, and cows thrive through compassion and connection.

Grateful for the mentors, the muddy boots, and the mission that drives me every day. Watch the full video at the link in bio!

Davis

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