Each different management practice causes many changes to beef production systems. Therefore, the key to success is to identify the ones that cause problems and the ones that better improve the production, sustainability, and profitability of the system. In this episode, Dr. Phillip Lancaster shares his knowledge and experience of doing association models with large data sets and predictive models with softwares. He provides his expert opinion about the pros and cons of those types of systems an...
Antibiotics are commonly used to prevent and treat diseases, but their overuse or misuse may lead to antibiotic resistance in cattle. Resistance to antibiotics occurs when bacteria evolve to survive exposure to drugs that are meant to kill the bacteria, and it can have severe consequences for animal and human health. Antibiotics must be used responsibly in the beef industry to protect the health of animals and humans. In this episode, Dr. Brian Lubbers discusses antibiotic use and resistance in ...
Cows can adapt to different environments if we allow them to experience some stress. However, is adaptation the key to profitability? A decrease in beef production costs is needed, and understanding the challenges and opportunities is an important goal. In this episode, Dr. Travis Mulliniks shares his thoughts about moving in the wrong direction regarding adaptability and genetic selection. He also shares his experience and knowledge on building beef cow's resiliency, how precision livestock cou...
Animal welfare has become a widely discussed topic in animal production, and of course that includes the beef industry. In order to answer the new questions raised by consumers about meat production, we have been doing an excellent job at developing new research and adapting our practices to offer our herds a better quality of life. So why not bring some of the brilliant minds in that area to chat with us? In this episode of the Beef Podcast Show, Dr. Miriam Martin describes her experience as th...
Mother nature can be tough on us – humans and livestock alike. This year, we were given proof of that once again, as a devastating drought led the US to emergency measures. Truth be said, there are limitations when it comes to mitigation strategies to minimize the impact of these climate conditions, but what can we objectively do to protect the cattle? And after the drought, how can we proceed? What strategies can we use to improve the outcomes and try to get the best out of the situation? In th...
What determines the success of a beef farm? There are a lot of answers to that question, including animal health, welfare, nutrition, reproduction, and overall performance, environment and facilities, costs and profits, and the people involved in all of these processes. So preparing students to make the most out of a farm can be challenging, but it’s crucial. In the very first episode of The Beef Podcast Show, Dr. Bob Larson shares some great (and inspirational!) thoughts on how to balance perfo...