Casual Cattle Conversations

Maximize Grazing Resources with Virtual Fence

On today's show, Shaye Wanner interviews Saskatchewan ranchers John and Deanne about using Vence virtual fencing on their 400 cow-calf commercial operation near the Bronson Forest. They explain how virtual fencing improves utilization on rough, boggy forest lease country where conventional fencing is difficult and expensive, while saving labor, supporting planned/rotational grazing, and helping soil health by controlling stock density and drift with back fences. 

They describe added benefits like better monitoring for predation claims, reducing temporary electric fencing on rented land, and sorting groups (heifers, main herd, and open cows) using different virtual fences, achieving about a 95% success rate in a week. They discuss software tools like maps and heat maps, training protocols, cow-to-cow variation in responses, challenges with bull collar retention, collar loss rates improving with tighter fitting, and battery life lasting closer to six months than nine.

Learn more about what Vence could look like on your operation here: https://bit.ly/4kfWrCG

Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ 

• 01:01 Biggest Grazing Wins
• 02:42 Why Vence
• 03:30 Ranch and Region Overview
• 06:04 Secondary Benefits and Predators
• 08:24 Sorting Cows with Maps
• 13:31 Software Insights and Training
• 16:42 Heat Maps and Logging Changes
• 19:47 Bulls Learning Curve and Next Steps
• 24:10 Challenges Battery and Retention

Reducing Stress for Cattle

On this episode of the Casual Cattle Conversations Podcast, Shaye interviews first-generation Texas rancher Kim Jungkind about staying curious to reduce cattle stress and improve performance. Kim shares how observing cattle led her to test music and color preferences: her herd moved away from rock music but gathered closely to Bach, especially Yo-Yo Ma’s cello, which she now plays during feeding and stressful events like trailering or difficult births to calm the herd; she connects stress reduction to better weight gain by preventing metabolic energy loss.  

She also found cattle are drawn to yellow after placing art in a corral, and notes cattle see yellow best and blue well, inspiring practical changes like using yellow flags on sorting sticks. Kim recounts transitioning from nursing and academia to ranching after inheriting her father-in-law’s operation, receiving community support through a local church, and facing a major fire early on. She recommends helping new ranchers network and directs listeners to order her book, “Back to the Barn and Bach,” at www.insightskj.com. 

Links and Resources  

Learn more about Cargill here: https://bit.ly/4e1qygS   

Learn more about Vence here: https://bit.ly/4kfWrCG 

Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ 

• 00:48 Why Curiosity Matters 
• 01:15 Yellow Flags Reduce Stress 
• 02:14 Testing Music Preferences 
• 04:00 Stress Economics Weight Gain 
• 04:46 From Nurse To Rancher 
• 07:14 Finding Help Through Church 
• 09:32 Wildfire Wake Up Call 
• 10:57 Learning Cow Personalities 
• 12:45 Grandin And Behavior Research 
• 14:08 Playing Cello For Cows 
• 17:33 Art In The Corral Colors 
• 19:25 Key Takeaways Curiosity Community 
• 21:13 Where To Get The Book 

 

 

Tips for AI'ing Cattle

On this episode of Casual Cattle Conversations podcast, Shaye interviews Jaclyn Ketchum, who grew up on a registered Red Angus ranch using AI and embryo technologies, earned advanced degrees in reproductive physiology, and now runs her family’s custom AI business while expanding embryo work. Ketchum explains benefits of AI and fixed-time AI with synchronization, including access to superior genetics at lower cost than buying bulls, use of sexed semen, improved early conception linked to heavier calves, more uniform calf crops, and reduced bull-to-cow ratios with cleanup bulls.  

She discusses why some producers still heat-detect, heifer protocol considerations, and how weather can reduce estrus expression and conception. Key success factors include communication, strict protocol timing, facility readiness, proper product handling and dosing, semen storage and shipping, skilled technicians, and managing expectations before and after AI. 

Mentioned Episodes 

Lacey Quail on Improving Preg Rates: https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/casual-cattle-conversations-podcast-shownotes/lacey-quail 

Jennifer Koziol on Bull Fertility: https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/casual-cattle-conversations-podcast-shownotes/p4fffrydex27m1zkm1cj7bmrgpp56d  

Links and Resources 

Learn more about Cargill here: https://bit.ly/4e1qygS 

Learn more about Corteva here: RangeAndPasture.com/CattleConversations 

Learn more about CattleMax Here: https://bit.ly/4aG7K5q 

Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/  

  

00:00 Why AI Matters 

00:18 Meet Jaclyn Ketchum 

01:50 AI and Fixed Time Benefits 

07:53 Why Skip Synchronization 

11:17 Heifer Protocol Basics 

13:20 Planning a Successful AI Day 

22:07 Heat Detecting 21 Day AI 

24:35 Weather and Conception 

27:45 Resync and Backup Plans 

30:18 Sync for Natural Service 

32:37 Repro Efficiency Big Picture 

34:45 Final Takeaways and Wrap 

 

Cybersecurity: The Biggest Overlooked Threat to American Agriculture

On this episode of Casual Cattle Conversation, Shaye interviews Chris Sherman of Tech Support Farm about why farmers and ranchers are at risk for cybercrime and how to improve security. Sherman explains that cybercriminals target finance, information, and service disruption, and notes agriculture’s scale, liquidity, critical-infrastructure status, rapid tech adoption without “security by design,” a culture of trust, generational transition risks, and reliance on residential-grade hardware.

 

He cites examples, including a Minnesota cooperative ransomware attack during harvest and spoofed bank emails that led to lost money and a land deal, plus invoice fraud against ag businesses. Action steps include using a custom domain with commercial email and security tools, stronger 12+ character passwords and multifactor authentication, reviewing social media/device access, locking phones/computers, spotting phishing via headers, links, timestamps, and PDFs, segmenting farm Wi‑Fi, and using tools like antivirus, endpoint monitoring, and mobile device management. Wrapping up, Chris also recommends Tech Support Farm’s “Fence Check” assessment. Learn more about what Chris does at https://techsupport.farm/services/. 

 

Links and Resources

Learn more about Cargill here: https://bit.ly/4e1qygS

Learn more about Corteva here: RangeAndPasture.com/CattleConversations

Learn more about CattleScales Here: https://bit.ly/4dqqTtr

Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ 

 

00:00 Cyber Risk Warning

01:34 Why Ag Is Targeted

04:08 Five Ag Cyber Gaps

08:41 Spyware Routers Cameras

09:55 Chris Background Mission

13:07 Email Domains Encryption

16:37 Real World Attack Stories

20:31 Action Steps Passwords MFA

27:52 Phishing Emails Links

30:05 Security Tools MDM WiFi

35:48 Fence Check Takeaway

 

Stop Haying to Improve Your Bottom Line

Have you ever considered that haying might not fit your operation anymore? This week on the podcast, Carson Roberts, a University of Missouri state forage specialist with a background in alfalfa production and cattle, discusses why producers must treat haying as a separate business enterprise and know the true cost of production to evaluate profitability.

 

He outlines using regional hay budget sheets and accounting for income, seed, fertilizer, herbicides, custom hire, labor (including the producer’s time), fuel, repairs, overhead, land charge, and especially machinery ownership and opportunity interest. Carson argues hay often becomes unprofitable due to rising and excess equipment costs, over-equipped farms, and mismatched cattle-to-equipment inflation, suggesting some operations may profit more by selling hay equipment, converting hay acres to pasture, and buying tested hay while building reliable supplier relationships. He highlights cheaper feed alternatives such as grazing/stockpiled fescue, corn stalks, and grazing milo, and notes that aligning calving date with spring forage can reduce winter hay needs and costs.

 

Links and Resources

Learn more about Cargill here: https://bit.ly/4e1qygS

Learn more about Corteva here: RangeAndPasture.com/CattleConversations

Learn more about CattleScales Here: https://bit.ly/4dqqTtr

 

Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/

 

 

02:56 From Agronomy to Forages

05:00 Why Know Hay Costs

06:52 Building a Hay Budget

11:31 Equipment Overload Trap

15:50 When Hay Doesn’t Pencil

19:45 Scale and Reality Check

22:10 Buying Hay Strategically

26:43 Grazing Beats Haying

29:32 Hay Testing and Sourcing

33:11 Winter Grazing Options

36:35 Calving Date and Profit

39:40 Weaning Weights Myth

 

The Value of Weighing Cattle

Why is weighing your cattle important? In this episode of the Casual Cattle Conversations, Shaye interviews Dawn Anderson from the CattleScales team about why weighing cattle is valuable and how different scale options fit different ranch setups. Dawn shares her family’s ranch background and explains how their weighing systems evolved from beam and hanging scales to load bars and chute-side scale heads.

 

They discuss how accurate weights improve confidence in breeding and culling decisions, reveal herd consistency, guide feed testing and ration changes, track average daily gain, help market seedstock and finished cattle, and ensure proper medication dosing. Dawn emphasizes that scales are an investment, there are portable and stationary options, and ranchers can call to match a system to their goals. Learn more at https://bit.ly/4dqqTtr. 

 

Links and Resources

Learn more about Cargill here: https://bit.ly/4e1qygS

 

Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ 

 

00:00 Why Weigh Cattle

02:01 Meet Dawn Anderson

05:16 Scale Evolution on the Ranch

08:56 Better Data Better Decisions

12:56 Backgrounding and ADG Tracking

14:22 Cow Performance and Culling

17:18 Accurate Treatment Dosage

20:39 Feeding and Pen Decisions

22:24 Marketing With Confidence

26:33 Choosing the Right Scale

 

Fly Control Strategies That Protect Your Bottom Line

Today, Shaye welcomes Jonathan Wells of the Cargill Animal Nutrition Team to discuss fly control strategies for pasture cattle, focusing on horn flies’ economic impact and how to choose tools for an operation. Wells says horn flies drive about $2 billion in annual losses and can spread diseases like mastitis and anaplasmosis while reducing performance through increased heart rate, higher water intake and urinary nutrient loss, reduced nitrogen retention, and about a 15% drop in average daily gain.  

They compare adult-killing topicals and ear tags (and resistance concerns) with feed-through IGRs like Altosid (methoprene) that break the fly life cycle in manure. Wells explains the Altosid XRB extended-release bolus, given once at season start and releasing IGR for about 195 days, dosing guidance for cows and calves, application tips, compatibility with other controls, and visual signs of adequate control. 

Learn more about Cargill here: https://bit.ly/4e1qygS 

01:33 Why Fly Control Matters 

03:12 Hidden Performance Losses 

05:04 Fly Control Options 

07:24 Breaking The Fly Cycle 

08:24 Altosid XRB Bolus 

10:57 Bolus Release Science 

12:27 Dosing Cows And Calves 

14:08 Safety And Application Tips 

18:17 How To Judge Control 

20:36 Producer Field Experience 

 

Cut Feed Costs by Improving Pastures: Weed Control and Soil Fertility Strategies

On this episode of the Casual Cattle Conversations Podcast, Shaye interviews Corteva forage specialist, Sam Ingram, about prioritizing pastures and hay land to maximize forage production and improve cattle margins by lowering feed costs through grazing. Ingram explains how fertility, weed control, and grazing rest increase tonnage, forage quality, and carrying capacity, emphasizing soil testing and sticking to a consistent testing time to guide nutrient plans.  

He discusses the value of legumes like white clover and annual lespedeza for quality and nitrogen fixation and introduces Corteva’s NovaGraz, a non-residual broadleaf herbicide that controls weeds such as biennial thistles, ironweed, buttercup, plantains, wild carrot family species, poison hemlock, and parsnip while maintaining key legumes, offering flexibility for hay sales and crop rotation. He also describes UltiGraz, which combines herbicide and fertilizer in one pass for efficiency. The conversation addresses drought and wildfire impacts, stressing post-disaster planning, avoiding grazing too soon, and using sacrifice areas and stored feed to protect forage cover. Learn more about Corteva Pasture Products here: https://www.corteva.com/us/products-and-solutions/pasture-management/product-finder.html 

Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ 

Other Links and Resources 

Learn more about CattleScales here: https://bit.ly/4dqqTtr

Learn more about Cargill here: https://bit.ly/4e1qygS

Learn more about Performance Livestock Analytics here: https://bit.ly/47PxY3W 

• 00:00 Pasture Profit Boost 
• 00:16 Meet The Forage Expert 
• 01:10 Why Prioritize Pastures 
• 03:56 Fertility And Grazing Basics 
• 04:49 Weed Control Matters 
• 06:26 Legumes And NovaGraz 
• 09:02 Target Weeds And Application 
• 11:36 Hay Fields And Residue 
• 15:16 Soil Testing Fertility Plan 
• 18:08 Weed Control Plus Fertility 
• 21:19 Drought And Recovery Planning 
• 25:24 Key Takeaways And Wrap Up 

Family, Technology, and Entrepreneurship in the Beef Industry

In this episode of the Casual Cattle Conversations Podcast, Shaye interviews Andrew Bredeweg about his multi-generational family farm in southwestern Indiana and why supporting family agriculture businesses helps rural communities thrive. Andrew explains how their operation evolved from a sustenance farm and dairy into a cattle-focused business that also farms under 500 acres, and how his kids are gaining ownership and business experience through feeding cattle and selling beef locally.  

He discusses their approach to adopting practical technology—highlighting rotational grazing, TMR feeding, and the Performance Beef app to improve feeding accuracy, billing, and decision-making for custom-fed cattle. Andrew also shares his role managing a co-op feeder calf auction barn with seasonal sales and describes a local high school internship program that places juniors and seniors with area businesses to keep young talent in the community. 

Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ 

00:00 Andrew’s Family Farm Story 
01:10 Why Support Family Ag 
02:32 Life in Southern Indiana 
03:31 Generations on the Farm 
05:14 Raising the Next Gen 
06:10 Learning Business Leadership 
08:27 Adopting Farm Technology 
12:35 Performance Beef App 
15:47 Managing the Sale Barn 
19:56 Internships for Rural Youth 
23:30 Community Keeps Talent Home 
25:18 Final Takeaways 
26:19 Wrap Up and Thanks 

 

Market Cattle the Modern Way

This week, Shaye talks with Jacob from AtTheYards about the past, present, and future of cattle marketing and why marketing options haven’t modernized as much as other areas like animal health.

 

Jacob notes that about 65% of feeder cattle still trade through sale barns and contrasts that with newer models like Superior Livestock’s video auctions, arguing producers need faster, broader access to buyers to manage market volatility and reduce commission costs that can materially impact the bottom line.

 

He explains that AtTheYards is a nationwide marketplace where buyers set customizable templates and receive notifications when listings match their criteria, creating targeted exposure for sellers. The platform supports split loads, offers a free first consignment, then charges $5 per head via credit card, posts cattle daily with text bid notifications, and is compliant with Packers and Stockyards bonding.

 

Learn more about AtTheYards here: https://bit.ly/400T7mF

 

Additional Links & Resources

• Learn about CattleMax here: https://bit.ly/4aG7K5q
• Learn about Performance Livestock Analytics here: https://bit.ly/47PxY3W

Chapters

• 00:00 Modern Cattle Marketing
• 00:34 Meet Jacob AtTheYards
• 00:51 Why Marketing Needs Change
• 01:52 How Marketing Evolved
• 03:10 Jacob’s Industry Background
• 03:41 Bottom Line in Volatile Markets
• 06:04 Targeted Ads for Cattle
• 07:38 How AtTheYards Works
• 09:40 Buyer Efficiency and Templates
• 10:40 Split Loads for Small Herds
• 11:44 Risks Fees and Compliance
• 15:45 Speed Posting and Notifications
• 17:20 Selling Your Own Cattle
• 19:03 Final Takeaway and Wrap Up