Casual Cattle Conversations

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

How to Make Record-Keeping Easy for Ranch Families

Today on the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast, Shaye sits down with Wyoming rancher and CattleMax team member Jacqueline Lewis to talk about why herd records matter, especially for family and multi-generational ranches.

Jacqueline explains how simple, goal-driven recordkeeping helps ranchers make better decisions, improve herd performance, and support long-term ranch success. She also shares practical advice for getting started, overcoming common challenges like time and technology concerns, and choosing a system that works, whether that’s paper, spreadsheets, or software.

Listeners will walk away with simple steps to begin organizing herd records and using data to strengthen their operation. Learn more about CattleMax here: https://bit.ly/4aG7K5q 

Links & Resources
Learn more about Red Angus here: https://bit.ly/4iaU6bb 
Learn more about At the Yards here: https://bit.ly/400T7mF 

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

00:24 Meet Jacqueline Lewis
01:43 Goals Drive Data
03:18 Generational Ranch Benefits
05:19 What Organized Looks Like
07:11 Common Recordkeeping Challenges
10:48 Simple Starting Steps
12:23 Choosing Your Method
15:02 Team Approach on Family Ranches
15:54 Switching Platforms Without Overwhelm
19:19 Beyond Cattle Inventory
20:21 Key Takeaways and Next Steps
21:41 CattleMax Resources and Wrap-Up

The Profit Check Every Cattle Producer Should Do

In this solo episode of the Casual Cattle Conversations Podcast, Shaye checks in a little over two months into 2026 and shares a simple ranch audit process to avoid setting profit goals blindly and to create benchmarks for improvement. She explains that audits help ranchers understand where they stand before making changes. The three-step audit includes: (1) defining what success means for your ranch (unique to each operation), (2) ranking confidence from 1–10 in key areas such as finances/bookkeeping, reproduction, genetics, nutrition, grazing/resource management, and health, and (3) assigning measurable metrics to each area (e.g., break-even, pregnancy rate, calving interval, death loss, treatment costs, costs vs returns). She encourages prioritizing improvements that align with the ranch’s definition of success and references her course Profit Foundations for Ranchers for a deeper process.

 

Links & Resources

Learn more about Performance Livestock Analytics here: https://bit.ly/47PxY3W 
Learn more about Red Angus here: https://bit.ly/4iaU6bb 
Learn more about At the Yards here: https://bit.ly/400T7mF 
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 2026 Ranch Check In
• 00:20 Podcast Welcome Back
• 01:38 Why Ranch Audits Matter
• 02:12 Profit Mistakes To Avoid
• 03:51 Three Step Audit Plan
• 04:38 Define Ranch Success
• 06:36 Rank Confidence Areas
• 08:24 Add Metrics Benchmarks
• 09:36 Example Benchmarks
• 12:05 Prioritize Improvements
• 12:50 Course And Final Wrap

Improving Ranch Leadership

In this episode of the Casual Cattle Conversations, Shaye interviews Tom and Terryn Drieling about ranch leadership on their Nebraska Sandhills ranch, where Tom has served as a ranch manager for about 10 years within a corporate ranch structure. They discuss how leadership sets workplace tone and impacts culture, profitability, efficiency, safety, and retention, emphasizing transparency, clear communication, attitude, and providing employees tools, autonomy, and support.

Tom shares his shift from a default of anger toward more unbiased tone and open forums for crew input, along with accountability and continuing education requirements. Terryn highlights self-awareness, feedback, repair after poor interactions, and using stockmanship principles to assess energy and responses. They advise employees seeking better leadership to pursue education, ask curious questions, align around goals, and lead from any position, and they recommend resources such as universities/extension programs, podcasts, and paid options like Ranching for Profit. 

Links & Resources

Learn more about Red Angus here: https://redangus.org/

Learn more about At the Yards here: https://attheyards.com/ 

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

• 01:13 Meet Tom and Terryn Drieling
• 01:34 Why Leadership Matters
• 04:10 Tom’s Ranch Manager Role
• 05:42 Culture Tone and Transparency
• 10:57 Accountability and Team Buy In
• 13:48 Traits of Great Leaders
• 15:21 Self Audit and Self Awareness
• 19:07 Leading Without the Title
• 24:34 Training and Learning Resources
• 29:05 Key Takeaways and Wrap Up 

Non-family Transition Plans: How to Make it go Smoothly

In this episode of the Casual Cattle Conversation, Shaye talks with Lydia, a first-generation farmer in southwestern Manitoba, about how non-family farm transitions can work. Lydia and her spouse started on leased land, built a direct-to-consumer livestock business, and later formed a structured transition partnership with a neighboring producer. They operate separate profitable businesses while collaborating on land, feeding, and asset purchases through clear written agreements and vendor financing.

She shares that successful non-family transitions come down to trust, communication, solid business planning, and financial transparency. Lydia encourages new and aspiring farmers to live in the communities where they want to farm, build relationships, seek mentors, and work with advisors open to creative transition models. She also outlines red flags, including avoiding written agreements, weak financial management, and unclear profitability.

Her message: with preparation, the right partners, and clear structure, non-family transitions are not only possible—they can be sustainable.

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

Learn more about CattleTags here: https://bit.ly/3Lf8yE3  

 

 

 

Finding the Best Tags for Your Cattle

On today’s episode of the Casual Cattle Conversation, Shaye welcomes Brittany Kelsey, a Missouri-raised cattle industry professional, wife, and mom who leads a remote team at CattleTags.com. They discuss why a solid animal identification system is the foundation for effective herd management, accurate record keeping, and improved profitability. Brittany covers how to choose the right tag by animal and purpose (large/calf tags vs. maxi and super maxi for mature cattle), color-coding strategies, and the advantages of Allflex laser-engraved, inked tags for lifelong readability versus marker-written tags that fade. They also discuss layout options (phone number, brand, birth date, sire info), one-piece vs. two-piece tag preferences and retention, and how to build practical management code/numbering systems that are easy to interpret and avoid duplicates—especially when retaining heifers. The conversation explores EID benefits including reducing human error, USDA compliance considerations in some states and markets, common misconceptions about what EIDs store, and matched EID/visual tag sets and TSU DNA sampling workflows. Brittany explains what to consider when purchasing EID readers, including desired data capture features, barcode scanning for DNA samples, ISO low-frequency compatibility, and avoiding proprietary systems. The episode highlights cattletags.com’s producer support, including help designing systems, creating spreadsheets for random numbers and EID imports into software like CattleMax, and proactive order checks, and closes with a takeaway that animal ID is about building a management foundation beyond tags or compliance. 

Learn more about CattleTags here: https://bit.ly/3Lf8yE3 

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

• 00:00 Welcome to Casual Cattle Conversations + Today’s Guest Brittany Kelsey 
• 01:33 Why Animal ID Systems Matter: Records, Management & Profitability 
• 03:09 Choosing the Right Ear Tag: Size, Color & Readability in the Field 
• 04:45 Laser Engraved vs Marker Tags + Custom Layout Options 
• 06:53 One-Piece vs Two-Piece Tags: What Retains Best? 
• 08:21 Building a Numbering/Management Code System (and Avoiding Duplicates) 
• 12:33 Maxi Tags for Replacement Heifers: Longevity & Labor Savings 
• 14:22 EID Tags 101: Benefits, Compliance & Common Misconceptions 
• 16:34 Matched Sets + DNA/TSU Sampling: Keeping IDs Connected 
• 17:55 Picking an EID Reader: Features, Compatibility & ISO Standards 
• 20:25 Why Producers Choose CattleTags.com: Ranchers Helping Ranchers 
• 22:20 Key Takeaway + Wrap-Up, Links, and How to Support the Podcast 

 

Tips for Uniform Calf Crops

In this episode of the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast, Shaye speaks with Dr. Emma Briggs about the significance of calf uniformity in the beef industry. Dr. Briggs, a faculty supervisor at Kansas State University Ag Research Center, dives deep into strategies for achieving uniform calf crops, discussing elements like calving windows, genetic selection, reproductive strategies, and management practices. The episode provides practical insights into how producers can enhance calf uniformity to improve overall herd management and productivity.

 

Links & Resources Learn more about CattleTags here: https://www.cattletags.com/

 

Sign up for the Profit Foundations for Ranchers here: https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/profit-foundations-for-ranchers

 

Learn more about the Ranch Channel here: https://bit.ly/ranchchannel

 

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

 

00:00 Introduction to Casual Cattle Conversations

00:40 Guest Introduction: Dr. Emma Briggs

02:25 Understanding Calf Uniformity

07:52 Genetic Selection for Uniformity

10:58 Management Strategies for Uniform Calf Crops

12:52 Final Thoughts and Resources

Risk Management Ideas for Ranchers

In this episode of the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast, Shaye talks with Dr. Josh Maples about price risk management strategies for cattle producers. Dr. Maples discusses the importance of understanding risk tolerance and the various tools available to manage price risk, such as futures and options, and livestock risk protection (LRP). The conversation emphasizes the need for cattle producers to plan proactively rather than reactively. Topics include the financial and mental aspects of risk management, the role of diversification, and common mistakes producers make. Dr. Maples also shares useful resources for further information.

 

Links & Resources

 

Learn more about Ranching.com at https://bit.ly/3LMAizU

 

Sign up for the Profit Foundations for Ranchers here: https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/profit-foundations-for-ranchers

 

Learn more about the Ranch Channel here: https://bit.ly/ranchchannel

 

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

 

00:44 Meet Dr. Josh Maples

02:26 Importance of Risk Management

04:58 Financial Considerations for Risk Management

07:50 Price Risk Management Tools

15:46 Common Mistakes and Best Practices

18:47 Final Thoughts and Resources

How to Find Your Most Profitable Cows

In this episode of the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast, Shaye interviews Shane White from Ceres Tag. They discuss new features aimed at maximizing cow performance, focusing on fertility, estrous alerts, and calving alerts. Shane highlights how Ceres Tag's technology automates cow behavior tracking via satellite, providing valuable data for improving reproductive efficiency and profitability. They also cover how the new subscription model makes this technology more accessible to ranchers. The episode emphasizes the importance of data-driven decisions to enhance the future of ranching. 

Learn more about Ceres Tag here: https://bit.ly/45WlwfW

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

• 00:15 Guest Introduction: Shane White from Ceres Tag 
• 01:10 The Importance of Ag Technology 
• 02:13 Overview of Ceres Tag's Offerings 
• 03:48 Maximizing Cow Efficiency with Data 
• 05:37 New Features: Fertility and Reproductive Capabilities 
• 08:35 Natural Service and Mounting Scores 
• 10:33 Synchronization and AI in Cattle 
• 14:27 Calving Alerts and Behavior Metrics 
• 18:51 Business Model and Cost Structure 
• 22:43 Impact on the American Beef Industry 
• 33:52 Final Thoughts and Contact Information