Casual Cattle Conversations

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  

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   

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 

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   

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