Beyond the Barrel Crystalyx®

We know that consuming KY 31 tall fescue forages presents some potentially negative side effects for cattle, but do you know where the popular grass came from? Sam Strahan and Dr. Anne Koontz discuss the history of the grass as well as some management strategies to reduce the toxic effects of the endophyte.

Spring calving is here for many cow-calf producers. Jill Larson discusses how the nutritional requirements of a cow change after calving and why cow body condition is vital for the health of her calf.

For cow-calf producers, profitability has a great deal to do with cow reproductive performance. Tim Clark discusses the importance of body condition scoring your cows prior to breeding to ensure your investment pays off.

  How much does cow nutrition during pregnancy effect the subsequent performance of the offspring throughout life? Jon Albro discusses how important maternal nutrition is during early pregnancy.  

Trace minerals are key to improving livestock performance, but what is it about organic trace minerals that make them more beneficial and why are we still using inorganic trace minerals in livestock feed? Mark Robbins discusses the Blueprint philosophy and how less can actually be more.

Weaning time is a stressful time for both calves and producers. Beef Nutritionist; Sam Strahan discusses what cow-calf producers can do to combat decreased feed intakes and elevated stress hormone levels as calves are weaned or preconditioned.

As we enter into the fall and winter grazing period, grasses and crop residues go from mature to dormant and the protein level of these forages declines. Dr. Dan Dhuyvetter discusses the newest block form that combines CRYSTALYX® and distillers grains for increased protein supplementation to help maintain cow body condition as cattle consume low quality forages.

Fetal programming, also known as "developmental programming," is the concept that the maternal environment during gestation has lasting impacts on the offspring. CRYSTALYX® Nutritionist; Jill Larson discusses how your cows and their developing calves might be missing out nutritionally and how you can get with the fetal program.

It's spring in CRYSTALYX® country and that means calving and all the opportunities and concerns that go along with it. In the newest Block Talk Podcast, Mark Robbins, Research and Nutrition Manager for CRYSTALYX®, shares his thoughts about the nutrients that are critical for spring calving herds, especially magnesium, because cool, wet springs generally increase the risk of grass tetany.

Progress in livestock nutrition and supplementation has led to advancements that are largely taken for granted today, but were greeted by a fair share of skepticism starting out. In this Block Talk podcast, Jon Albro, the Western Region Sales Manager with CRYSTALYX® brand supplements, talks about some of the advancements and applications that have had a significant impact.

Spring calving presents some unique nutritional challenges for the beef cow herd. In this Block Talk podcast, Dan Dhuyvetter, Director of Research and Nutrition Services for CRYSTALYX®, talks about the nutritional impact of moving from gestational requirements to lactation requirements.

Wet, sloppy conditions this time of year can make hoof problems worse, softening them up, making them more susceptible to all kinds of trouble. In the latest Block Talk podcast, Jackie Nix, a nutritionist for CRYSTALYX®, examines both the biology of a hoof and how good nutrition can have a positive effect on hoof health.

Well, it is winter, and that brings plenty of things to think about for beef producers as they try to maximize their nutrition goals. In this Block Talk podcast, Teri Walsh, a nutritionist for CRYSTALYX®, looks at the challenges of winter grazing and supplementation along with some key elements that can help producers determine the economics of a supplement.

Innovation in agriculture is aimed at helping farmers and ranchers do much more than they could before. In the first Block Talk podcast of this new year, Mark Robbins, nutritionist and the research and nutrition services manager for CRYSTALYX®, says taking advantage of innovations in nutrition, supplementation and delivery are not just good…they're essential.

When it comes to beef cattle nutrition and supplementation, there's a lot of focus on nutrients, but vitamins can be taken for granted. That's not the case this winter. In this Block Talk Podcast, Jon Albro, the Western Region Sales Manager with CRYSTALYX®, outlines the importance of vitamins in supplementation and why producers need to take a cautious approach to controlling costs.

Weaning weights are pushing 50% of the dam's weight these days. Fed cattle are exceeding four pounds per day average daily gain. With all this emphasis on production performance, what are the key factors that allow these animals to attain maximum genetic potential? In this Block Talk Podcast, Tim Clark, a nutritionist for CRYSTALYX®, looks at the impact that effective trace mineral supplementation...

Being a successful producer never comes as an accident. It always happens thanks to a commitment to excellence, focused effort and planning. In this Block Talk Podcast, Dan Dhuyvetter, the Director of Research and Nutrition for CRYSTALYX®, says it's a matter of taking time to think things through. He challenges us to think beyond immediate results and figure out how decisions being made will affec...

Consistency in cow nutrition during the entire pregnancy is essential. Producers often focus on heavy supplementation in preparation for breeding, but, supplementation often takes a backseat during the early months of pregnancy. In this Block Talk Podcast, Animal Nutritionist Jackie Nix talks about the important impact of fetal programming and how CRYSTALYX® has the "Blueprint" for maternal nutrit...

The way cattle are fed and supplemented is constantly changing and improving, to meet the nutritional and environmental challenges that producers face. In this Block Talk Podcast, CRYSTALYX® Nutritionist Teri Walsh looks at the evolutionary journey of CRYSTALYX®, how it has affected the past and present and what the future of supplementation looks like for the future.  

Hear Mark Robbins, MS, Nutritionist, Research and Nutrition Services Manager, explain why the only problems with CRYSTALYX® Brigade® is that it doesn't cost enough and is too easy to use.

Listen to Jon Albro, Western Region Sales Manager with CRYSTALYX®  Brand Supplements, share the most effective way to reduce the unit cost of production.

Important decisions about calf marketing have cow/calf operators looking at the best way to maximize profit. In this CRYSTALYX® Around the Block Podcast, nutritionist Tim Clark focuses on opportunities for increased income by producing more pounds with fewer inputs.