Feedstuffs in Focus

One sneeze at the barn door can ripple through an entire system. We sit down with Dr. Emily McDowell of Pipestone Veterinary Services to dig into one of the most fixable pathway in swine respiratory disease: human influenza spilling over into pigs. Rather than chasing every virus already circulating in herds, we focus on the front door—how people, air, and tools move—and show why simple, consisten...

The age-old compromise between quality and yield in alfalfa production has frustrated dairy farmers for generations. Harvest too early and you sacrifice yield; harvest too late, and quality suffers, requiring expensive supplements for high-producing dairy cows. This dilemma has pushed farmers toward increasingly frequent cutting schedules just to maintain quality – until now. Dave Witte and Parker...

Trust lies at the heart of agricultural innovation's greatest challenge. While technology has transformed countless industries, many promising agricultural technologies hit a wall at the farm gate. Why? Because farmers and ranchers need more than just promises – they need evidence, support, and validation from trusted sources. Land O'Lakes has launched an ambitious solution to this persi...

Agriculture needs new voices and perspectives, but how do you attract talented individuals who've never considered careers in the field? Ryan Locke, National President of MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences), offers a compelling answer in this eye-opening conversation from this week's Husker Harvest Days in Grand Island, Nebraska. Locke reveals how M...

Facing the stark reality that roughly one-third of all pigs in commercial production never make it to market, the swine industry has mobilized an unprecedented collaborative effort to tackle mortality head-on. The Improving Pig Survivability Project represents a groundbreaking partnership between academic institutions and commercial producers, funded by the National Pork Board and the Foundation f...

Avian influenza has hit Hickman's Family Farm in Arizona, wiping out 6 million egg-laying hens and forcing hundreds of layoffs. But as Glenn Hickman and veterinarian Dr. Kay Russo reveal, this devastating loss might have been preventable. The current H5N1 virus has evolved in an unprecedented way, jumping from birds to dairy cattle and even back to poultry operations. This complex transmissio...

Feed milling dynamics might not sound like the most thrilling topic at first glance, but as Shawn Bradshaw of Adisseo reveals, it's at the heart of animal agriculture's future.  What truly defines success in feed manufacturing? Bradshaw takes us beyond the obvious metrics of quality and consistency to explore the multifaceted nature of operational excellence. Safety rightfully claims the...

Could something as seemingly simple as air quality management cut your PRRS outbreak risk in half? The latest research suggests exactly that – and it's changing how producers think about biosecurity investments. A groundbreaking study from the University of Minnesota has revealed that properly implemented air filtration systems reduce PRRS outbreak risks by 51-58% compared to non-filtered far...

Every summer, pig farmers face a frustrating reality: heat stress causes carcass weights to drop by 8-10 pounds precisely when market prices peak. But what if you could capture those lost pounds and the profits they represent? Dr. David Rosero of Iowa State University and Dr. Bart Borg of Passel Farms reveal game-changing strategies to combat the summer weight dip through strategic soybean meal ut...

The agricultural landscape is evolving rapidly, and artificial intelligence (AI) stands at the forefront of this transformation. Jacqui Fatka, farm supply and biofuels economist with CoBank, takes us on a comprehensive journey through AI's emerging role in agricultural retail and farm supply cooperatives. Far from threatening the traditional relationships between farmers and their trusted adv...

A Super Bowl commercial extolling "a world without cows" became the final straw for Alltech, spurring them to commission a documentary that would tell the real story of global animal agriculture. What emerged after three and a half years of investigation across 40 locations worldwide is a compelling narrative that's changing minds—even among non-agricultural audiences. "World W...

Phibro Animal Health made a landmark move in the animal health industry with its recent acquisition of the medicated feed additive product portfolio and certain water-soluble products from Zoetis, Inc. This pivotal expansion marks a significant advancement in fulfilling the company's mission of optimizing global animal health for a more sustainable world. During our conversation at the World...

A collaboration between the Angus Foundation and the Bezos Earth Fund and Global Methane Fund has sparked passionate debate throughout the cattle industry. At its heart lies a $4.85 million research grant focused on exploring genetic differences in methane production among cattle—but as we discover, this project represents far more than environmental concerns. Matt Perrier of Dalebanks Angus, whos...

PRRS (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome) stands as the most economically devastating disease in US swine production since the eradication of classic swine fever. What makes this viral pathogen so destructive? Dr. Nic Lauterbach, Technical Services Veterinarian with Pharmgate Animal Health, brings seven years of front-line experience battling PRRS to this essential conversation. The day...

Taste is taking center stage as the National Pork Board unveils a bold new strategy to transform how consumers—especially younger generations—think about pork. Sarah Showalter and Neal Hull reveal how deep consumer insights are reshaping the future of pork marketing in America. At the heart of this transformation is a surprising disconnect: millennials and Gen Z consumers who claim they "don&...

The safety nets protecting America's agricultural workforce are unraveling. Dr. Jeff Bender, Director of the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (UMASH), reveals the far-reaching consequences of recent budget cuts to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) - cuts that have already eliminated 85% of the agency's workforce. For fourteen years, UMASH...

A tug-of-war is brewing between building America's shipbuilding capacity and maintaining the competitiveness of U.S. agricultural exports. As Mike Steenhoek, Executive Director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, explains, this tension stems from recent USTR actions addressing Chinese dominance in global shipbuilding—a position China achieved through 25 years of focused development to captur...

The razor-thin margins in today's pork industry demand a laser focus on herd health to maintain profitability. Dr. Nic Lauterbach, Technical Services Veterinarian with Pharmgate Animal Health, draws on his years of industry experience to deliver practical insights on keeping pigs healthy during challenging times. What makes sick pigs so costly? As Dr. Lauterbach explains, illness diminishes t...

Cattle producers often turn to average daily gain, feed conversion or reproduction when targeting improved efficiency but while they all have a place, a focus on feed efficiency traits is critical as it zeroes in on both the cost of feed and the value of gain. Jason Osterstock, Chief Science Officer at Vytelle, joins Sarah Muirhead to explore how data-driven approaches are transforming herd manage...

Ever wonder what consumers really think about animal agriculture practices? Dr. Valerie Kilders of Purdue University reveals groundbreaking approaches to understanding public sentiment through web-scraped data and media analysis during her presentation at the PEAK Conference in Minneapolis. When poultry markets experience price volatility and consumer concerns about animal welfare intensify, produ...

Egg prices have been on a wild ride, with unprecedented volatility creating headaches for everyone from producers to restaurant chains. But what if there was a financial tool designed specifically to smooth out these price swings? That's exactly what StoneX has developed with their new shell egg contract. As Ryan Turner of StoneX explains, this innovative risk management solution emerges just...

Ileitis is a common cause of diarrhea in grow-finish pigs. When underdiagnosed, ileitis can result in a significant amount of money being left on the table and out of producers’ pockets.  Joining our Ann Hess today to talk about ileitis and what producers can do to minimize its impact is Dr. Nate Winkelman, co-owner and veterinarian at Swine Services Unlimited. This episode is brought to you by Ph...

To prevent the spread of influenza in a commercial livestock system, it is highly recommended for staff to wear personal protective equipment or PPE. Considered the last line of defense to prevent an infection in an individual, it is also the least effective as wearing PPE well and consistently can be a challenge for producers and caregivers on farm.  Feedstuffs Ann Hess caught up with Montserrat...

With unique access to those on the frontlines of agriculture and science, two filmmakers set out on an incredible journey around the world to find the answer to what would seem like a relatively easy question. That being, Are we better off in a World Without Cows?  Joining our Ann Hess from the NCBA tradeshow floor in San Antonio are World Without Cows filmmakers, Michelle Michael and Brandon Whit...

Dr. Luke Strehle of Nebraska Vet Services, a full-service mixed animal practice based in West Point, Nebraska, joins us to share his insight on swine respiratory pathogens – how to reduce and eliminate their risk as well what interventions are available to manage pig health.  This episode is brought to you by Pharmgate Animal Health, a growing business that puts livestock first. Pharmgate provides...