Iowa Beef Collective

Rubia Gallega are certainly not a new breed, but they are the newest breed to enter the US. Rob Wonderlich is one of the first to implement these genetics in Iowa; we talk about how he did it and what's next for his operation and the breed itself. If you question the demand for this product, there was a group of folks from California that flew to Ottumwa, Iowa in January just to meet Rob, view...

The large animal vet shortage is no secret. This episode goes straight to the source, a young vet venturing out on his own. Austin Ashbacher talks about his career, the challenges he faces, and the leap of faith he took to live out his dream. Ashbacher Veterinary Services - https://www.facebook.com/p/Ashbacher-Veterinary-Services-61568281470162/ ---------------------------------------------------...

For over 50 years, the beef industry has been in chase mode, and we're 'largely' pretty good at pursuing a goal. Dr. Spangler and host Patrick Wall discuss how to dial it back a bit, change focus to profit rather than revenue, and the columns on paper most effective at getting you there. Dr Matt Spangler - https://animalscience.unl.edu/person/matt-spangler/ ----------------------------...

The road map of Montie Soules' career is a graduate-level seedstock marketing course summarized in about 40 minutes. He not only talks about how he found success, but even how he would do it differently if he was starting today. Apologies for the technical glitches in this episode; technology is great...when it works. American Shorthorn Association - https://shorthorn.org ---------------------...

Cows are on grass in much of Iowa; it's time to implement both fly and tick control measures. Dr. Matt Brewer , veterinary pathologist at Iowa State University, explains the history, discovery, and science behind both Asian Longhorned Tick (ALHT) and New World Screwworm. More importantly, we discuss prevention and treatment methods to ensure neither ever enters your fences. -------------------...

Mike Drury leads the charge as president of Greater Omaha Packing Co., a regional mid-sized packer that processes a lot of Iowa cattle. We parse out the challenges packers currently face in the marketplace (supply, labor, tariffs, demand, and fabrication of large carcasses). Considerable time is spent on branded programs, and believe it or not, we end with where the product starts: genetic selecti...

Shelby Gruss, Iowa State University Extension Forage Specialist, gives a complete checklist for better managing grass and hay given the current price environment. Listen in as we talk turn-out, fertilizer, weed control, rotation, and hay making decisions. Shelby also discuss her research on grazeable alfalfa and new forage mixes. Shelby Gruss - https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/people/shelby-gru...

Cassie Fish started her career trading on the floor of the CME, then risk management for Tyson Fresh Meats, and now a consultant for multiple players in the industry. We talk markets, but more importantly, the outside influences – politics, Mexican border, packer closures, etc. – that could bolster or bottom them out. Cassie Fish - http://www.cassandrafish.com The Beef - https://www.thebeefread.co...

A masterclass in how to ensure your check from the auction barn is everything you hoped it would be. We talk sale barn history, hide color, head count, heifer retention, heterosis, Herefords and more. Keosauqua Sales Co - http://www.keosauquasaleco.com ---------------------------------------------------   Connect with us: @iowabeefcenter https://facebook.com/IowaBeefCenter https://instagram.com/io...

If the acronyms LRP and LGM scare you just enough to sit on the sidelines, this episode is for you. Tony Latcham and host Patrick Wall dig in to the details of both programs, what they do, what they don’t do, and how to implement them regardless of the scope of your operation. Stockguard - https://stockguard.io ---------------------------------------------------   Connect with us: @iowabeefcenter...

Two episodes in one. The cooperation of commodity groups to help the ag community often gets overlooked and undersold. Learn how the Iowa Corn Growers Association supports beef production from a number of different angles. Wildlife management, CRP, meat exports, fence law, the list goes on; listen in as a committee member and an ICGA staff member explain their roles in supporting beef production....

Mark Anderson is the CEO of the North American Limousin Foundation, but his path to breed association leadership is a revers path to many. His young career in meat packing, feedlot management, brokering feeders, and risk management offers a unique perspective to how the industry makes genetics “work” in other segments of the beef supply chain. North American Limousin Foundation - https://nalf.org...

The beef industry has done a tremendous job of advancing the science of genomics and DNA testing in the last decade. Maybe we’ve fallen a bit short on explaining to everyone in the industry what they should do if they encounter an odd phenotype on their own farm. Dr. Jessica Peterson, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, offers a detailed tutorial on exactly what producers should do, and what happens i...

Beef prices are good. Expansion should be happening. Unfortunately, many producers are simply maxed out on what they can get done in a day. The 701X platform is a fence checker, heat checker, health checker, calving notifier, and an office secretary all at the same time. Chip Kemp describes the breadth of services offered by an ear tag…and we’re just getting started! Resources: 701X - https://www....

The industry has geeked out on genetics and genomics for seedstock operations for some time now…particularly on bulls. Lane Geiss joins us to talk about the ‘forgotten many’ in the selection process: commercial females. Zoetis addressed this void through a product called “Inherit.” Resources: Zoetis Inherit - https://beefgenetics.com/products/inherit-select/ ---------------------------------------...

Entrepreneurship in the livestock sector is alive and well! Listen in as Marty Ropp describes how he used production experience, forethought, industry connections, and group effort to start and build Allied Genetics Resources. An entrepreneur is never truly satisfied; Marty’s horizon is tackling the labor shortage in agriculture. Resources: Allied Genetic Resources - https://alliedgeneticresources...

Young producers should pull up the Notes app in their phone before they press play! Brian lays a roadmap for success in the seedstock business. He's an absolute sponge for technology and innovation, yet kept a very practical approach to genetic selection and animal breeding. Resources: Woodhill Farms - https://www.facebook.com/woodhillfarms/ ---------------------------------------------------...

Mike Anderson leads the Iowa Beef Industry Council, the segment that promotes beef consumption to consumers across the globe. We discuss the recent news cycles mentioning beef, as well as the current price of beef relative to other calorie sources. Tune in to learn about a unique cut of beef you might have never tried before…and should. Resources: Iowa Beef Industry Countil - https://www.iabeef.or...

Will Taylor is the current Livestock Judging Coach for Iowa State University. If your son/daughter has ever participated in a contest, or is considering ramping up their interest in live animal evaluation, this episode is for you. We detail what livestock does for young people professionally (organization skills, defending opinions, making decisions, public speaking, confidence, etc.) Taylor also...

Collegiate livestock judging teams have competed for a coveted prize and title for decades: National Champion. Many teams try, few succeed, but the relationships built in the process of competing last forever. Two individual guests on the Iowa Beef Collective team up for this episode. Their memory of the team, its members, the places they travelled, and the value it brought them professionally is...

Sometimes you just have to follow your gut and seize the opportunity to talk with a legend…in an industry you know little about. Everyone at the stock dog trials told me to get Ron Kilstrom, and he didn’t disappoint. Learn how trials work, how they’re judged and scored, and how stock dogs are selected, trained, and used. Most importantly, he describes their value in an industry short on good labor...

Bryan Whaley, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association CEO, has undoubtedly had an interesting fall. While riding the price wave of beef, the challenges of responding to unforeseen shocks to the market…and the media spin from them is daunting. Listen in as Bryan describes pushing policy efforts on behalf of Iowa beef producers, while navigating the murky waters of recent news cycles. -------------------------...

Certainly a legend among two groups: livestock judges and Shorthorn breeders, Dr. Bert Moore describes his Iowa roots, his long career at North Dakota State University, and his love for the Shorthorn breed. Moore is a wealth of knowledge regarding the history of the Chicago International Livestock Exhibition and its transition to Louisville, KY. We talk briefly about the book he co-authored coveri...

The Iowa Cattle Industry Convention will be held Dec 16, 2025 in Altoona, IA. Join Casey Anderson, Iowa Beef Industry Council and Bryan Whaley, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association , for a dive into the educational program offerings, what to expect at the event, and the vast opportunities to network with friends and industry allies from the ranch hand cow punch to the mom blogger foodie & chef. Regist...

Feedlot Management: Some Things Never Change With over 20+ years in the cattle feeding industry, Andy Montag lays out the challenges facing the feedlot sector, both past and present. We discuss how the basics of managing a feedlot largely remain the same. Environmental regulations, risk management programs, larger carcass weights, and record-high prices are some of the many topics covered in this...