Francisco Najar, PhD

MeatsPad

Welcome to MeatsPad, a platform to share breakthrough knowledge that is accessible to the meat industry. Be ready to hear from meat specialists to talk about numerous topics in meat science, including animal welfare, meat production, meat quality, among others.

Author

Francisco Najar, PhD

Category

Education

Podcast website

podcasters.spotify.com

Latest episode

Jul 2, 2026

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Episodes

Promoting Lamb: Nutrition and Quality w/ Megan Wortman 26.03.2024

In today's episode, we're joined by Megan Wortman, representing the American Lamb Board. We explore the efforts to promote American lamb, discussing the board's initiatives focused on educating consumers about the quality, nutrition, and sustainability of domestically-produced lamb. Megan also shares insights into her career journey, transitioning from a background in agricultural poli...

A Discussion of Feed Regimens and Meat Quality 12.03.2024

In today's episode, our co-hosts Drs. Francisco Najar and Phil Bass explore the world of beef production by comparing grain and grass finishing. They also discuss the role of nutrition, genetics, and consumer education.

Revolutionizing Food: Discovering the World of Cultivated Meat w/Dr. María de la Salud 06.03.2024

In today's episode, we are joined once again by Dr. María de la Salud, who holds the position of Full-time Professor C at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), with whom we will discuss the revolution of alternative proteins, exploring regulation and current challenges.  We're excited to have Dr. María de la Salud join us again in today's episode. Our discussion will rev...

Beef by the Pound: Genetics, Grading, and Portioning in Focus w/Matt Perrier 27.02.2024

Today, we're excited to share an episode from the Practically Ranching podcast featuring an interview with one of our co-hosts, Dr. Phil Bass. In this conversation, we dive deep into the world of beef production and the cattle industry. Throughout the interview, Dr. Bass offers valuable insights into important industry topics, such as human nutrition, beef cattle genetics, livestock selection,...

Beef Discoloration: Economic Loss and Waste 21.02.2024

In today's episode, we are joined by Dr. Ranjith Ramanathan, a Professor at Oklahoma State University and fresh meat color expert. Together we discuss his recent research titled "Economic Loss, Amount of Beef Discarded, Natural Resources Wastage, and Environmental Impact Due to Beef Discoloration." This study sheds light on the economic and environmental implications of beef discolor...

Leadership Development and Community Connection in the Meat Sector w/ M.S. Megan Eckhardt 13.02.2024

In today's episode, we're joined by M.S. Megan Eckhardt, a passionate Ph. D. candidate at WTAMU and advocate for the meat industry. Megan serves as the AMSA Student Board President and Student Representative for the IFT Muscle Foods Division. Throughout our conversation, we explore key topics such as leadership, community building, and the future of the meat industry. Megan shares insights...

Packaging Insights: Modified Atmosphere, Meat Color and Shelf Life w/ Dr. Mahesh N. Nair 30.01.2024

In today's episode, we have Dr. Mahesh N. Nair, Associate Professor of Meat Science at Colorado State University, discussing food packaging, specifically Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP). He explores how MAP impacts meat color and shelf life, examining the use of gases like oxygen, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide in packaging. Dr. Nair also delves into the delicate balance required to a...

Analysis of Actual Water Consumption in Meat Production w/Dr. Pablo Manzano 16.01.2024

On today's episode, Dr. Pablo Manzano shares the mic with Francisco to uncover numbers and facts around the water use propaganda surrounding livestock. Dr. Pablo Manzano, an esteemed ecologist with expertise in grasslands, domestic and wild animals, at The Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) What is required to produce 1 kg of beef?

It's not a Cow w/Drs. Najar & Bass 09.01.2024

In today's episode, join Drs. Francisco Najar and Phil Bass as they share insights on the upcoming meat industry shows, events, and networking opportunities. Dr. Bass also explores his book, "It's Not a Cow." The title cleverly hints at the common lack of awareness in our industrialized society regarding how food is grown and transported. This book sheds light on the often-overlo...

Diet, Insulin Resistance, and Chronic Diseases Connection w/ Dr. Eric Berg 27.12.2023

In today's episode, we feature Dr. Eric Berg, a meat scientist who will discuss the role of meat and animal-sourced proteins in a healthy diet. Dr. Berg has utilized pigs as a model to investigate human digestion, emphasizing the significance of insulin balance and amino acids in dietary considerations.

Sanitary Designs and Dry Aging Innovations w/Neville McNaughton 19.12.2023

In today's episode, we're joined by Neville McNaughton, a Specialist in Dairy Plant Design and an accomplished Cheesemaker with extensive experience, including multinational ventures. Neville will enlighten us on the world of Sanitary Designs and Dry Aging Technology. We'll also delve into various related subtopics, exploring challenges in conventional refrigeration, potential applicat...

Exploring Oral Behavior Trends in Meat Consumption w/Dr. Rhonda Miller 05.12.2023

In today's episode, we have the privilege of hosting Dr. Rhonda Miller, a Professor at Texas A&M University. Dr. Miller will delve into the topic of oral behavior in meat consumption, unraveling the mysteries of how individuals interact with and enjoy different meat textures. Throughout our conversation, we'll explore key subtopics, such as the distinct categories of oral behaviors and...

Pork Perspectives: Marketing, Innovation, and Nutrition w/ Dr. David Newman 28.11.2023

In today's episode, we welcome Dr. David Newman, Senior Vice President of Market Growth at the National Pork Board. Dr. Newman shares insights on promoting and marketing pork, emphasizing its value and discussing innovative strategies for diverse consumer engagement. We explore marketing challenges, his expertise in enhancing pork's market standing, and the ongoing innovations in pork fabr...

Food Safety Considerations in a USDA Meat Plant w/ Dr. Lynn Delmore 14.11.2023

In today's episode, we are joined by Dr. Lynn Delmore, a Food Industry Consultant, to explore the journey of securing USDA approval for meat processing plants and delve into food safety aspects within the U.S. meat industry. Our conversation addresses critical topics like HACCP plans and SSOPs, highlighting the significance of keeping abreast of evolving regulatory demands. We also tackle the...

Diet, Growth Promotants and Meat Quality w/ Drs. Francisco Najar & Phil Bass 07.11.2023

In this episode, Drs. Francisco Najar and Phil Bass address multiple questions from small meat processes regarding meat quality. They also discuss about the balance between the use of growth promotants and marbling as well as how to monitor quality. In addition, they explain the importance of branding, value proposition and understanding your consumer.

Caring for Calves: Hygiene, Colostrum, and Navel Care w/ Dr. ⁠Lauren Christensen⁠, DVM 25.10.2023

In today's episode, we have Dr. ⁠Lauren Christensen⁠, DVM, delving into the vital topic of "Caring for Calves: Hygiene, Colostrum, and Navel Care." We also touch on key subtopics, including the significance of maintaining a clean environment in livestock management, the importance of colostrum in boosting calf immunity, and best practices for navel care to ensure the well-being of yo...

Frozen Block Processing w/Rod Sammon 10.10.2023

In today's episode, we're joined by Rod Sammon, Managing Director of Thompson Meat Machinery Pty Ltd, who will discuss about the principles of frozen meat grinding. We'll also touch on important factors such as machine power (horsepower), temperature role in product quality, and the means to consistently grind and process frozen meat blocks.

An Historical Trip through "The Jungle" w/ Dr. Justin Kastner 03.10.2023

Today, we are sharing our microphone with Dr. Justin Kastner, a professor in the Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University. We will delve into the beginnings of the meatpacking industry in the US, the US’s livestock and meat export trade with Europe’s, while focusing specifically on the Chicago area—where the fictional story of...

Food Industry, Agriculture and Sustainability w/Drs. Najar & Bass 19.09.2023

In this episode, Drs. Francisco Najar and Phil Bass discuss current opportunities for the U.S. meat industry, from climate change to meat sustainability. They also reflect on their recent trips to South America and Europe, exploring international perspectives on meat production and sharing their discoveries in the fields of agriculture, food production and meat processing.

Perfecting Beef Tenderness w/ Dr. Jacob Tuell 12.09.2023

In today's episode, we're joined by Dr. Jacob R. Tuell, who is an Assistant Professor at Northwest Missouri State University. He discusses his groundbreaking research on the positive impact of tumbling on beef tenderness and the rational behind this research.

Animal Agriculture and Meat Production in Guam w/Dr. Jeng-Hung Liu 06.09.2023

In today's episode, we sit down with Dr. Jeng-Hung Liu, a faculty member and extension specialist at the University of Guam. Our discussion revolves around the challenges and opportunities within animal agriculture and meat production in Guam. We also discussed about food security and the interaction between tourism and agriculture.

Wrapping up RMC 2023 22.08.2023

It’s been a great RMC! Thank you AMSA for having us again this year! We're wrapping up this conference with a quick discussion and summary with Dr. Phil Bass. We will see you in Oklahoma next year!

Innovative Pig Feeding Strategies w/ Jay Stowater 15.08.2023

In this episode, we're joined by Jay Stowater, a Graduate Assistant hailing from Iowa State University, where he dives deep into livestock research. Join us as Jay unravels innovative pig feeding strategies meticulously crafted to address supply chain disruptions and potential disease outbreaks. Our discussion will center around the strategic utilization of anhydrous calcium chloride to modera...

Exploring New Frontiers in Pig Carcass Research 08.08.2023

In today's episode, we're joined by Khalil Jallaq and Kaitlin Richey, who will be delving into their groundbreaking research on meat science and pig carcass processing. Throughout the episode, Khalil and Kaitlyn also touch on the potential implications of their findings for the meat industry, from optimizing pig genetics to uncovering exciting new cuts that could reshape the market.

Understanding Animal Welfare in Meat Production w/ Dr. Lily Edwards-Callaway 01.08.2023

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Lily Edwards-Callaway, who will be diving into the topic of animal welfare in the meat industry. We'll cover factors affecting welfare, its relationship with meat quality, auditing procedures, and the future of research in this area. Dr. Callaway will also touch upon the developing human-animal interaction in agriculture.

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