Sustainable Stock: Reviving Legacy Genetics

Episode 10: Let the Cows Do the Work: Durability Over Dependency with Arron Nerbas Arron Nerbas of Nerbas Bros Angus challenges mainstream cattle breeding philosophies by creating a herd built on durability rather than dependency. This third-generation Canadian cattleman shares how his family transformed their operation by focusing on three fundamentals: grass, pressure, and purpose. The conversat...

Episode 9: Fat Cows, Fat Soil, Fat Wallet: Real Wealth Ranching with Jim Elizondo Regenerative agriculture expert Jim Elizondo reveals the profound connection between cattle genetics and land health in this transformative episode. Drawing from his diverse expertise as an accountant, dairy nutritionist, and agronomy engineer, Elizondo shares how modern cattle selection has inadvertently led to degr...

Episode 8: AI in the Arctic — Building Better Cattle with Hailey Edwards Hailey Edwards takes us deep into the world of raising cattle in Alaska's most extreme environments, where temperatures plummet to -60°F in winter before soaring to 90°F in summer. Growing up on a family dairy that collapsed during industry-wide failures in 2000, Hailey pivoted to beef production and developed specialize...

Episode 7: No Backbone, No Herd: Restoring Forgotten Genetics With Hays Boyd When nine-year-old Hays Boyd set out to find heat-tolerant, good-natured cattle that could thrive on grass, he had no idea his research would lay the foundation for one of America’s premier Murray Grey herds. Now a veterinarian and third-generation rancher, Hayes shares the journey of Backbone Ranch—where a commitment to...

Episode 6: Show Ponies and Paper Tigers with PJ Budler In this episode PJ takes us on a global cattle expedition that challenges everything we think we know about breeding. Having judged cattle in 48 countries, Budler offers a rare perspective on the disconnect between American cattle breeding philosophies and what actually works around the world. Budler introduces two powerful metaphors that perf...

Episode 5: Form Follows Function and the Bonsma Approach with Darris Meitler What can a cow that's raised 16 calves teach us about sustainable ranching? More than any textbook, says Darris Meitler, a fifth-generation Kansas cattleman whose family has been raising functional, profitable cattle since 1932.     The Meitler operation stands as a living testament that focusing on maternal traits,...

Episode 4: What Happens When Cows Fly? With Renee Strickland What does it take to move cattle across continents? In this episode, we sit down with Renee Strickland, a seasoned livestock exporter, to explore the challenges and opportunities in the global cattle trade. From sourcing the right cattle to ensuring their welfare in transit, Strickland shares firsthand insights into what it takes to succ...

Episode 3: Shaping Regenerative Ranching with Austin Dillon of Counter Culture Farms Unlock the secrets of sustainable ranching with Austin Dillon, owner and operator of Counter Culture Farms in East Texas. In this episode of Sustainable Stock , host Patrick Powers dives into Austin’s innovative approach to regenerative ranching, where traditional cattle genetics meet cutting-edge practices. Austi...

Episode 2: Building the Bos Sires Legacy with Grant Vassberg In this episode of Sustainable Stock , host Patrick Powers speaks with Grant Vassberg, owner of Kallion Farms and co-founder of Bos Sires. Grant provides an inside look at the roles within Bos Sires, the vision driving the program, and how newcomers can get involved. This episode serves as both an introduction to the structure of Bos Sir...

Episode 1: Breeding Resilience with John Atkinson In the premiere episode of Sustainable Stock , host Patrick Powers sits down with John Atkinson, a seventh-generation Australian cattleman, breeder, representative, and consultant for Bos Sires. John shares his family's rich ranching legacy, including their pivotal role in developing the resilient Droughtmaster breed. This episode dives into l...