Welcome to the 10th episode of The Future of Beef Show: Feedyard Health with Dr. Dan Thomson. From the feedlot pen to the packer line, every decision made around cattle health ripples through performance, profitability, and public trust. In this foundational episode, Dr. Dan Thomson—a PhD nutritionist, DVM, and managing partner at PAC—joins Jim Johnson, Dr. Jessica Sperber, and Ian Wheal to map the entire lifecycle of animal health and welfare in modern beef systems. With decades of feedlot consultation experience and influence on industry standards from McDonald’s to Cactus Feeders, Dr. Dan shares what it really takes to build a connected, resilient health system: early data capture, strong veterinary relationships, consistent animal handling, and a shift from reactive treatments to proactive management. From vaccine timing and calf colostrum to labor shortages and AI-driven health tags, this episode connects dots across cow-calf, backgrounding, and feedyard stages in ways few others can. What You’ll Learn: How feedyards can reduce death loss with early detection and low-tech fixes Why trust and acclimation are essential to spotting disease before it’s too late The truth about antibiotic stewardship—and how to manage use without sacrificing care How technology (from wearable tags to AI) enhances, not replaces, human expertise What “whole lifecycle” animal health really means—and how it pays off Links: 🌐 Visit the show page at www.futureofbeef.com 🐄 Learn more about PAC at www.pacdvms.com 📱 Explore the award-winning Breedr App at www.breedr.co 💻 Connect with Drovers: www.drovers.com For more stories about advancing animal health, diagnostics, and sustainability across the beef supply chain, visit www.futureofbeef.com.

Welcome to the 9th episode of The Future of Beef Show: Academic Innovation with Dr. Jessica Sperber.

In a special turn of the mic, this episode spotlights one of our own—Dr. Jessica Sperber, PhD in feedlot nutrition and co-host of The Future of Beef Show. From Alberta cattle roots to packing plant data and feedlot research at the University of Nebraska, Jessica shares a refreshingly honest journey through academia, mentorship, and what it really means to stay rooted in production while pushing the boundaries of science.

The conversation spans her career path—from optometry dreams to meat science labs, commercial nutrition consulting, and now leading Nebraska’s extension feedlot research. We dive into the evolving role of university extension, how producers can actually use research, and why mentorship is more than a buzzword—it’s the thread that runs through every good career in ag.

What You’ll Learn:

• How feedlot-focused research bridges academic rigor and on-farm relevance
• Why mentorship can shape careers as powerfully as technical training
• The difference between being a student of ag and being a steward of producers
• How extension services are evolving to reach more operations, more personally
• Why embracing AI and tech in the classroom is preparing the next ag innovators

Links:

🌐 Visit the show page at www.futureofbeef.com

🔬 Learn more about University of Nebraska Beef Program: www.beef.unl.edu

📱 Explore the award-winning Breedr App at www.breedr.co

💻 Connect with Drovers: www.drovers.com

For more stories from the people shaping the future of ag—on the ranch, in the lab, or at the front of the classroom—visit www.futureofbeef.com. Because the next generation of ag doesn’t just inherit the future—they build it.

Welcome to the 8th episode of The Future of Beef Show: Connected Calf Health with Dr. Taylor Engle. What if the best way to raise healthier, better-performing calves didn’t start with treatments, but with trust—trust in your environment, your protocols, and your team? In this forward-looking conversation, we’re joined by Dr. Taylor Engle of Four Star Veterinary Services to explore how producers can improve calf health outcomes by rethinking everything from birth to bunk. Dr. Engle draws on her unique background across swine, poultry, and beef production systems to break down calf health into manageable, practical steps. From pre-birth cow care to the critical first 60 days of a calf’s life, she reveals why environment and communication are just as important as vaccines—and why treating symptoms without context often does more harm than good. Whether you’re managing beef-on-dairy calves across multiple phases or fine-tuning your cow-calf operation, this episode is full of real-world advice and refreshing honesty. It’s a masterclass in proactive, connected care. What You’ll Learn: Why calf health starts before birth and how maternal conditioning impacts outcomes How environment and management shape lifetime performance more than genetics alone Practical strategies for beef-on-dairy systems and high-touch calf care When and how to use antibiotics and vaccines—judiciously The power of cross-sector communication in building trust and market value Links: 🌐 Visit the show page at www.futureofbeef.com 🔬 Learn more about Dr. Taylor Engle’s Four Star Veterinary Services at www.4starvets.com 📱 Explore the award-winning Breedr App at www.breedr.co 💻 Connect with Drovers: www.drovers.com To explore more success stories, get early access to tools, and claim your free Breedr trial, head over to www.futureofbeef.com. Better calf health starts with better connection—and it starts here.