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.

Welcome to the 7th episode of The Future of Beef Show: Ag Tech Innovation with Ian Wheal.

In this deeply personal and practical episode, we flip the mic to interview our own Ian Wheal—co-founder of Breedr and the tech visionary behind much of what makes this show tick. From his family’s sheep and beef operation in Australia to consulting on global ag supply chains, Ian shares a candid, plainspoken look at what’s broken in agriculture—and how technology, done right, can fix it.

We dive into the origin story of Breedr, born during what Ian calls “Peak Vegan,” and why digitizing the ranch isn’t just about traceability—it’s about proving worth, reclaiming margin, and building a smarter beef supply chain. With a background that spans engineering, food retail, and software, Ian connects the dots between individual animal performance, better data collection, and profit-boosting decisions.

From chute-side insights to AI on the ranch, this episode is packed with lessons on leading change without losing tradition. If you’ve ever wondered how tech can serve—not swamp—your operation, this one’s for you.

What You’ll Learn:

Why individual animal data is key to profit and progress

How Breedr was designed for ranchers first, not software engineers

Common mistakes ag tech companies make—and how to avoid them

How to use data to strengthen packer and feedlot partnerships

Where AI and genomics are taking us next in beef production

Links:

🌐 Visit the show page at www.futureofbeef.com

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

💻 Connect with Drovers: www.drovers.com

To get tools that make your data work harder and your cattle work smarter, visit www.futureofbeef.com. Because the future isn’t something you wait for—it’s something you build.

Welcome to the sixth episode of The Future of Beef Show: Data-Driven Carcass Insights with Dr. Dale Woerner.

In this episode, host Jim Johnson, alongside co-hosts Dr. Jessica Sperber and Ian Wheal, welcomes Dr. Dale Woerner—a leading meat science researcher at Texas Tech University—for a candid discussion on one of the most overlooked yet pivotal issues in the beef industry: carcass yield accuracy.

Dr. Woerner breaks down how outdated grading systems and the industry’s reluctance to adopt new technologies like X-ray vision are costing producers dearly. From heavier cattle not translating to higher red meat yields, to the critical gaps in how we measure carcass value, this episode reveals how the right data can transform not just pricing—but profitability.

As always, you’ll find additional resources and tools at TheFutureofBeef.com, including a 6-month free trial of the award-winning Breedr app.

What you will learn in this episode:

1️⃣ Why current yield assessments are "grossly inaccurate" and hurting producers.

2️⃣ How fatter cattle don't always mean more red meat—and what that means for the bottom line.

3️⃣ The role of advanced imaging and data in creating a more equitable beef supply chain.

Links:

🌐 Visit the show page at www.thefutureofbeef.com

🔬 Learn more about Dr. Woerner’s research at Texas Tech

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

💻 Connect with Drovers: www.drovers.com

Welcome to the fifth episode of The Future of Beef Show: Succession with Alan Hojer.

In this episode, host Jim Johnson, alongside co-hosts Dr. Jessica Sperber and Ian Wheal, sits down with Alan Hojer—succession expert and advocate for legacy ranching families—to explore one of the most emotional and vital topics in the beef industry: succession planning.

Alan brings over a decade of hands-on experience helping agricultural families navigate the complexities of generational transition. From guiding honest conversations over coffee to building long-term, values-based succession plans, Alan emphasizes that true legacy is not just about assets—but about giving the gift of knowledge, clarity, and time.

As always, you’ll find additional resources and tools at TheFutureofBeef.com, including a 6-month free trial of the award-winning Breedr app.

What you will learn in this episode:

1️⃣ Why successful succession is more about communication than contracts.

2️⃣ How early planning and transparency preserve both business and family bonds.

3️⃣ Real-world advice on navigating emotions, expectations, and leadership transitions.

Links:

🌐 Visit the show page at www.thefutureofbeef.com

🐂 Learn more about Alan’s mission to “Keep Farmers Farming”

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

💻 Connect with Drovers: ⁠www.drovers.com

Welcome to a special 3oz portion episode of The Future of Beef Show: Calving with Dr. Taylor Engle.

In this special "3oz Portion" episode, host Jim Johnson is joined by co-hosts Dr. Jessica Sperber and Ian Wheal for a focused conversation with Dr. Taylor Engle, diving deep into best practices for calving season—from nutrition and data collection to health preparedness and genetic planning.

Dr. Engle shares insights from the frontlines of calving management, offering practical strategies to ensure healthier calves, more productive cows, and better long-term herd performance. Whether you're a seasoned producer or just starting to capture calving data, this episode is full of actionable tips to enhance your operation’s success.

As always, you’ll find additional resources and tools at TheFutureofBeef.com, including a 6-month free trial of the award-winning Breedr app.

What you will learn in this episode:

1️⃣ Why collecting data at birth sets the foundation for profitability.

2️⃣ How to prepare for calving season from a health, nutrition, and logistics standpoint.

3️⃣ Tips on using colostrum, scoring calf vigor, and tracking maternal performance for better genetics.

Links:

🌐 Visit the show page at www.thefutureofbeef.com

🐂 Learn more about calving best practices and genetics at www.breedr.co

📱 Explore the award-winning Breedr App at ⁠www.breedr.co⁠ 💻 Connect with Drovers: ⁠⁠www.drovers.com⁠

Welcome to the fourth episode of The Future of Beef Show: Genomics with Nick Jorgensen.

In this episode, host Jim Johnson, alongside co-hosts Dr. Jessica Sperber and Ian Wheal, sits down with Nick Jorgensen, CEO and CFO of Jorgensen Land & Cattle, to explore how genomics and cutting-edge data tools are shaping the future of sustainable beef production.

Nick shares how his family operation has evolved into one of the most innovative beef and seedstock producers in the U.S., leveraging soil health, genetic selection, and business diversification to stay resilient and profitable.

As always, you’ll find additional resources and tools at TheFutureofBeef.com, including a 6-month free trial of the award-winning Breedr app.

What you will learn in this episode:

1️⃣ How genomics can enhance profitability and environmental sustainability.

2️⃣ Why data, genetics, and long-term thinking are essential for ranch success.

3️⃣ Lessons from one of America’s most progressive multi-generational ranch operations.

Links:

🌐 Visit the show page at www.thefutureofbeef.com

🐂 Learn more about Jorgensen Land & Cattle at www.jorgensenfarms.com

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

💻 Connect with Drovers: ⁠www.drovers.com

Welcome to the third episode of The Future of Beef Show: Genetics with Troy Marshall.

In this episode, host Jim Johnson, along with co-hosts Dr. Jessica Sperber and Ian Wheal, sit down with Troy Marshall, Director of Commercial Industry Relations at the American Angus Association to discuss how genetics can shape smarter breeding decisions and maximize profitability in the beef industry.

As always, you’ll find additional resources and tools at TheFutureofBeef.com, including a 6-month free trial of the award-winning Breedr app.

What you will learn in this episode:

1️⃣ How genetics and data-driven decisions can help ranchers improve herd performance and profitability.

2️⃣ The role of breed associations in supporting commercial producers with better genetic tools.

3️⃣ How smaller and mid-sized ranchers can adopt new technology to stay competitive and increase returns.

Links:

🌐 Visit the show page at www.thefutureofbeef.com

🐂 Learn more about the American Angus Association at www.angus.org

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

💻 Connect with Drovers: ⁠www.drovers.com

🔥 Enjoyed the episode? Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share! Leave us a comment with your thoughts and stay tuned for more insights on the future of beef production.

Welcome to the second episode of The Future of Beef Show: Beating the Bell Curve with John Schroeder.

In this episode, host Jim Johnson, along with co-hosts Dr. Jessica Sperber and Ian Wheal, sit down with John Schroeder, General Manager of Darr Feedlot to discuss managing cattle individually to maximize performance and profitability.

As always you’ll find additional resources and tools at the futureofbeef.com, including a 6 month free trial of the award-winning Breedr app.

What you will learn in this episode:

1️⃣ How individual animal tracking can drive better decisions on ranch

2️⃣ how ranchers can interact with feed yards to improve returns for everyone and have their cattle in demand

3️⃣ New insights and metrics you can use to improve your feed yard or ranch

Links:

🌐 Visit the show page at www.thefutureofbeef.com⁠

🐂 Learn more about Darr Feedlot at www.darrfeedlot.com

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

💻 Connect with Drovers: ⁠www.drovers.com