Welcome to the official relaunch of the American Dairymen Podcast! Just ahead, we have Dustin Hector, he's the Publisher of the American Dairymen, and he sits down with Dr. Nate Haas, the President and Director of R & D for Bio Vet. 

The conversation centers on Bio Vet, an Anpereo company, and its role in supporting calf health and dairy profitability through non‑antibiotic nutritional solutions. Dustin is joined by Bio Vet president and director of R&D, Dr. Nate Haas, and Wisconsin dairy producer Abby Adelmeyer of Endress Dairy near Dane, Wisconsin.

Dr. Haas outlines his background as a dairy veterinarian, educator, and microbiologist, with experience in practice, technical college instruction, and university teaching, as well as work with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture. His long relationship with Bio Vet began as a practicing vet using the company’s microbial-based products on client farms, eventually leading to a leadership role within the organization. He emphasizes Bio Vet’s focus on natural, research-based products designed for consistent, long-term support rather than quick pharmaceutical fixes.

Abby describes her family’s 250-cow operation, where they raise all their beef calves on 670 acres. A major turning point came when the farm transitioned from plywood hutches to a new calf barn with an automatic calf feeder. The shift was initially difficult, requiring extensive collaboration with nutrition and equipment specialists. Over time, integrating Bio Vet products such as Jenner K, Jenner Caps, and Baselight electrolytes became central to stabilizing calf health, reducing scours, and promoting aggressive, consistent intake on the auto feeder.

She stresses the importance of minimizing stress, managing disease risk in group pens, and pushing water and electrolytes, particularly during weather swings and winter months. Both Abby and Dr. Haas highlight that success with microbial and nutritional products requires commitment, close observation, and consistency rather than expecting overnight results. The episode closes with Abby encouraging producers to ask for help, talk openly with veterinarians and reps, and overcome resistance to change, while Dr. Haas underscores Bio Vet’s mission to partner with forward-thinking farms to improve profitability and calf outcomes through non‑antibiotic solutions.

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Welcome to this emergency episode of Cattlemen & Veterinarians: A Partnership in Bovine Health. Just ahead, hosts Kaid Panek and Dr. Shynia Peterman provide a timely update on the New World Screwworm following its confirmed re-emergence in the United States. Dr. Peterman reports four confirmed cases as of Monday, June 8: three in calves in Texas and one in a dog in New Mexico, noting that all warm-blooded animals, including livestock, wildlife, and pets are susceptible. 

Dr. Peterman explains that the New World Screwworm is actually a fly whose adult females lay 200–300 eggs in wounds or mucous membranes. The eggs hatch within 12–24 hours, and the larvae burrow into living tissue in a screw-like fashion, causing severe tissue damage, pain, and potentially death if untreated. After about a week on the host, larvae drop to the ground to pupate in soil for one to 54 days, depending on temperature and humidity, before emerging as adult flies and continuing the cycle.

Producers are urged to observe livestock, horses, pets, and local wildlife daily. Warning signs include irritation, excessive head shaking, foul odor of decaying flesh, bloody or abnormal discharges, non-healing or enlarging wounds, visible eggs, or larvae in tissue. Any suspicious case should trigger immediate contact with a veterinarian, followed by rapid notification of state and federal animal health officials, as this is a reportable condition.

Dr. Peterman emphasizes thoughtful management around procedures that create wounds, such as branding, castration, dehorning, ear tagging, and calving assistance, especially in at-risk regions. She notes conditional approvals for products such as Dectomax CA-1 and Exalt Cattle CA-1, along with other emergency-use therapeutics listed on the FDA website, and stresses strategic use to prevent resistance.

On the regulatory front, USDA and the Texas Animal Health Commission have established 20-kilometer infested and buffer zones, imposed movement controls, and deployed millions of sterile male flies via air and ground release. Monitoring of wildlife and fly populations is ongoing, aided by fluorescent dye markers on sterile males.

The episode closes with reassurance that the New World Screwworm has been successfully eradicated before. The key messages are to avoid panic, remain vigilant, report promptly, and remember that this is an animal health and welfare issue rather than a food safety concern.

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Welcome back to Cattlemen & Veterinarians, a Partnership in Bovine Health, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, we have Kaid Panek and Dr. Shynia Peterman, and they sit down with Dr. Dalton Newell, DVM of Oklahoma Beef Consultants. In this episode, they will dive into some tips and tricks for fair time to keep your animals as healthy and strong as possible.

Dr. Dalton Newell was raised on a backgrounding operation in Minco, OK, where his family preconditioned cattle, sheep, and goats. Dalton judged livestock at Redlands Community College, Oklahoma State University, and graduated from OSU College of Veterinary Medicine in 2021. Dr. Newell is a production animal veterinarian with the Oklahoma Beef Consultants; a consulting firm reaching from Nebraska to Texas and Missouri to California. Along with the services and consulting provided to producers, Newell volunteers as animal health official for Cattlemen’s Congress, the Oklahoma Youth Expo, EYO at the State Fair of Oklahoma, and the California Ag Youth Expo. Dalton, his wife Kass, who is the Executive Vice-President of OYE, and daughters Nyla and Nellie reside in Yukon, OK.

Dr. Newell begins by explaining the importance of Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVIs). Requirements vary by state and by show, and can change rapidly with emerging disease threats such as screw worm, Theileria, and tick-borne conditions. Exhibitors are encouraged to review each show’s rules well in advance and provide those requirements to their veterinarian to streamline CVI preparation and avoid last-minute problems. He notes that CVIs are typically valid for 30 days, but that window may shorten during disease outbreaks.

The conversation then turns to foundational husbandry. Dr. Newell stresses that preparation starts on day one of owning the project. Quarantine of new arrivals, daily observation of feed and water intake, clean bedding, appropriate vaccination protocols, deworming, and coccidia control are presented as non‑negotiable basics. At the fair, three pillars of husbandry—clean water, fresh feed, and a comfortable environment—are described as essential across species. Timing hauls to avoid heat stress, pre‑bedding stalls, running fans, managing water familiarity, maintaining feeding schedules, and using hay strategically all help keep show cattle eating, drinking, and coping with stress.

For terminal shows, Dr. Newell highlights the critical importance of drug withdrawal times and meticulous treatment records to protect food safety. He recommends simple, consistent recordkeeping systems such as spreadsheets or shared digital documents, noting that documentation is vital if an animal ever tests positive on drug screens.

Biosecurity when bringing animals home is addressed through quarantine, close observation for 7–10 days, and attention to equipment, trailers, and footwear to reduce disease spread. Dr. Newell closes by underscoring the life skills, work ethic, and human–animal bond developed through 4‑H, FFA, and showing livestock, encouraging families and educators to prioritize both animal welfare and biosecurity while enjoying the show barn lifestyle.

Fair Time Tips & Tricks Cattlemen & Veterinarians

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Welcome back to Cattlemen & Veterinarians: A Partnership in Bovine Health, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, we have our hosts Kaid Panek and Dr. Shynia Peterman and they chat with David Jensen and Cesar Melgar with Hawkeye Breeders. 

Jensen explains that Hawkeye Breeders is a custom bull collection facility that does not own or market bulls but provides semen collection services for artificial insemination, embryo transfer, and IVF for a global customer base. He traces the history of artificial insemination from cooled semen shipped in milk fat on milk trucks to modern frozen semen, sexed semen, genomic tools, and advanced reproductive technologies.

Jensen outlines the semen collection process using trained teaser steers and artificial vaginas, emphasizing the importance of evaluating motility, morphology, and concentration. He stresses that breeding soundness exams are critical “cheap insurance” to ensure bulls are structurally sound, reproductively normal, and capable of settling cows, especially given today’s high cattle prices and demand for herd growth.

Melgar details laboratory evaluation, including microscopic assessment and computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA), along with verification of concentration using a nuclear counter. He explains dose differences between beef and dairy semen and the importance of progressive motility. Jensen then describes the industry’s adoption of sexed semen, the role of flow cytometry, and collaboration with major providers. Because of extensive quality control, bacterial testing, DNA verification, and packaging steps, turnaround time for sexed semen is typically about two weeks, compared to roughly a day for conventional semen.

The discussion shifts to health, disease testing, and nutrition. For domestic use, tuberculosis and brucellosis testing are standard; for export, bulls and semen undergo extensive testing for leukosis, BVD, IBR, Campylobacter, trichomoniasis, and more. Vaccination strategy becomes more complex when export is anticipated, since some markets restrict vaccinated animals. Melgar emphasizes deworming plans, vitamin supplementation, and comprehensive mineral programs, highlighting key trace elements such as zinc, selenium, copper, and manganese, and treating bulls like athletes ahead of breeding or collection. Listener questions cover age at first collection, bull longevity in the breeding battery, mineral timing before turnout, and protocols for retesting bulls that initially fail a breeding soundness exam. Dr. Shynia Peterman closes by reinforcing proactive health, testing, nutrition, and early planning as essential to a successful breeding season.

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Welcome back to Cattlemen & Veterinarians: A Partnership in Bovine Health. Just ahead, we have Gale McKinney, the Owner of American Cattlemen Media, and Dr. Shynia Petermen, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, and they chat with Blaze Mullhagen and Dan Schweitzer about the Veterinary Client Patient Relationship.

Blaze describes his background as a fifth- or sixth-generation cattleman involved in farming, ranching, and building cattle handling equipment. His operation centers on a black cow-calf herd, using cattle both for production and to test handling systems. Dan shares that he is a fourth-generation farmer and cattleman, raising crops such as wheat, milo, corn, and alfalfa alongside a cow-calf operation, working with multiple generations of his family.

Dr. Shynia will then dive deeper into the Veterinary Client Patient Relationship and how it is legally required in most states before a veterinarian can ethically and legally prescribe medications for any species, large or small. Key elements include the veterinarian assuming responsibility for animal health and treatment, the client agreeing to follow instructions, the veterinarian having sufficient knowledge of the animals through recent exams or farm visits and being available for follow-up care and record keeping.

From the producers’ perspective, the VCPR is “everything” because it underpins having a solid, efficient herd health plan. They emphasize planning ahead with their veterinarian, staying informed about new products, and tailoring protocols to their specific herd history, disease challenges, and management style. They highlight the economic importance of precision and efficiency, given the high value of cattle and the cost of pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Shynia notes that herd health programs differ between operations due to varying disease pressures and goals. She stresses the value of producers being prepared when the vet arrives: cattle caught and sorted, equipment functional, products on hand, and all team members aware of the plan. While a written herd health protocol is not a legal requirement for VCPR, it is presented as a powerful tool for elevating herd performance and ensuring consistent, efficient care. The episode concludes by reinforcing that a strong VCPR enhances animal welfare, operational efficiency, and the producer–veterinarian partnership.

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Welcome to Season 2 of Cattlemen & Veterinarians: A Partnership in Bovine Health, powered by American Cattlemen Media! Today, Gale and Dr. Peterman chat with Dr. Roger Osinchuk to discuss calving setup for lifelong success through sound cow and calf management. 

They begin with cow management before breeding and calving, emphasizing pre-breeding vaccinations and scours vaccines. Dr. Osinchuk explains that reproductive diseases, including BVD and IBR, are largely preventable with correctly timed and administered vaccines, and that effective vaccination supports both pregnancy maintenance and colostral immunity for calves. He stresses reading labels, understanding the differences between killed and modified-live vaccines, and vaccinating four to six weeks prior to calving so protective antibodies are concentrated in colostrum.

Colostrum is highlighted as the single most important factor in neonatal calf health. Calves are born without antibodies and must absorb immunity through colostrum within the first 24 hours, especially the first few hours of life. Failure of passive transfer predisposes calves to scours, pneumonia, joint and navel infections. Both veterinarians strongly advocate early intervention in dystocia, rapid colostrum supplementation when there is any doubt, and judicious use of high-quality commercial colostrum replacers.

The discussion then moves to recognizing and managing calf scours, hypothermia, heat stress, and dehydration. Early fluid therapy, proper use of electrolytes, and appropriate antibiotics under veterinary guidance are key. They note that prevention through sound vaccination, hygiene, and timely intervention is far cheaper and more profitable than treatment.

Later, they cover calf processing: early castration and dehorning to reduce stress and long-term performance losses, strategic respiratory and clostridial vaccinations, and management of pinkeye and other region-specific issues. They also address bottle calf management, stressing colostrum status, controlled milk feeding, rapid transition to high-quality starters, and meticulous sanitation. The episode concludes with a discussion of udder and teat quality, mastitis recognition, and culling criteria, all framed around the goal of producing healthy, efficient calves and ultimately higher-quality beef.

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Welcome back to Cattlemen & Veterinarians: A Partnership in Bovine Health, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, hosts Dr. Shynia Peterman and Gale McKinney chat with Dr. Eric DeVuyst and Dr. Cheryl DeVuyst, owners of DeVuyst Ranch about the Economic Implications of Providing Aggressive Treatments in Cattle. 

Cheryl and Eric have a background in production agriculture and focus on their work. Cheryl's specialization is agricultural finance, while Eric's is farm and ranch management. In addition to currently serving as Vicec-Chair of the Cattlemen's Beef Board, Cheryl is an advisor to the Oklahoma Collegiate Cattlewomen and works to help develop young leaders in the beef industry. She was named the Oklahoma Cattlewoman of the Year in 2024. Eric has focused on research and Extension projects that impact the profitability of agricultural operations. Some of his research includes the economics of genotyping in cattle operations, management of cow-calf operations, and feedlot profitability.

The conversation begins with an overview of the current cattle market, where tight supplies and strong consumer demand for beef are driving record prices. Weather-driven forage availability, especially the easing of drought in parts of the Great Plains versus persistent dryness in western regions, is shaping whether the industry moves into an expansion phase. Eric and Cheryl emphasize that, regardless of market cycles, the single most important number for cow-calf producers to track is cost of production. Producers cannot control cattle prices, but they can influence their costs through stocking rate, feed management, and disciplined record-keeping.

Feed costs and land decisions emerge as critical drivers of profitability. Overstocking inflates feed bills and degrades grass, while chasing expensive land can create unsustainable financial pressure. Most U.S. cow-calf herds are small, often family-run operations with modest labor costs, but large operations may face tightening labor conditions. Instead of focusing solely on individual weaning weights, the guests recommend thinking in terms of pounds weaned per acre and favoring moderate-sized cows that allow higher stocking rates and better overall output.

Common economic mistakes include chasing the wrong EPDs, inadvertently selecting large, high-maintenance cows, and failing to keep or analyze detailed production records. Vaccination and basic health protocols are framed as “cheap insurance” rather than direct profit centers—producers may not see the absence of disease as a measurable return, but the financial hit from outbreaks is immediate and severe. University tools such as preconditioning budgeting models can help evaluate value-added programs, and research shows that bundled practices like vaccination, castration, dehorning, defined calving seasons, and sound genetics substantially increase the odds of premiums and profitability.

Economic Implications of Providing Aggressive Treatments in Cattle

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Welcome back to the American Dairymen Podcast. Just ahead, we have Dustin Hector, he's the Host of the American Dairymen Podcast, and he sits down with Georg Weitzel, with Crystal Springs Ranch and Kalf Kozies. In this episode, Georg and Dustin will dive into the Kalf Kozies product and how it was designed to help calves out in the cold. 

Georg explains that his family ranch calves out around 500 cows in January, February, and March, often in temperatures reaching 30 to 40 degrees below. Calves are usually born outside and then brought into the barn, but limited barn capacity means they can only stay inside for about 24 hours before returning outdoors. Even when calves were dried off, their ears frequently froze. Over the years, Georg and his family tried multiple existing products, but none performed the way they needed.

That led Georg’s wife, Sarah, to design the Kalf Kozies. It is a custom-woven, water-resistant fleece hat that slips over the calf’s head, with dedicated ear pockets and eye holes. The material has stretch built into the right areas for a secure yet comfortable fit. Adjustable snaps on the neck band allow a single hat to fit a wide range of calf sizes, from small preemies to large beef calves. To solve the issue of losing visual identification when all the calves were wearing hats, they added a leather patch on the outside that can be marked with a reusable grease pencil.

Georg emphasizes that comfort and functionality distinguish Kalf Kozies from competing products. The design allows the ears to remain in their natural forward position, so calves stay comfortable, active, and inclined to get up and nurse. The fabric wicks moisture away instead of trapping it, helping ears naturally toughen over several days of use. The ear pockets also help keep the hat in place, reducing the need for constant adjustment. Economically, preventing frozen ears can avoid substantial market discounts on calves, so a single saved ear can more than pay for the product. Georg notes that dairy producers use the hats to safely house multiple calves together and that calves wearing Kalf Kozies tend to be warmer, happier, and healthier throughout the winter.

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Welcome to Cattlemen and Veterinarians: A Partnership in Bovine Health. Today, join hosts Gale McKinney and Dr. Shynia Peterman as they discuss Herd Health Management Plans with Dr. Jason Banta with Texas A&M University. 

The conversation opens with timely news on trade restrictions related to disease outbreaks, reinforcing the ongoing importance of biosecurity for preventing the introduction of pests and infectious agents into herds, especially via newly purchased livestock.

Dr. Banta explains that proper herd health plans are critical for maintaining profitability and animal welfare because they reduce illness, treatment costs, reproductive losses, and overall mortality. He emphasizes that these plans should be tailored for each operation but universally include key components: biosecurity, vaccination, internal and external parasite control, and proper nutrition. Quarantine and testing of new arrivals are stressed as vital to preventing the spread of diseases like BVD PI and trichomoniasis. Dr. Banta advises working with veterinarians to determine the best vaccine protocols, highlighting that while some elements (such as Clostridial and respiratory viral vaccines) are foundational, protocols may need to be adjusted for local risks or herd-specific needs. The pursuit of a balanced approach to parasite control is also advocated, with strategies varying by region, rainfall, and forage growth patterns.

Nutrition is described as a frequently overlooked but crucial aspect of herd health, with energy and protein intake more vital to immune function than minerals. Nonetheless, having a balanced mineral supplementation plan is important, as excesses can be as harmful as deficiencies.

The podcast also addresses the importance of consistent record-keeping, suggesting technology or simple tools according to preference, and encourages producers to seek out educational resources and relationships with experienced cattle veterinarians. As part of holistic ranch management, herd health plans should be periodically reviewed and integrated with other operational plans, such as breeding, finance, and staffing. Overall, the experts encourage proactive development and regular updating of herd health plans, emphasizing the benefits of collaboration and continued learning for the long-term success of cattle operations.

Cattlemen & Veterinarians: A Partnership in Bovine Health

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Welcome back to Cattlemen & Veterinarians: A Partnership in Bovine Health. Today, Kade and Dr. Peterman discuss some techniques to help take care of your cattle in cold weather. 

The conversation highlights the paramount importance of adequate shelters and bedding for cattle as winter sets in. Dr. Peterman outlines how structures such as barns, three-sided sheds, and even simple windbreaks from natural or man-made materials can help shield herds from biting winds and cold. Good bedding, particularly straw, not only provides insulation but also helps prevent cold-related injuries like frostbite in vulnerable animals. Bed maintenance is discussed, with frequency largely depending on the number of cattle and how rapidly the bedding gets soiled—sometimes daily or weekly.

Nutrition is emphasized as a crucial aspect not to be compromised. Dr. Peterman stresses that cattle should enter winter with an appropriate body condition score, and as the temperature drops, high-energy feeds become vital. She explains that cold stress increases animals’ energy needs, and gradual dietary adjustments should accommodate these demands. Clean, unfrozen water is another critical need, calling for vigilance with ice and heating devices.

The episode further covers health monitoring, spotlighting signs of cold stress and reinforcing the importance of timely vaccinations, particularly for disease prevention in newborn calves. Listeners’ questions lead to advice on managing breed-specific genetic issues in Wagyu cattle, the careful acclimation required when moving cattle from warm to cold climates, and the comparative merits of dry lot wintering versus winter grazing systems. Dr. Peterman recommends nutritional testing and gradual feed changes for supplements like alfalfa and dried distillers grains. She concludes with tips for managing hazards like frozen ground to safeguard cattle health.

Cattlemen & Veterinarians, A Partnership in Bovine Health

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