Angus Underground

Hurricane Helene struck the Southern and Mid-Atlantic agricultural regions hard, leaving billions in damages. In response, Elizabeth Marshall of Glenmary Farms launched the Help Us, Help Them benefit auction on SaleRing.live to rally support for those impacted. In this episode, David talks with Elizabeth, volunteer Bethany Daigle, and Chris Mackey from the TN Ag Extension Service about how this auction can bring real relief to devastated farming communities.

Auction Details:

• Date: Monday, November 4th
• Bidding: Opens at 7 AM ET; extended bidding begins at 7 PM ET
• Funds Distribution: 100% of proceeds go directly to the Virginia Cattlemen's Foundation, Farm and Forest Families of Tennessee Fund, South Carolina Cattlemen's Foundation,  North Carolina Cattlemen’s Association, and Georgia Cattlemen's Foundation

Join us to support those hardest hit by bidding on unique items, with all proceeds directly aiding the agricultural community’s recovery.

Mentioned in this Episode:

SaleRing.live

MontanaRanchAngus.com

Facebook @AngusUnderground

Instagram @AngusUnderground

Contact [email protected] or call (406) 210-1366 if you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Angus Underground.

Elizabeth Marshall

Glenmary Farm

Bethany Daigle, Active Community Member/Volunteer

Chris Mackey, TN Ag Extension Service

[email protected]

Quotes:

• “I had it on my heart to try to do something. … I felt like, given my position with SaleRing.live, there was a tool in my toolbox to help these people.” — Elizabeth [4:16]
• “It’s easy to look at something that’s miles and miles away and turn your head to it and think that it’s never going to impact you, and you may be the person at some point that needs that kind of help and outreach.” — David [7:13]
• “It’s a really humbling experience to see your town turn into ground zero.” — Bethany [15:00]
• “The one good thing about America is we are a society that takes care of our own.” — David [16:40]
• “Honestly, about 2% of the world is bad. The other 98% is really awesome.” — Chris [29:40]

The show kicks off with a heartfelt discussion about the devastating storms that recently hit the Southeast and East, sharing their concerns for friends, colleagues, and listeners. They also highlight the upcoming Help Us Help Them benefit sale on SaleRing.live, Monday, November 4th at 7 p.m. EST, aimed at supporting those affected. From there, the team discusses the pros and cons of bull test stations before answering listener questions about everything from optimizing embryo production to finding the right balance between maternal and terminal traits in breeding programs.

Mentioned in this Episode:

MontanaRanchAngus.com

BucksnortRanch.org

SaleRing.live

Facebook @AngusUnderground

Instagram @AngusUnderground

Contact [email protected] or call (406) 210-1366 if you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Angus Underground.

Quotes:

• “Do not expect them to sell them for you, because that’s not what’s going to happen.” [26:21]
• “I think the heart, the heart of a bull test station… There’s no more appropriate time for that in this breed than right now. We need to be verifying cattle.” [28:04]
• “There is a difference. Do your research, because not every test station is created equal. Ultimately, as a breeder, you have to analyze where you are and where you want to go.” [31:17]
• “As long as that cow’s having a calf, sometimes you can get along pretty good.” [47:16]
• “Balance is what keeps people in business.” [52:28]
• “Raise some good cattle that don’t cause people problems, and that’s all the way from conception until it’s eaten on a plate." [52:28]

David is joined by returning guest Josh Stroh, a beef nutritionist from Hubbard Feeds. Josh talks about the critical aspects of bull development, from feeding protocols to achieving long-term herd success. Josh shares some great tips for maintaining gut health, optimizing feed intake, and managing bulls to ensure they're in peak condition for breeding. He also discusses how to avoid overfeeding, the importance of consistency in feeding schedules, and strategies for improving skeletal and muscle development.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Hubbard Feeds

BlueprintAnimalNutrition.com

CreekInsure.com

MontanaRanchAngus.com

BucksnortRanch.org

SaleRing.live

Facebook @AngusUnderground

Instagram @AngusUnderground

Contact [email protected] or call (406) 210-1366 if you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Angus Underground.

Quotes:

• “You want bulls that are muscular and masculine, not couch potatoes.” — David [10:07]
• “You’ve got to find that happy medium — get the right development and gain without making them too fat.” — David [10:23]
• “Bulls are athletes. We need to treat them like young men in football practice.” — Josh [11:32]
• “Consistency is key. Slow and steady wins the race.” — Josh [21:03]
• “Attention to detail is everything in this business.” — David [21:38]
• “Cattle are habitual. They have this internal clock, and consistency in feeding is everything.” — David [23:00]

In this episode, David, Joe, and Vince are joined by special guest Mark Nold from Gettysburg, South Dakota. Mark shares insights from his work with the family operation of Nold Family Angus and Nold Animal Supply, focusing on the critical topic of pre-conditioning and weaning calves. They chat with Mark about vaccination protocols, parasite control, and how to set calves up for success during the stressful weaning process. Mark offers his recommendations on vaccination timing, nutritional support, and practical management strategies to minimize stress on herds and boost immune health.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Nold Family Angus

Nold Animal Supply

Vitalix

FaithAngusFarms.com

Upchurchbrothers.com

MontanaRanchAngus.com

BucksnortRanch.org

SaleRing.live

BruinRanch.com

ShadyBrookAngusFarm.com

Facebook @AngusUnderground

Instagram @AngusUnderground

Contact [email protected] or call (406) 210-1366 if you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Angus Underground.

Quotes:

• “Mother Nature always wins.” — Mark [28:40]
• “Number one, develop a relationship with your local vet. And number two, when you have a problem, get them involved and let them use their mind to help you solve that problem and set up the vaccine protocol that’s more geared towards their circumstances.” [34:04]
• “I’m always on the war against the parasite.” — Mark [1:04:09]

Joe, Korbin, and Vince sit down to chat about the recent calving season, including the impact of drought on cattle operations and the challenges of maintaining healthy herds during tough conditions. They share insights into managing feed shortages, early calving issues, and the importance of mental health during these stressful times. The guys then focus on the topic of what makes a cow a donor and the careful considerations involved in choosing the right animals for breeding. They highlight what they’ve learned about managing genetics, selecting bulls, and navigating the complexities of embryo transfer programs.

Mentioned in this Episode:

MontanaRanchAngus.com

CreekInsure.com

SaleRing.live

BruinRanch.com

ShadyBrookAngusFarm.com

Facebook @AngusUnderground

Instagram @AngusUnderground

Contact [email protected] or call (406) 210-1366 if you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Angus Underground.

Quotes:

• “Even if it crashes and burns now, it was still worth it. And that’s just saying, you know, even if I go have a bad sale next year, it will still be worth it.” [1:39]
• “Everybody wants to know some secret sauce to these marketing keys about getting people there. And what I’ve found is if you’re able to show your passion with people, the people will find you who think like you, and they’ll show up.” [2:12]
• “I’m hopeful that a listener will hear this, and they will say, ‘You know what? Joe’s gone through that, and he’s had to sort through it, or he’s had friends go through it. And I’m not alone, because we don’t talk about mental health nearly enough in this ag business.” [11:57]
• “I’ll be the first one to tell you guys that I struggle with it every day. It’s one of those things that when you’re running cows and things aren’t going well, whenever it gets dry and I don’t have any grass and I don’t have any way to get any feed, and I don’t have hay, it gets tough. I just want everyone else to realize that they’re not alone in that. I’m sharing those same problems you are having.” [12:42]
• “I think a lot of times, if you had that mindset instead of, ‘Boy, how can I make her better?’ It’s more like, ‘How can I not screw this thing up? How can I make another one just like her?’” [43:08]

The full crew is back and here to celebrate their third anniversary! They share updates on their busy summers — from calving and crop work to family vacations. They then reflect on the podcast’s evolution, the valuable connections they’ve made with listeners, and the profound gratitude they feel for the overwhelming support that has sustained the show. Everyone agrees how the podcast experience has instilled lessons in humility, discipline, and maintaining perspective — so thank you, and here’s to the next three years ahead.

Mentioned in this Episode:

MontanaRanchAngus.com

BruinRanch.com

SaleRing.live

ShadyBrookAngusFarm.com

Facebook @AngusUnderground

Instagram @AngusUnderground

Contact [email protected] or call (406) 210-1366 if you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Angus Underground.

Quotes:

• “Perspective means everything when it comes to forming an opinion.” [1:07:16]
• “To be able to actually see that on this podcast we have made people’s lives easier and solved a problem for someone means a lot to me. It’s absolutely my favorite part.” [1:18:44]

This week, David welcomes Darris Meitler of Meitler Cattle in Lucas, KS and Brent Lonker of Lonker Cattle in Fresno, CA. They dive into the principles for selecting cattle for functional efficiency, as taught by Dr. Jan Bonsma, a renowned animal scientist from South Africa. Darris and Brent share insights on Bonsma’s approach to evaluating cattle based on visual indicators of hormonal balance and adaptability, and how these principles can be applied to improve herd productivity and longevity.

Mentioned in this Episode:

MontanaRanchAngus.com

Facebook @AngusUnderground

Instagram @AngusUnderground

Contact [email protected] or call (406) 210-1366 if you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Angus Underground.

MeitlerCattle.com

The Bonsma All_Breeds Cattle Group

Quotes:

• “Three of my favorite things — wine, beef, and the fine art of breeding cattle.” [1:44]
• “The great cattlemen are already breeding Bonsma-type cattle, they just don’t realize it.” [3:00]
• “If you want to breed great cattle, it basically consists of three equal parts of observation, management, and science.” [29:57]
• “Your cow herds are no better than the mothers of the bulls you’re using, and so that should tell you exactly where you’re at.” — Brent [32:43]
• “If you apply the principles and you’re making those close decisions, the percentages are going to increase in your favor.” — Brent [1:26:03]

Dallas Woltemath, Advisor to ZWT Ranch, joins David and Vince to discuss the most influential cows in Angus breed history. The trio recaps a list of the top cows based on their own personal experience and input from the Angus community on social media. They discuss phenotypes, maternal lines, and their impact on shaping the modern Angus breed.

Mentioned in this Episode:

MontanaRanchAngus.com

BruinRanch.com

ShadyBrookAngusFarm.com

Facebook @AngusUnderground

Instagram @AngusUnderground

Contact [email protected] or call (406) 210-1366 if you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Angus Underground.

CreekInsure.com

ZWT Ranch

Quotes:

• “It was interesting to see the common ground that a lot of people landed on and then get some ideas of cows that maybe you wouldn’t have thought of right off the top of your head.” — Dallas [4:40]
• “She was an impressive beast, for sure.”

David welcomes veterinarian Dr. Beth Blevins of All Creatures Mobile Veterinary Clinic and Rafter E Angus in Ronan, MT. They discuss the challenges of managing outbreaks like rotavirus and the importance of testing for diseases such as BVD and Johne’s disease. Dr. Beth gives her expert advice on prevention strategies, biosecurity measures, and the latest developments in cattle health management.

Mentioned in this Episode:

MontanaRanchAngus.com

BruinRanch.com

ShadyBrookAngusFarm.com

Facebook @AngusUnderground

Instagram @AngusUnderground

Contact [email protected] or call (406) 210-1366 if you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Angus Underground.

CreekInsure.com

All Creatures Mobile Clinic

Rafter E Angus

Quotes:

• “It’s a roll of the dice when you test, but I think as a seed stock producer, we have an obligation.”
• “If we’re selling cattle to others to use in a breeding operation, whether it’s commercial, or whether it’s purebred, we have an obligation to make sure that these cattle are free of these infectious diseases.”

Joe, Vince, and Korbin celebrate the peak of summer, discussing preferred times and methods for cattle shows and favorite warm-weather activities with their herds. They then talk about the nuances of working alongside family, acknowledging both the rewards and challenges that can come with it. They talk about the importance of fostering family-like relationships with employees and the value of letting kids learn from their own mistakes.

Mentioned in this Episode:

MontanaRanchAngus.com 

BruinRanch.com

ShadyBrookAngusFarm.com

Facebook @AngusUnderground

Instagram @AngusUnderground

Contact [email protected] or call (406) 210-1366 if you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Angus Underground.

Quotes:

• “You show your banker your grass in the morning and your cows in the evening.” [4:26]
• “Commercial cattlemen don’t want a lot out of the cattle. They just want them to do what you say they will do.” [7:23]
• “Investing in our kids is super important.” [11:50]