The Beef Podcast Show

The beef industry has witnessed remarkable growth in animal welfare awareness, leading to significant improvements in its practices. Properly caring for animals translates into better health, heightened disease resistance, and consistent growth rates. Besides, producing meat from compassionately raised animals positively impacts consumer perception, influencing purchasing decisions and enhancing the industry's reputation. In this episode, Dr. Eduarda Bordelusi, from Kansas State University, shares her expertise in animal welfare and applied domestic animals. As an innovative leader dedicated to improving animal welfare and exploring innovative solutions and a prominent advocate for responsible and sustainable agriculture, she connects technology, animal behavior, and welfare in the beef industry. 

"I believe it is crucial to incorporate both physiological and behavior measures, including grimace scores, in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the animal's emotional state." - Dr. Eduarda Bortoluzzi

What you’ll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:48) Introduction  
• (06:37) Understanding animal welfare in the beef industry
• (09:32) Applying observations from the dairy industry to beef cattle
• (13:16) The uses of artificial intelligence in beef farming
• (16:51) The challenges of getting quality images and consistency for machine learning models  
• (19:47) Further opportunities for employing AI and machine learning in the beef industry
• (21:48) Trying to eliminate subjectivity in the measurement of animal welfare
• (24:43) The importance of observer consistency
• (33:54) Integrating AI in Research
• (44:49) Integrating AI in research

Meet the guest: Dr. Eduarda Bortoluzzi

Experience

• Current: Associate Professor at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine
• Past: Research Intern at Kansas State University

Background

• Ph.D., Animal Science (Kansas State University)
• M.Sc., Animal Science (Kansas State University)
• B.Sc., Veterinary Medicine (Universidade Federal do Pampa)

Connect with our guest on Social Media: Linkedin

The Beef Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

- Bioverse

- DSM

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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While beef production is crucial to meet the ever-increasing global demand for protein-rich food, the rapid expansion of livestock farming has raised concerns regarding its environmental impact and long-term sustainability. In this episode, I team up with the esteemed Dr. Diwakar Vyas to delve into various aspects of the beef industry such as those ones. A true expert in the field, Dr. Vyas gives invaluable insights and practical advice for beef producers, emphasizing the importance of carefully observing animal performance and analyzing data, highlighting the immense value of extension work and producer collaboration, stressing the significance of conducting applied research, and sharing the findings of his groundbreaking research on efficiency and cattle performance.

"Observation and data are the keys to effective farming. So always start by looking at the data and be ready to adapt your management practices if anything deviates from the norm." - Dr. Diwakar Vyas

What you’ll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:21) Introduction 
• (07:45) Differences among livestock production systems
• (09:39) Challenges with forages in different climates
• (11:16) Focus and goals of current research
• (12:05) A comprehensive view on methane production and sustainability
• (14:10) An introduction to the concept of net protein contribution
• (15:48) Combining life-cycle assessment and net protein contributions
• (21:29) Discussing principles of forage quality evaluations
• (24:12) The responsibility of extension and collaboration with producers
• (25:49) Advice for beef producers and the importance of forage quality
• (29:51) The impacts of small mistakes on the farming process
• (30:25) Future breakthroughs in sustainability and the role of artificial intelligence
• (33:51) Final questions

Meet the guest: Dr. Diwakar Vyas

Experience

• Current: Assistant Professor of Ruminant Nutrition at the University of Florida
• Past: Research Biologist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Background

• Ph.D., Nutrigenomics (the University of Maryland)
• M.V.Sc., Animal Nutrition (the National Dairy Research Institute)
• D.V.M. (the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner)

Connect with our guest on Social Media: Linkedin

The Beef Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

- Bioverse

- DSM

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In subtropical regions, cattle production requires careful attention to forage management, considering it is a crucial resource for productivity, but the areas typically experience hot and humid conditions. With such challenges presented by the climate to beef cattle producers, a comprehensive forage management system is crucial for providing adequate nutrition to cattle, optimizing their performance, and minimizing the effects on the environment. So in this episode, Dr. João Venframini discusses forage management with an emphasis on subtropical production systems, as well as the impact of said management on forage, animal production, and environmental quality.

“The focus of my research is on tropical and subtropical regions, where we don't have extreme weather in the winter. My studies are also associated with Bos indicus influence breeds and with tropical forages that come with high production but low nutritive value.” - Dr. João Vendramini

What you’ll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (02:11) Introduction 
• (06:09) Podcasts on beef cattle
• (10:08) Management of cattle in hot and humid conditions
• (13:02) Nutritive forages
• (17:19) Alternative uses of forage crops
• (22:28) Interdisciplinary research in beef production
• (23:17) Communication between ag and the general public
• (26:30) Current research projects
• (32:34) The role of extension work in disseminating research
• (35:45) Personal life and hobbies
• (37:52) Three final questions

Meet the guest: Dr. João Vendramini

Experience

• Current: Professor at the University of Florida
• Past: Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University

Background

• Ph.D., Epidemiology (the University of Florida)
• M.Sc., Animal Science (the University of São Paulo)
• B.Sc., Agronomy (the University of São Paulo)

Connect with our guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

The Beef Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

- Bioverse

- DSM

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode, Dr. DiLorenzo and I discuss significant breakthroughs in greenhouse gas reduction: the potential of algae as inhibitors of methane emissions. Although not all algae possess this capacity, some do have that potential and as such, it is important to discuss the challenges and opportunities of scaling up algae production and the potential role of the ocean in expanding agricultural areas. Additionally, Dr. DiLorenzo emphasizes the need for mitigation strategies that maintain production levels and highlights the importance of identifying highly productive animals to reduce the carbon footprint, employing management strategies such as culling unproductive animals, optimizing stocking rates and grazing, and implementing strategic supplementation. 

“There's plenty of ocean, of course, but I think the industry will figure out a way to make exploring it economically feasible. Still, before that, algae have to be proven effective.” – Dr. Nicolas DiLorenzo 

What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (02:03) Introduction 
• (12:02) Influencing others
• (14:09) Strategies to reduce environmental impacts 
• (17:18) Breakthroughs on greenhouse gas reductions
• (23:08) The blue revolution: farming on the sea
• (30:41) The challenges regarding methane
• (33:21) Applied strategies to decrease emissions on ranch
• (38:25) Final questions

Meet the guest: Dr. Nicolas DiLorenzo

Experience

• Current: Professor at the University of Florida
• Past: Postdoctoral Research Associate at Texas Tech University

Background

• Ph.D. (the University of Minnesota)
• M.Sc. (the University of Minnesota)
• Degree in Agricultural Engineering (Universidad Nacional de La Plata)

Connect with our guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

The Beef Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

- Bioverse

- DSM

Liver abscesses significantly affect animal performance, reducing their feed intake, weight gain, and carcass yield. In this episode, Dr. T.G. Nagaraja, an expert on the field, goes into the subject and sheds light on the intricate world of liver abscesses in cattle. He provides valuable insights into the causes and impacts of this condition, as well as ongoing research on it. Also, Dr. Nagaraja talks about his commitment to developing a 100% effective vaccine regardless of the challenges posed by the complexity of the problem.

“The only time when we detect lower abscesses is when the animals get slaughtered in the slaughterhouse.” - Dr. T.G. Nagaraja.

What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (02:11) Introduction 
• (08:39) Dr. Nagaraja's first steps in the field of liver abscesses
• (12:06) The importance of liver abscesses
• (19:37) Important discoveries
• (26:21) The creation of a vaccine
• (28:43) Dr. Nagaraja's studies and experience on the prevalence of liver abscesses 
• (40:23) Foot rot and its relationship with treatments to liver abscesses
• (48:51) Future discoveries
• (55:20) The final questions

Meet the guest: Dr. T.G. Nagaraja

Experience

• Current: Distinguished University Professor of Microbiology at Kansas State University

Background

• Ph.D., Microbiology
• M.Vsc., Veterinary Microbiology (Mysore Veterinary College, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India)
• B.VSc., Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Mysore Veterinary College, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India)

Connect with our guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

The Beef Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

- Bioverse

- DSM

Taking a holistic perspective and understanding technological advancements are crucial to manage animal health and improve risk categorization in today's beef industry. In this episode, Dr. Krehbiel emphasizes that interdisciplinary collaboration approaches are key to addressing grand challenges in ruminant nutrition. Also, he highlights that connecting people with the sources of their food and enhancing their understanding of food production can bridge the gap between agriculture and the general population and thus, help pave a better future for the beef industry.

“The conversation around climate change and sustainability is critically important to us, because the way we think about sustaining our industry will be critically important for its future.” – Dr. Clint Krehbiel

What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (02:03) Introduction 
• (16:04) What to keep in mind when choosing mentors 
• (19:01) Advances over the last 15 years in the understanding of feedlot cattle health 
• (22:13) Nutritional areas for future research  
• (25:58) Questions that technology will figure out
• (29:51) Holistic approach and interdisciplinary teams
• (32:08) The logistics of the opportunities 
• (34:25) Collaborative approaches for addressing grand challenges in ruminant nutrition 
• (44:00) The final questions

Meet the guest: Dr. Clint Krehbiel 

Experience

• Current: Dean of Davis College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Texas Tech University
• Past: Dennis and Marta White Endowed Regents Professor at Oklahoma State University; Marvel L. Baker Head and Professor of Animal Science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Background

• Postdoctorate (US Meat Animal Research Center) 
• Ph.D. (the University of Nebraska-Lincoln)
• M.Sc. (Kansas State University)
• B.Sc. (Kansas State University)

Connect with our guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

The Beef Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

- Bioverse

- DSM

Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) is a disease that suppresses the immune system and exacerbates other existing problems in the herd, thus greatly impacting various segments of the beef industry. In this episode, Dr. Bob Larson provides a lot of valuable information on the use of diagnostic tests to detect BVD in persistently infected (PI) calves, since they are the major contributors to the spread of the disease. He also discusses vaccines and their limitations, as well as a holistic strategy to successfully control BVD in our herds.  

“Most of our prevention and all of our testing efforts are really focused on these persistently infected animals.” - Bob Larson

What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:02) Introduction 
• (03:52) What is BVD and why is it a concern? 
• (09:12) BVD-associated problems and symptoms 
• (12:36) Persistently infected (PI) animals
• (18:55) Management practices to eliminate BVD  
• (25:12) Management of temporarily infected animals  
• (26:50) Consequences of BVD for the productivity of your herd 
• (33:54) Eradicating the virus or eliminating it from your herd 
• (40:11) The final questions

Meet the guest: Dr. Bob Larson

Experience

• Current: Professor of Production Medicine at Kansas State University
• Past: Professor at the University of Missouri; private veterinary practitioner.

Background

• Ph.D., (Kansas State University)
• D.V.M. (Kansas State University)
• B.Sc. (Kansas State University)

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

The Beef Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

- Bioverse

- DSM

In today's episode, we delve into the world of beef as we explore its nutritional value, convenience options, and market expansion with John Crowder, a marketing expert in the industry. Mr. Crowder goes into the essential vitamins and minerals present in beef, JBS's investments to enhance the variety and convenience of the meat, and the importance of educating consumers about the actual sustainability and nutritional benefits of the sector and its protein. We also discuss the shift to online grocery shopping and the impact on beef education while highlighting the increasing global demand for US beef.

"Beef: it's such a nutritious vehicle! It's also super delicious and creates a joyous occasion every time." - John Crowder

What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:02) Introduction 
• (05:11) Changes in the beef demand due to the pandemic 
• (08:54) Easy-prep initiatives from the industry 
• (18:14) The nutritional benefits of beef and the role of the industry in communication  
• (28:47) New generations, their perceptions of beef, and how to educate them 
• (32:47) Initiatives for sustainability 
• (38:59) Beef global demand and opportunities  
• (45:59) The final questions

Meet the guest: John Crowder

Experience

• Current: Head of Marketing, JBS USA Beef
• Past: Leadership positions with JBS Foods, Smithfield Foods, Grupo Bimbo/Sara Lee Bakery, and VDK Frozen Foods.

Background

• M.B.A., Marketing (Saint Louis University)
• B.S.B.A., Finance (Southern Illinois University)

Connect with our guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

The Beef Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

- Bioverse

- DSM

Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind the interactions between a host and their microbials is crucial for comprehending the complex relationship between cattle and their gut microbiota. Shedding light on how microbes contribute to the overall health and well-being of cattle is a major topic of interest, since several important traits in beef can be influenced by gut microbial ecology and harnessing their potential can help optimize feeding strategies, reduce environmental impact, and enhance overall productivity. In this episode, Dr. Leluo Guan discusses the work and research she has done on bovine "omics" and "microbes" and how it is crucial to understanding these key topics.

“It is now widely known that genetics indeed play a role in the microbial colonization of cattle." - Dr. Leluo Guan

What you’ll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:46) Introduction
• (10:57) Rumen microbiology, functional genomics and feed efficiency
• (15:26) Selection criteria of beef cattle
• (17:24) Direct-fed microbials
• (21:10) Dam vs sire: influence on the microbial population of calves
• (24:17) Early life gut microbiome
• (31:11) Microbiota and immunity
• (32:27) Omics
• (37:04) Mentoring of graduate students
• (40:55) Three final questions

Meet the guest: Dr. Leluo Guan

Experience

• Current: Professor of Functional Genomics and Microbiology in the Faculty of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Science at the University of Alberta
• Past: Associate Dean of Graduate studies in the Faculty of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Science at the University of Alberta

Background

• Ph.D., Pharmaceutical Science (Kyoto University) 
• M.Sc., Pharmaceutical Science (Kyoto University)
• B.Sc., Microbiology (Wuhan University)

Connect with our guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

The Beef Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

- Bioverse

- DSM

Having beef production as a family business has many benefits. It strengthens the connections among family members, instills values like hard work and collaboration, ensures the perpetuation and growth of the practice through the transfer of knowledge and skills across generations, and contributes to rural economic development. However, how do things work in day-to-day life? How can parenting and ranching be done simultaneously while having other external jobs? In this special episode, I talk to Dr. Hyatt Frobose (who is my husband, by the way) about the benefits and challenges of running a family beef business.

“I think it's really powerful that our kids are going to have the same opportunities in the rural lifestyle that we had." - Dr. Hyatt Frobose

What you’ll learn:

• Highlight (00:00)
• Introduction (01:36)
• Differences and challenges between hog and beef cattle (03:56)
• Staying up to date with the latest advancements and the best practices (07:34)
• The challenges of grass cattle (09:20)
• Sustainable practices in beef production (14:16)
• Goals for the future of the ranch (19:56)
• Advice for those thinking of starting their own ranches (23:41)
• Parenting and ranching (27:46)
• Working alongside your spouse (37:48)
• Aspirations for the family's involvement in the beef cattle industry (41:41)
• Final questions (46:25)

Meet the guest: Dr. Hyatt Frobose

Experience

• Current: USA Commercial Director at Jyga Technologies; co-owner at High Bar Cattle Company

Background

• Ph.D., Swine Management & Nutrition (Kansas State University)
• M.Sc., Swine Nutrition (Kansas State University)
• B.Sc.; Agriculture; Animal Sciences & Industry, Science Option (Kansas State University)

Connect with our guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

The Beef Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

- Bioverse

- DSM