13. Beef on Dairy with Lorna Marshall

Beef-on-dairy is transforming how we think about efficiency, genetics, and profitability in cattle production—and few people have influenced that evolution more than Lorna Marshall, Vice President of Beef Genetics at Select Sires.

In this episode of The Future of Beef Show, Lorna shares how she’s bridging the worlds of dairy precision and beef performance to drive genetic progress across the industry. From genomic testing to smarter sire selection, she lays out how technology and collaboration can help producers raise more consistent, high-value cattle—whether they’re working with commercial herds or crossbreeding programs.

What You’ll Learn:

How genomic testing is reshaping replacement heifer selection

Links:

Connect with Lorna Marshall: www.selectsires.com

12. Ranching Advocacy with Tucker Brown

Ranching isn’t just about raising cattle—it’s about telling the story of where beef comes from and why it matters. Few do that better than Tucker Brown of R.A. Brown Ranch in Texas.

In this episode of The Future of Beef Show, Tucker shares how he’s using humor, transparency, and digital storytelling to connect consumers with the people behind their food. As a sixth-generation rancher, he’s bringing fresh energy to ranching advocacy while still grounded in the values that built his family’s operation.

What You’ll Learn:

- Why advocacy matters for the next generation of ranchers

- How Tucker uses storytelling to connect with consumers and urban audiences

- The role of humor and authenticity in building trust

- Ways producers can amplify their own voices to support the beef industry

- Why transparency and openness are powerful tools for ranching’s future

Links:

Future of Beef Show: www.futureofbeef.com

Follow us on Facebook - Instagram - TikTok

Connect with Tucker Brown: instagram.com/tuckerbrownrab/ 

Learn more about R.A. Brown Ranch: https://www.rabrownranch.com/

Breedr: www.breedr.co

Farm Journal: www.farmjournal.com

Corteva Agriscience: www.rangeandpasture.com 

Markets don’t have to be a mystery. Dave Weaber breaks down the numbers—and how producers can use them to stay ahead of the game.

In this episode of The Future of Beef Show, we sit down with beef industry analyst Dave Weaber, who brings decades of experience helping producers, packers, and retailers understand the economics that drive our business.

Dave breaks down the market forces shaping cattle prices, consumer demand, and packer margins—and explains what those numbers really mean for cow-calf producers, feeders, and everyone along the chain.

From the value of grid marketing to the impact of consumer trends on your bottom line, Dave makes complex economics plainspoken and practical. His insights challenge us to think beyond the ranch gate, connect our herds to the bigger beef business, and capture more value from the cattle we produce.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make sense of cattle markets—and how to use that knowledge to make better decisions for your operation—this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

Links:

Future of Beef Show: www.futureofbeef.com

Connect with Dave Weaber: www.linkedin.com/in/dave-weaber-a87bb34/

Terrain Ag: www.terrainag.com

Farm Credit Services of America: www.fcsamerica.com

Breedr: www.breedr.co

Farm Journal: www.farmjournal.com

Corteva Agriscience: www.rangeandpasture.com

Welcome to the 10th episode of The Future of Beef Show: Feedyard Health with Dr. Dan Thomson.

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:

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.

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