Voices of the Feed Industry: A Nutra Blend Podcast

Built Different: The Next Generation in Ruminant Efficiency

Feed costs remain one of the largest investments in animal production, making efficiency more important than ever. But performance isn't simply about what goes into the ration—it's about how effectively animals utilize the nutrients they consume.

Join Dr. Alex Thompson and Dr. Jeff Weyers from Zinpro as they explore emerging insights into nutrient utilization and the role metabolic efficiency plays in supporting performance across every stage of production. During this discussion, attendees will learn why efficiency conversations are evolving, how nutrient utilization impacts production outcomes, and what opportunities exist to help cattle get more value from the feed they consume.

Whether your focus is cow-calf, receiving, finishing, or dairy production, you'll gain practical insights for improving performance while maximizing the value of existing nutritional investments.

Your Speakers: 

Dr. Alex Thompson is originally from Bakersfield, CA and currently resides in Minnesota with his wife Erin and their two children. He earned his bachelor's degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and his master’s and doctoral degrees from Texas Tech University. He has spent the last 10 years with Zinpro where he currently serves as the North America Feedlot Business Manager, setting strategy and providing technical support for internal and external customers.

Dr. Jeff Weyers joined Zinpro in 2016 and serves as the Dairy Business Manager for Zinpro's North American business. He holds a doctorate and a bachelor's degree in animal science from Oklahoma State University, as well as a master's degree in animal science from the University of Arkansas. He leads the company's dairy strategy and technical services across the region and works closely with both the Zinpro Performance Minerals and Zinpro IsoFerm product lines. Before joining Zinpro, he worked as an independent dairy nutritionist, consulting for large commercial herds in Texas, New Mexico and Kansas. Jeff and his wife reside in Stephenville, TX.

This episode may be eligible for ARPAS continuing education credits.

Transition Success Starts With What She Absorbs

The transition period places more demands on dairy cows than any other stage of production, and success often depends on more than what's included in the ration. In this episode of Voices of the Feed Industry, host Dr. Stacie Crowder sits down with Dr. Hannah Tucker from Novus International to explore the critical role trace mineral bioavailability plays during transition. Together they discuss how mineral absorption influences health, performance, and long-term herd durability, while sharing practical strategies dairy producers and nutritionists can use to support cows through one of the most challenging periods of their lifecycle. Whether you're managing transition programs or advising dairy producers, you'll leave with valuable insights you can apply immediately.

🎙 This Episode's Keynote:

Dr. Tucker was raised in the dairy industry and now works with the NOVUS Sales Team in North America to determine the best way to support customer goals and address production challenges. She also collaborates with the NOVUS R&D Team to design university and field trials and translate the results to further the understanding of the intelligent nutrition company’s solutions.

Before joining NOVUS, Dr. Tucker served as a ruminant nutritionist with Sioux Nation Ag where she formulated rations, provided ingredient insights to the feed mill, and helped troubleshoot challenges on its farms.   She earned her bachelor’s degree in animal science at Michigan State University (U.S.), and her master’s degree in dairy science and doctorate in animal science at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech; U.S.). She is a member of the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists and the American Dairy Science Association. 

🎙Your Host

Meet Dr. Stacie Crowder, Director of the Nutra Blend Nutritional Expert Advisory Team (NB NEAT) — stepping in as host of Voices of the Feed Industry. 

This episode may be eligible for ARPAS continuing education credits.

The Hidden Threats to a Strong Cattle Start

For freshly weaned and received cattle, the start isn't just the first chapter, it's the foreshadowing for everything that follows. In this episode of Voices of the Feed Industry, host Dr. Stacie Crowder sits down with Dr. Dusty Abney of Phibro Animal Health for an honest, practical conversation about why the first 14 days after arrival shape the entire feeding period. Together they dig into what really drives a successful start, protecting intake, staying ahead of hidden threats like coccidiosis and respiratory disease, nailing the receiving fundamentals, and capturing efficiency without shutting down the bunk. Whether you're a nutritionist, producer, or feed industry professional, you'll walk away with actionable strategies to help cattle start strong, stay healthy, and finish more profitably.

🎙 This Episode's Keynote:

Dr. Dusty Abney earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. from Texas Tech University, completing his doctorate in 2004.  He lives in Athens, Texas, with his wife Beverly (who is the original Dr. Abney) and serves as Technical Service Manager for U.S. Beef at Phibro Animal Health Corporation. In this role, he works with producers, nutritionists, veterinarians, and feed industry professionals across all segments of the beef industry, helping translate science into practical and profitable nutrition strategies. His areas of expertise include beef cattle nutrition, medicated feed additives, trace mineral nutrition, regulatory compliance, and production economics.  

Dusty is also passionate about the emerging role of artificial intelligence in agriculture and how AI can help producers make better decisions, improve efficiency, and enhance profitability.  He is a frequent speaker on the application of science and technology to modern beef production.

🎙A New Voice Joins the Mic 

Meet Dr. Stacie Crowder, Director of the Nutra Blend Nutritional Expert Advisory Team (NB NEAT) — stepping in as host of Voices of the Feed Industry. 

This episode may be eligible for ARPAS continuing education credits.

Quality is the First Ingredient: The Story Behind the Standard

Ever wonder what happens to your feed before it reaches you? Dr. Carrie Schultz, Director of Quality Assurance, pulls back the curtain on the manufacturing and warehouse protocols that protect every customer, every order. And now, hosted by Dr. Stacie Crowder, Director of NB NEAT.

🎙 This Episode's Keynote:

Dr. Carrie Schultz is Director of Quality Assurance at Nutra Blend, leading the quality, feed safety, and continuous improvement initiatives with over 20 years of experience in her field. She works across manufacturing and warehouse operations to uphold the standards and protocols that protect product integrity and customer trust.

🎙A New Voice Joins the Mic 

Meet Dr. Stacie Crowder, Director of the Nutra Blend Nutritional Expert Advisory Team (NB NEAT) — stepping in as host of Voices of the Feed Industry. 

This episode may be eligible for ARPAS continuing education credits.

Probiotics Made Practical: Types, Benefits and Applications

Navigate the growing role of probiotics in modern poultry production. On this episode, Dr. Chasity Pender will discuss different probiotic strains and families, how they function within the gut and the key benefits they can deliver to support flock health, performance and resilience.

Dr. Chasity Pender is a Poultry Technical Manager at dsm-firmenich providing support across the North American poultry industry. She earned her MS and PhD in Immunobiology from Virginia Tech. She provides technical expertise to help optimize poultry health and performance through science-based strategies. She specializes in mycotoxin risk assessment and mitigation, as well as eubiotic technologies, including PoultryStar.

This episode may be eligible for ARPAS continuing education credits.

Stress on lactating dairy cows isn't just about what you can see, it's about what's happening beneath the surface.

​On this episode, listeners will gain practical insights into supporting gut stability, optimizing digestion and helping cows maintain performance when stressors arise, whether they are environmental, nutritional or management related.

Listeners will also gain clarity into the evolving role of microbial feed additives in dairy nutrition, understanding how different technologies function and where they fit in today's feeding strategies.

This episode may be eligible for ARPAS continuing education credits.

In today's evolving parasite landscape, strategic deworming can play a key role in improving weight gain and overall health for cattle on pasture.

​On this episode, listeners will gain insight into current trends of cattle parasite management efficacy and how data-driven deworming decisions can support animal performance across different production systems. 

​Drawing from national fecal monitoring efforts and university-led parasite data, listeners will also learn updates and context around changing parasite pressures and what they mean for herd health and productivity.

This episode may be eligible for ARPAS continuing education credits.

Over the next several years, the dairy industry will face a tightening supply of replacement heifers. As fewer animals enter the system, the success of a dairy operation will increasingly depend on how well it can protect the health and productivity of the cows already in the herd.

On this episode, listeners will gain insight into why a stronger focus on prevention, resilience and whole-cow health is becoming essential in dairy operations, and how proactive strategies can help dairy operations be better stewards of their animals, while sustaining performance in a herd with fewer replacements.

This episode features experts from Diamond V, including Dr. Gavin Staley, a recognized thought leader in the U.S. Dairy Industry with more than 20 years of experience in veterinary practice and technical services. His expertise spans dairy record evaluation, heifer maturity and productive life, with a strong focus on preventative strategies that support long-term cow health and performance.

Dr. Gavin Staley examines what this shift means for today’s dairy herds and the professionals who support them. Exploring how keeping cows longer changes health risk, performance expectations and management priorities, as well as why extending lifespan only works when cows remain healthy and productive.

This episode may be eligible for ARPAS continuing education credits.