Working Ranch Radio Show

Today we look at some very basic management practices that data shows will increase the value of your calves when you go to market them.  The values has been derived from data through a partnership between Superior Livestock, Kansas State University, and Merck Animal Health.  So today Dr. Chris Thomsen with Merck joins us as he walks us through the data.  From breeding management to calfhood management, that also includes looking a...

Dawn Hnatow (Cattle Up Stockmanship) joins us as we discuss Stockmanship.  What it is and what it isn’t.  The three areas where you and I as ranchers would see benefits to our operation: Economics, Production, & Life.  Dave Voth (Integrated Grazing Management) also joins us as we continue deeper into the conversation and work through the conflict many think about… is it worth my time? Which leads to the next thought… But I don’...

Dr. Allen Williams (Understanding Ag and Regenified LLC)is back with us today as he walks us through several things that can increase productivity and profitability through your grazing management. From the initial management in the early part of the grazing season, to the rule of Compounding, rule of Disruption, a great discussion on weeds and we'll conclude with a practice that is quite simple, but we rarely practice that ties th...

Today on the Working Ranch Radio Show we are covering three things. First Dr. Rick Machen with the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management joins us as we discuss some exciting modifications they’ve made to their Master’s Program in Ranch Management… especially for those current college students that will be getting an undergraduate degree with aspirations of a Master’s Degree in Ranch Management. Plus they have a Wildlife Managem...

The Common Ground Summit… a meeting of 40 people across the country.  These 40 represented various segments of the cattle industry. These 40 were comprised of what some might say would be small non-influential family operations to large influential registered operations, family feed yards, or sale barn owners.  If these 40 where a herd of cows… the term Heinz 57 comes to mind. But their purpose was simple.  Find common ground and u...

Bovine Congestive Heart Failure. For me I’ve always assumed it was the same as High Altitude Disease or Brisket Disease, but in our cattle industry today where we see a push for performance and high growth, we are seeing it manifest itself at a point in time that is extremely costly to the feeder... right before slaughter. Dr. Kirk Ramsey and Dr. Paige Pratte with Neogen join me today as we discuss the concern of Bovine Congestive ...

The story of the Maude Family in Western South Dakota took center stage this past week as criminal charges against Charles and Heather Maude were dropped over a land issue in what many are saying was a rogue US Forest Service agent bringing charges of land theft over 25 acres of ground that have been fenced into the deeded ground for over 70 years. Today, Rachel Gabel, spokesperson for the Maude Family, returns as our guest as we t...

On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your Quality of Life (QOL) right now?  Today Allan Crockett returns as our guest as we rip the band aid off the question that may be bouncing off the walls of your mind, "Is this the Quality of Life that I want going forward? We take a three-leg'd approach as we start with looking at how we can generate "Time and Money" in one area of a QOL, then we discuss "Relationships" as a second leg and i...

Virtual Fencing. It’s a topic that spurs intrigue for many of us, but often from a distance. Whether it’s the newness of the technology or the cost to implement.  Today Matt Vermeesch with Nofence, joins as we explore the technology as a whole.  Additionally, we’ll hear from Idaho rancher Tyson Coles with his perspective as a user. So, what are the factors to contemplate when considering an investment in virtual fencing? It’s truly...

Managing a ranch in today’s industry is different that it was for the previous generations... and it continues to change.  So, what are the skills a manager needs on today’s ranch?  Rick Machen with the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management is my guest as he shares with us three umbrella areas that are critical for Ranch Managers. If you have aspirations of being a ranch manager, either for your family ranch or someone else; yo...

Losing calves during pregnancy may not be a big factor in your operation, but it’s still a loss and it does affect your bottom line. So today Chloe Collins (University of Missouri Extension) walks us through what can cause Gestational Pregnancy Loss during the Early Embryonic phase of the first 45 days to the fetal period from 45 days to birth. Plus, ways to mitigate those losses in both our young cows and older cows. It may not se...

Like it or not, AI Technology is here and today we continue in our discussion  with Mackenzie Burnett (Ambrook). Topics like how it could be used… for example to start the ball rolling on things like estate planning, enterprise analysis, or business negotiations.  But then we also head down a line of questions about things like the morality of AI technology and is it safe? But AI is not a silver bullet. While it may serve as a grea...

AI Technology… and I’m not talking Artificial Insemination.  I’m talking about tools like ChatGPT.  It has quickly risen to the surface in our vocabulary but what about our understanding of it? Today Mackenzie Burnett (Ambrook) returns as our guest as she walks through what it is, why it has suddenly come to the forefront, how it’s being used, and how could you and I as ranchers use it.  Does AI Technology give you cause to concern...

When it comes to bull selection, before you even look at a bull or look at all the numbers… there are some questions you must ask yourself.  Dr. Saulo Zoca (University of Tennessee) walks us through some of these critical questions.  Then, we must understand that first and foremost, this bull needs to stay healthy and breed cows. Finally we start looking at numbers, keeping in mind that at the end of the day, is it really about how...

It’s our Annual Market & Weather Outlook Show for the coming year! We start first with the Cattle Markets as Clint Berry (Superior Livestock & @HossTheBeefGuy) and I discuss the factors playing into our market for the next couple of years as well as the CattleFax market forecast prices from Fat Cattle down to bawlin’ calves. Plus, we'll discuss "just how long the market stays up, price protecting, and beef demand.

Then Mete...

Today we conclude my conversation with Allan Savory.  It’s a deeper dive into what Holistic Management really looks like… and what it isn’t.  And, if it crosses your mind about creating a future or legacy for your family or ranch operation you will find our conversation extremely valuable.  Also does Holistic Management work with the principle of running your ranch like a business? This is the conclusion part of my conversation wit...

Today we continue with Part 2 of my conversation with Allan Savory.  He is a firm believer that livestock MUST be a part of reversing what he fills is a threat to mankind… that being desertification.  Today our conversation leads us down the road of talking about climate change.  It is a topic that ranchers often feel they have to be defensive due to environmental groups placing blame on agriculture.  But what is Allan Savory's vie...

My guest today is none other than Allan Savory.  A man who once despised livestock and now a fierce believer in the role of livestock to our planet. Today we hear the back story of what fuels his life’s work and passion for helping ranchers through Holistic Management. Through his beliefs and stances on land management, climate change, and other issues, he’s managed to frustrate both the extreme environmentalists as well as some in...

From the conversations at the coffee shop to the sale barn café, there’s FOUR questions just kind of hanging out there in the air… and I can guarantee you’ve probably engaged with someone recently over one or more of these questions.  Today Dr.  Kenny Burdine (University of Kentucky) joins me as he identifies FOUR questions that the 2025 Cattle Market will need to answer.

Plus, Jeremy Martin & Travis Chrismas with Stockmen's So...