Home to a few onion sheds, a grocery store and a handful of hometown restaurants, every Wednesday the town becomes Grand Central Station for nearly every cattle operation within 150 miles.

The modern dairy cow is a metabolic athlete. On a per-kilogram bodyweight basis, her daily energy turnover rivals that of a National Hockey League (NHL) athlete on game day. The difference is that she does this day-in, day-out, without recovery until dry-off.

Recent research from multiple labs suggests some of the most expensive stressors cows experience are the ones we don’t see.

Join us live from Nashville, Tennessee, as we visit with Greg Eckerle about feedlot nutrition; talk with Andrew Coppin about ranch water technology; and learn more during a beef industry outlook with Marshall Hansen.

The spring season brings longer days, greener pastures and a sense of relief from the freezing temperatures. However, the spring also carries its own set of challenges, as it is one of the most challenging times of the year for cattle health.

Ensuring optimal calving care for newborns is a top priority for producers. However, the responsibility doesn’t end as the calves leave the farmyard. Special attention must also be given to their nutrition and overall well-being as they transition to spring pastures and continue to grow during the summer months.

A calf’s gut is a blank slate at birth, but bacterial microbes quickly establish themselves within the first weeks of life. During this narrow window, the calf’s gastrointestinal (GI) tract is rapidly colonized by bacteria from equipment, colostrum and bedding – both beneficial as well as harmful.

Few seasons on the ranch inspire more optimism than calving time. With calf prices at historic highs, every live and healthy calf represents not just an animal, but a major financial asset.

In the dynamic world of animal nutrition, the challenges facing livestock production are no longer just about maximizing output. Today, producers must navigate a complex web of sustainability goals, regulatory constraints, consumer expectations and animal welfare concerns.