Casual Cattle Conversations

In this episode of the Casual Cattle Conversations Podcast, Shaye interviews Andrew Bredeweg about his multi-generational family farm in southwestern Indiana and why supporting family agriculture businesses helps rural communities thrive. Andrew explains how their operation evolved from a sustenance farm and dairy into a cattle-focused business that also farms under 500 acres, and how his kids are gaining ownership and business experience through feeding cattle and selling beef locally.   He discusses their approach to adopting practical technology—highlighting rotational grazing, TMR feeding, and the Performance Beef app to improve feeding accuracy, billing, and decision-making for custom-fed cattle. Andrew also shares his role managing a co-op feeder calf auction barn with seasonal sales and describes a local high school internship program that places juniors and seniors with area businesses to keep young talent in the community.  Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/  00:00 Andrew’s Family Farm Story  01:10 Why Support Family Ag  02:32 Life in Southern Indiana  03:31 Generations on the Farm  05:14 Raising the Next Gen  06:10 Learning Business Leadership  08:27 Adopting Farm Technology  12:35 Performance Beef App  15:47 Managing the Sale Barn  19:56 Internships for Rural Youth  23:30 Community Keeps Talent Home  25:18 Final Takeaways  26:19 Wrap Up and Thanks   

This week, Shaye talks with Jacob from AtTheYards about the past, present, and future of cattle marketing and why marketing options haven’t modernized as much as other areas like animal health.   Jacob notes that about 65% of feeder cattle still trade through sale barns and contrasts that with newer models like Superior Livestock’s video auctions, arguing producers need faster, broader access to buyers to manage market volatility and reduce commission costs that can materially impact the bottom line.   He explains that AtTheYards is a nationwide marketplace where buyers set customizable templates and receive notifications when listings match their criteria, creating targeted exposure for sellers. The platform supports split loads, offers a free first consignment, then charges $5 per head via credit card, posts cattle daily with text bid notifications, and is compliant with Packers and Stockyards bonding.   Learn more about AtTheYards here: https://bit.ly/400T7mF   Additional Links & Resources Learn about CattleMax here: https://bit.ly/4aG7K5q Learn about Performance Livestock Analytics here: https://bit.ly/47PxY3W Chapters 00:00 Modern Cattle Marketing 00:34 Meet Jacob AtTheYards 00:51 Why Marketing Needs Change 01:52 How Marketing Evolved 03:10 Jacob’s Industry Background 03:41 Bottom Line in Volatile Markets 06:04 Targeted Ads for Cattle 07:38 How AtTheYards Works 09:40 Buyer Efficiency and Templates 10:40 Split Loads for Small Herds 11:44 Risks Fees and Compliance 15:45 Speed Posting and Notifications 17:20 Selling Your Own Cattle 19:03 Final Takeaway and Wrap Up

Today on the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast, Shaye sits down with Wyoming rancher and CattleMax team member Jacqueline Lewis to talk about why herd records matter, especially for family and multi-generational ranches. Jacqueline explains how simple, goal-driven recordkeeping helps ranchers make better decisions, improve herd performance, and support long-term ranch success. She also shares practical advice for getting started, overcoming common challenges like time and technology concerns, and choosing a system that works, whether that’s paper, spreadsheets, or software. Listeners will walk away with simple steps to begin organizing herd records and using data to strengthen their operation. Learn more about CattleMax here: https://bit.ly/4aG7K5q  Links & Resources Learn more about Red Angus here: https://bit.ly/4iaU6bb  Learn more about At the Yards here: https://bit.ly/400T7mF  Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/. 00:24 Meet Jacqueline Lewis 01:43 Goals Drive Data 03:18 Generational Ranch Benefits 05:19 What Organized Looks Like 07:11 Common Recordkeeping Challenges 10:48 Simple Starting Steps 12:23 Choosing Your Method 15:02 Team Approach on Family Ranches 15:54 Switching Platforms Without Overwhelm 19:19 Beyond Cattle Inventory 20:21 Key Takeaways and Next Steps 21:41 CattleMax Resources and Wrap-Up

In this solo episode of the Casual Cattle Conversations Podcast, Shaye checks in a little over two months into 2026 and shares a simple ranch audit process to avoid setting profit goals blindly and to create benchmarks for improvement. She explains that audits help ranchers understand where they stand before making changes. The three-step audit includes: (1) defining what success means for your ranch (unique to each operation), (2) ranking confidence from 1–10 in key areas such as finances/bookkeeping, reproduction, genetics, nutrition, grazing/resource management, and health, and (3) assigning measurable metrics to each area (e.g., break-even, pregnancy rate, calving interval, death loss, treatment costs, costs vs returns). She encourages prioritizing improvements that align with the ranch’s definition of success and references her course Profit Foundations for Ranchers for a deeper process.   Links & Resources Learn more about Performance Livestock Analytics here: https://bit.ly/47PxY3W  Learn more about Red Angus here: https://bit.ly/4iaU6bb  Learn more about At the Yards here: https://bit.ly/400T7mF  Learn more about CattleMax here: https://bit.ly/4aG7K5q  Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/   00:00 2026 Ranch Check In 00:20 Podcast Welcome Back 01:38 Why Ranch Audits Matter 02:12 Profit Mistakes To Avoid 03:51 Three Step Audit Plan 04:38 Define Ranch Success 06:36 Rank Confidence Areas 08:24 Add Metrics Benchmarks 09:36 Example Benchmarks 12:05 Prioritize Improvements 12:50 Course And Final Wrap

In this episode of the Casual Cattle Conversations, Shaye interviews Tom and Terryn Drieling about ranch leadership on their Nebraska Sandhills ranch, where Tom has served as a ranch manager for about 10 years within a corporate ranch structure. They discuss how leadership sets workplace tone and impacts culture, profitability, efficiency, safety, and retention, emphasizing transparency, clear communication, attitude, and providing employees tools, autonomy, and support. Tom shares his shift from a default of anger toward more unbiased tone and open forums for crew input, along with accountability and continuing education requirements. Terryn highlights self-awareness, feedback, repair after poor interactions, and using stockmanship principles to assess energy and responses. They advise employees seeking better leadership to pursue education, ask curious questions, align around goals, and lead from any position, and they recommend resources such as universities/extension programs, podcasts, and paid options like Ranching for Profit.  Links & Resources Learn more about Red Angus here: https://redangus.org/ Learn more about At the Yards here: https://attheyards.com/  Learn more about CattleMax here: https://bit.ly/4aG7K5q 01:13 Meet Tom and Terryn Drieling 01:34 Why Leadership Matters 04:10 Tom’s Ranch Manager Role 05:42 Culture Tone and Transparency 10:57 Accountability and Team Buy In 13:48 Traits of Great Leaders 15:21 Self Audit and Self Awareness 19:07 Leading Without the Title 24:34 Training and Learning Resources 29:05 Key Takeaways and Wrap Up 

In this episode of the Casual Cattle Conversation, Shaye talks with Lydia, a first-generation farmer in southwestern Manitoba, about how non-family farm transitions can work. Lydia and her spouse started on leased land, built a direct-to-consumer livestock business, and later formed a structured transition partnership with a neighboring producer. They operate separate profitable businesses while collaborating on land, feeding, and asset purchases through clear written agreements and vendor financing. She shares that successful non-family transitions come down to trust, communication, solid business planning, and financial transparency. Lydia encourages new and aspiring farmers to live in the communities where they want to farm, build relationships, seek mentors, and work with advisors open to creative transition models. She also outlines red flags, including avoiding written agreements, weak financial management, and unclear profitability. Her message: with preparation, the right partners, and clear structure, non-family transitions are not only possible—they can be sustainable. Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/  Learn more about CattleTags here: https://bit.ly/3Lf8yE3        

On today’s episode of the Casual Cattle Conversation, Shaye welcomes Brittany Kelsey, a Missouri-raised cattle industry professional, wife, and mom who leads a remote team at CattleTags.com. They discuss why a solid animal identification system is the foundation for effective herd management, accurate record keeping, and improved profitability. Brittany covers how to choose the right tag by animal and purpose (large/calf tags vs. maxi and super maxi for mature cattle), color-coding strategies, and the advantages of Allflex laser-engraved, inked tags for lifelong readability versus marker-written tags that fade. They also discuss layout options (phone number, brand, birth date, sire info), one-piece vs. two-piece tag preferences and retention, and how to build practical management code/numbering systems that are easy to interpret and avoid duplicates—especially when retaining heifers. The conversation explores EID benefits including reducing human error, USDA compliance considerations in some states and markets, common misconceptions about what EIDs store, and matched EID/visual tag sets and TSU DNA sampling workflows. Brittany explains what to consider when purchasing EID readers, including desired data capture features, barcode scanning for DNA samples, ISO low-frequency compatibility, and avoiding proprietary systems. The episode highlights cattletags.com’s producer support, including help designing systems, creating spreadsheets for random numbers and EID imports into software like CattleMax, and proactive order checks, and closes with a takeaway that animal ID is about building a management foundation beyond tags or compliance.  Learn more about CattleTags here: https://bit.ly/3Lf8yE3  Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/  00:00 Welcome to Casual Cattle Conversations + Today’s Guest Brittany Kelsey  01:33 Why Animal ID Systems Matter: Records, Management & Profitability  03:09 Choosing the Right Ear Tag: Size, Color & Readability in the Field  04:45 Laser Engraved vs Marker Tags + Custom Layout Options  06:53 One-Piece vs Two-Piece Tags: What Retains Best?  08:21 Building a Numbering/Management Code System (and Avoiding Duplicates)  12:33 Maxi Tags for Replacement Heifers: Longevity & Labor Savings  14:22 EID Tags 101: Benefits, Compliance & Common Misconceptions  16:34 Matched Sets + DNA/TSU Sampling: Keeping IDs Connected  17:55 Picking an EID Reader: Features, Compatibility & ISO Standards  20:25 Why Producers Choose CattleTags.com: Ranchers Helping Ranchers  22:20 Key Takeaway + Wrap-Up, Links, and How to Support the Podcast   

In this episode of the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast, Shaye speaks with Dr. Emma Briggs about the significance of calf uniformity in the beef industry. Dr. Briggs, a faculty supervisor at Kansas State University Ag Research Center, dives deep into strategies for achieving uniform calf crops, discussing elements like calving windows, genetic selection, reproductive strategies, and management practices. The episode provides practical insights into how producers can enhance calf uniformity to improve overall herd management and productivity.   Links & Resources Learn more about CattleTags here: https://www.cattletags.com/   Sign up for the Profit Foundations for Ranchers here: https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/profit-foundations-for-ranchers   Learn more about the Ranch Channel here: https://bit.ly/ranchchannel   Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/    00:00 Introduction to Casual Cattle Conversations 00:40 Guest Introduction: Dr. Emma Briggs 02:25 Understanding Calf Uniformity 07:52 Genetic Selection for Uniformity 10:58 Management Strategies for Uniform Calf Crops 12:52 Final Thoughts and Resources

In this episode of the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast, Shaye talks with Dr. Josh Maples about price risk management strategies for cattle producers. Dr. Maples discusses the importance of understanding risk tolerance and the various tools available to manage price risk, such as futures and options, and livestock risk protection (LRP). The conversation emphasizes the need for cattle producers to plan proactively rather than reactively. Topics include the financial and mental aspects of risk management, the role of diversification, and common mistakes producers make. Dr. Maples also shares useful resources for further information.   Links & Resources   Learn more about Ranching.com at https://bit.ly/3LMAizU   Sign up for the Profit Foundations for Ranchers here: https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/profit-foundations-for-ranchers   Learn more about the Ranch Channel here: https://bit.ly/ranchchannel   Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/   00:44 Meet Dr. Josh Maples 02:26 Importance of Risk Management 04:58 Financial Considerations for Risk Management 07:50 Price Risk Management Tools 15:46 Common Mistakes and Best Practices 18:47 Final Thoughts and Resources

In this episode of the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast, Shaye interviews Shane White from Ceres Tag. They discuss new features aimed at maximizing cow performance, focusing on fertility, estrous alerts, and calving alerts. Shane highlights how Ceres Tag's technology automates cow behavior tracking via satellite, providing valuable data for improving reproductive efficiency and profitability. They also cover how the new subscription model makes this technology more accessible to ranchers. The episode emphasizes the importance of data-driven decisions to enhance the future of ranching.  Learn more about Ceres Tag here: https://bit.ly/45WlwfW Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ 00:15 Guest Introduction: Shane White from Ceres Tag  01:10 The Importance of Ag Technology  02:13 Overview of Ceres Tag's Offerings  03:48 Maximizing Cow Efficiency with Data  05:37 New Features: Fertility and Reproductive Capabilities  08:35 Natural Service and Mounting Scores  10:33 Synchronization and AI in Cattle  14:27 Calving Alerts and Behavior Metrics  18:51 Business Model and Cost Structure  22:43 Impact on the American Beef Industry  33:52 Final Thoughts and Contact Information