Swine Nutrition and Its Impact on Health (ft. Dr. Gabler - Iowa State Univ)
In celebration of Pork Month, Dr. Steve Dudley sits down with Dr. Nicholas Gabler, professor of animal science at Iowa State University, for a practical look at the connection between nutrition, health, and performance in swine. From E. coli and PRRS to enteric health, feed intake, dietary protein, DDGs, and sow longevity, Dr. Gabler shares what current research tells us about using nutrition to support pigs through health challenges. The conversation also explores why nutritional strategies ...
4 Sept 2026
More Than a Ride: Why Good Trucking Matters to Cattle Health (ft. Hunter Pankonin)
Livestock transportation is more than getting cattle from Point A to Point B. How cattle are loaded, handled and hauled can have a real impact on stress, health and performance. In this episode of Ahead of the Herd, Dr. Brian Dorcey sits down with Hunter Pankonin, the owner of Dry Creek Trucking, to talk about the role good trucking plays throughout the beef production system. From preparing cattle and loading trailers to driver experience, communication and creating a smoother ride, Hunter s...
31 Jul 2026
When Nutrition Meets Veterinary Medicine: A Better Way to Feed Cattle w/ Dr. Monty Kerley
This episode of the Ahead of the Herd Podcast explores a different way of thinking about livestock nutrition. The conversation covers the importance of veterinarians and nutritionists working together as one team, the role of individual feed intake patterns, oxidative stress, and how nutrition can influence overall herd performance. Veterinarian & Profectus CEO Dr. Brian Dorcey, Sr. Ruminant Nutritionist Dr. Monty Kerley, and Phil Lawler, of PDT Consultants, discuss why balancing diets fo...
What does it take for the USDA to allow a vaccine to carry a mortality reduction label claim? In this episode of Ahead of the Herd, Dr. Brian Dorcey is joined by Dr. Jeffery Hall and Morry Long from Huvepharma to discuss the science behind PrimeLine® IN5, a new intranasal Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) vaccine offering broad spectrum defense against IBR, BRSV, PI3, Pasteurella multocida, and reduces mortality associated with Mannheimia haemolytica. PrimeLine IN5 is safe for calves as young ...
5 Jun 2026
Starting Beef x Dairy Calves on Feed the Right Way
What happens in the first few weeks after beef on dairy calves arrive can have a lasting impact on performance, health, and profitability. In this episode of Ahead of the Herd: The Profectus Podcast, Nutritionist Brandon Rodriguez and Veterinarian Dr. Reed Leiting discuss the critical steps involved in receiving and starting beef on dairy calves. From managing dietary transitions and bunk management to maintaining rumen health and reducing stress, they share practical strategies producers can...
1 May 2026
Maximize Forage Quality and ROI with Silo Guard (ft. Peter Vinelli)
Forage quality is one of the most overlooked drivers of cattle performance, and one of the biggest hidden sources of loss. In this episode of the Profectus Livestock Solutions Podcast, Dr. Brian Dorcey sits down with Peter Vinelli of International Stock Food Corporation, the maker of SiloGuard, to break down how mold and yeast silently impact intake, health, and production across forage systems. They discuss the difference between biological inoculants and chemical preservatives, how oxygen d...
3 Apr 2026
Mycotoxins Are Costing You Performance (ft. Dr. Andrew Bents)
Mycotoxins are one of the most overlooked threats in livestock performance and profitability, and they are showing up stronger than ever in today’s feed supply. In this episode, Dr. Steve Dudley sits down with Dr. Andrew Bents of Alltech to break down what producers are actually facing in the crop and why testing, monitoring, and mitigation matter more than ever. From real harvest data across the U.S. to practical on farm strategies, this conversation connects the science to what you are seei...
6 Mar 2026
Transforming Calf Performance: Kyle Verhoek's Success Story
From 2.5lbs to 3.23lbs average daily gain, under 2% death loss, and a 60-day health turnaround, Profectus is measurably making a difference for producers. In this episode, Kyle Verhoek shares how his calf program went from battling health issues to driving measurable performance gains with Profectus Livestock Solutions. By implementing an integrated vaccine protocol, amino acid balanced diets, and individualized calf tracking through EID and Cattler, his team transformed both calf health and ...
4 Feb 2026
Leaning into Nutrition: Feeding Trials, Amino Acids, and Next-Gen Strategies (ft. Steve & Riley Van Heerde)
Steve and Riley Van Heerde share how their South Dakota feedlot evolved from cow/calf to a performance driven feedlot operation through side-by-side feed trials. They walk through what they feed, how amino acid nutrition fits their existing feedstuffs, and what changed in cattle efficiency and consistency. The conversation covers tracking performance with real data, managing cattle through extreme winter weather, and improving health without adding complexity. Steve explains how nutrition and...
14 Jan 2026
Batch Farrowing vs. Wean-to-Finish: Matching Systems to Today's Realities
Dr. Reed Leiting and Dr. Steve Dudley share how batch farrowing, nurseries, and wean to finish systems fit into modern swine operations, and what producers should consider when evaluating their own flow. Hear their recommendations on how to select the right production system based on health, labor, and facility realities.
21 Nov 2025
Rations, Risk, and ROI: Rethinking Cattle Nutrition in a High-Price Market
High prices, tight margins, and unpredictable cattle markets are putting real pressure on producers. In this episode, Devin Stricherz sits down with nutritionist Brandon Rodriguez to break down what’s happening in today’s cattle industry, and what producers can do to stay profitable. They dig into why traditional rations built around crude protein and NEG often lead to problems like acidosis, bloats, erratic intakes, and late-term losses. Brandon explains how small nutrition mistakes cascade ...
21 Oct 2025
Financing on the Farm (ft. Jason Schutz)
In this episode of Ahead of the Herd, Profectus CFO Dan Greve sits down with Jason Schutz of United Prairie Bank to discuss one of the most important relationships on your operation, your banker. Together they unpack what makes a strong financial partnership, from understanding your numbers to presenting complete, detailed balance sheets. Listeners will gain practical insight into: How to prepare before meeting with your lenderWhat documents and details banks expect from ag producersWhy good ...
9 Sept 2025
Feedlot Revenue Streams: Reaching Your Profit Potential
In this episode, PLS empowers beef producers to either boost beef pounds from their cropping acres or supercharge feed efficiency, unlocking more profits all around. Dr. Brian Dorcey shares: ‘Our amino acid approach has delivered $50 to $100 per head in advantage while lowering cost of gain in a tight cattle supply. More profit. More opportunity for the next generation.’ Picture this: For a 10,000-head feedyard with locked capacity, our method slashes feed needs, letting them sell 1,000...
25 Jul 2025
The Amino Acid Edge: Why Crude Protein Isn't the Whole Story
In this episode, we dive into a smarter way to feed cattle—one that focuses less on crude protein and more on meeting amino acid requirements in balance with effective energy. Brandon Rodriguez of Profectus Livestock Solutions joins us to explain how this approach improves feeding efficiency for improved ROI. You’ll hear how simplifying rations and making just a few key adjustments can result in significant improvements to feed efficiency, average daily gain, and days on feed. While eve...
8 Jul 2025
Know Your Numbers for Profit-Driven Cattle Feeding
In this episode, Dr. Brian Dorcey breaks down why knowing your numbers isn’t just smart—it’s essential. He explains how metrics like cost per head, per day, and returns on feed investment can uncover hidden inefficiencies and unlock more predictable profitability. Dr. Dorcey shares practical insights on using data to guide feeding decisions, set performance benchmarks, and shift from reactive to strategic management. If you’re feeding cattle without clear financial targets, this episode shows...
Reach and audience
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YouTube views
1,464
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 41 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
44
Social presence
0
YouTube
65
Engagement
32
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