Podcasts
Check back for the official launch date of the American Dairymen Podcast. We are excited to roll out the podcast that will be covering just about every topic that concerns the American dairy farmer.
Previous Episodes
Muddy Creek Tags
Welcome back to the American Dairymen Podcast. Just ahead, we have Dustin Hector, he’s the Director of Business Development for the American Dairymen Media group and he its down with Zac Deeds co-founder of Muddy Creek Tags out of Hazard, Nebraska. Zac, who comes from an IT background, and his wife Ann, with roots in cattle ranching, developed their tag business during the challenging early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
The company’s inception began with a casual conversation around a family table, where Zac and his in-laws jokingly discussed creating their own cattle tags. What started as a lighthearted discussion quickly transformed into a serious entrepreneurial venture. They spent months researching the industry, talking to producers, and understanding the frustrations surrounding existing tag options.
Driven by a passion for agriculture and problem-solving, Zac and Ann meticulously developed their tags, focusing on durability, readability, and customization. They faced numerous challenges in manufacturing, particularly in an industry where manufacturers are notoriously secretive about their trade secrets. By building relationships with experts and conducting extensive trials across different regions, they refined their product to meet diverse agricultural needs.
Muddy Creek Tags distinguishes itself through high retention rates, customizable designs, and a personal approach that prioritizes individual producer requirements. Zac emphasized the importance of efficiency for farmers, understanding that retagging cattle wastes valuable time and creates unnecessary stress.
In an exciting revelation during the podcast, Zac announced the upcoming launch of one-piece tags for both cow-calf and feedlot operators in early 2026.
The conversation highlighted the challenges facing the cattle industry, including herd downsizing and economic pressures, while also celebrating the innovative spirit of agricultural entrepreneurs like Zac Deeds, who are dedicated to solving real-world problems for farmers and ranchers.
For previous episodes of the American Dairymen visit our website: https://americandairymen.com
American Dairymen Podcast is Sponsored By:
AGPROfessionals with Chad teVelde and Valene Cauhorn
Welcome back to the American Dairymen Podcast. Just ahead, we have Dustin Hector, he’s the Publisher of the American Dairymen Podcast and he sits down with Chad teVelde and Valene Cauhorn with AGPROfessionals. 
Chad teVelde, a senior professional engineer, brings extensive experience in dairy facility design, having worked on over 30 new dairy projects ranging from 800 to 15,000 cows. With roots in a family dairy in California and personal dairy operation experience, Chad specializes in creating cost-effective designs that directly impact a farm’s bottom line.
Valene Cauhorn, a licensed professional engineer across multiple states, complements Chad’s expertise with her background in agricultural and civil engineering. Raised on a generational farm in Idaho, she brings hands-on agricultural knowledge to her professional work, managing complex agricultural and commercial projects with strategic oversight.
Chad and Valene get into the critical considerations for dairy producers looking to expand their operations. Key topics include site selection, permitting, construction challenges, and navigating Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) regulations. The experts emphasize the importance of comprehensive planning, understanding local requirements, and maintaining meticulous records to ensure smooth project execution and regulatory compliance.
The conversation also explores the evolving landscape of the dairy industry. They discuss technological advancements, changing environmental regulations, and the increasing complexity of dairy farm management. The professionals highlight the need for producers to stay informed about regulatory changes, invest in sustainable practices, and adapt to emerging technologies.
Throughout the podcast, Chad and Valene underscore the value of professional engineering services in helping dairy producers make informed decisions. They stress the importance of strategic planning, cost-effective design, and proactive approach to facility development and regulatory compliance.
The episode provides valuable insights into the intricate world of dairy facility design and management, offering listeners a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities in modern agricultural engineering.
AGPROfessionals
For previous episodes of the American Dairymen visit our website: https://americandairymen.com
American Dairymen Podcast is Sponsored By:
Genetic Solutions to Assist with BRD
Genetic Solutions to Assist with BRD
BRD—is one, if not the most costly, health issue in the cattle industry today. Our guests today are Ross Havens with Nichols Farms in Bridgewater, Iowa, and John Genho with Eldon Farms in Woodville, Virginia. 
This was an extremely interesting discussion with Ross and Jon regarding the Nichols Bull Program, called Shield, which is a genetic predictor for bulls that carry resistance to BRD. Nichols Farms has a Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) genetic prediction. The bulls will be represented with the Nichols Health Shield logo and are of the top 30% of the Nichols Genetic Evaluation for resistance to BRD. BRD costs our industry $900 million annually in economic losses from death, reduced feed efficiency, and treatment cost. Nichols Farms is working and researching to put some of these dollars back into our customers’ pockets. The Health Shield is the probability (in %) of a calf not being treated for respiratory disease post weaning.
Nichols Farms is a family-owned business that has been providing superior beef genetics for generations. Our focus on breeding top-quality bulls started many years ago and has been passed down from one generation to the next. We take great pride in our work and are committed to raising the best bulls possible. Our team is made up of experienced professionals who are passionate about what they do. We work hard every day to improve our genetics and provide our customers with the best possible service. Contact us today to learn more about our history and how we can help improve your herd.
The acquisition of Livestock Genetic Services (LGS) enhances Neogen’s in-house genetic evaluation capabilities, and complements the company’s unparalleled global network of animal genomics laboratories. LGS has been a long-time strategic partner of Neogen’s genomics business.
John Genho formerly owned Livestock Genetic Services, which was acquired by Neogen. Information regarding that acquisition follows. “One value of Neogen’s genomic services is our ability to translate genomic information into timely, accurate animal trait information for cattle producers,” said Dr. Stewart Bauck, Neogen’s vice president of agrigenomics. “Adding Livestock Genetic Services, and its owner John Genho, will help Neogen accelerate the adoption of genomics world-wide by helping customers easily and quickly utilize genomic information in their commercial operations. This new capability will position Neogen as the only global agrigenomics business with a full end-to-end solution.”
“After years of collaboration with Neogen, I am very pleased to be part of the much larger, very capable team of genomic professionals,” said Genho. “Our business has grown to the point that becoming part of a world-leading provider of animal genomic services will provide my customers with the best possible services and support.”
Genetic Solutions to Assist with BRD
Cattlemen & Veterinarians, A Partnership in Bovine Health
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Cattlemen and Veterinarians: A Partnership in Bovine Health Sponsored by:
FerAppease & Weaning Practices
We had a great interview with Dr. Rodrigo Carvalho Bicalho today discussing FerAppease and Weaning. Dr. Bicalho is a highly gifted speaker who presents information in a clear and easily understandable manner. 
Our guest today is Dr. Rodrigo Carvalho Bicalho, DVM, PhD, an accomplished veterinarian, scientist, and entrepreneur specializing in dairy production medicine and biotechnology. As the President and Chairman of Fera Diagnostics and Biologicals Corp., Dr. Bicalho leads innovations in animal health, focusing on diagnostic solutions and therapeutic products that enhance livestock productivity and welfare globally.
Dr. Bicalho earned his DVM from the Federal University of Goiás in Brazil and completed his residency and PhD at Cornell University, where he specialized in comparative biomedical sciences with a concentration in epidemiology and animal science. Throughout his career, he has made significant contributions to veterinary research, securing multiple patents for groundbreaking technologies, including vaccines and diagnostic methods that address essential challenges in livestock health. Dr. Bicalho has a prolific research portfolio of over 130 peer-reviewed publications.”
Our conversation with Dr. Bicalho focuses on FerAppease and its effectiveness during the weaning process. FerAppease® can and should be used every time animals are exposed to management and physiological stressors. Stressful management strategies include weaning, dehorning, castration, branding, transportation, commingling, and vaccination—stressful physiological events such as parturition, interruption of lactation (dry-off), and breeding. Its application has dramatically improved the weaning periods of many producers.
Did you know that stress shifts your cattle’s metabolism into survival mode? Stress may lead to decreasing weight gain and feed conversion and worsening health outcomes. Stress is a major obstacle keeping the cattle industry from becoming a more profitable endeavor. You can overcome stress with FerAppease. The active ingredient of FerAppease is a synthetic analogue
of the Maternal Bovine Appeasing Substance (mBAS). mBAS is a naturally occurring substance that is secreted by the skin of the mammary gland of lactating animals, reducing stress in all cattle treated.
Following the segment with Dr. Bicalho, Dr. Shynia answers a broad array of questions from our listeners. She provides you with advice and even challenges you to become better at developing a strong weaning program.
Don’t miss this one!
Cattlemen & Veterinarians, A Partnership in Bovine Health
For Future or Previous episodes visit our websites:
Cattlemen and Veterinarians: A Partnership in Bovine Health Sponsored by:
