Value Trace: How Charolais Is Using AI to Revolutionize Feeder Cattle Genetics & Profitability
In this episode of the We Live It, hosts Ty deCordova and Casey Mabry sit down with Brett Spader, Executive Vice President of the American International Charolais Association (AICA), for a forward-thinking conversation about data, technology, and the future of beef genetics.
Brett brings a deep resume to his role at AICA — from his early days as a fieldman for the Kansas Livestock Association, to his time in the auction world, to leading Angus Media and co-founding his own digital agency, Livestock Launch. His career has always orbited the seed stock industry, and that foundation shapes every initiative he's driving at Charolais today.
At the center of the conversation is Value Trace — a proprietary AI-powered program built in partnership with Austin-based Frontiers Market. The program deploys solar-powered cameras in commercial feed yards to collect real-time individual animal data, including live weight, feed conversion, predictive red meat yield, predictive quality grade, and health diagnostics. Currently in its third phase, Value Trace now has roughly 3,000 head under camera across nine feed yards in six states.
Brett breaks down how the camera technology works — using facial and body conformation recognition to individually identify cattle, weigh them in real time at the bunk, and even predict optimal harvest timing based on back fat, physiological maturity, and sire EPDs. The end goal is simple but powerful: create a full data loop from the seed stock producer all the way through the packer, so that everyone in the chain can make smarter decisions and capture more value.
The conversation also digs into why red meat yield is the next major frontier for the U.S. beef industry. With choice grade becoming the new commodity baseline and finish weights climbing, Brett explains why Charolais genetics — known as a terminal sire option — are uniquely positioned to deliver muscle-forward carcasses without sacrificing grade. He also hints at exciting news coming from a K-State life cycle assessment study and new cutout research with Dr. Dwayne Wolf.
Whether you're a cow-calf producer, seed stock operator, or cattle feeder, this episode is packed with insight on where beef genetics, technology, and industry data are heading.
Visit charolaisusa.com to learn more or connect with the AICA team directly.
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00:00 - Welcome & Intro
00:35 - Brett Spader's Background & Career Journey
02:44 - Introduction to Value Trace & Using AI in Beef Production
04:39 - The Hot Carcass Weight Trend & Telling the Story Through Data
07:00 - How Value Trace Creates Value for Bull Buyers & Cattle Feeders
08:12 - How the Camera Technology Works in the Feed Yard
10:31 - The Cattle Feeder Dashboard & Procurement Tools
11:03 - Connecting Seed Stock Producers, Commercial Operators & Feed Yards
13:49 - Data Value vs. Dollar Value
15:24 - Shortening the Genetic Feedback Loop
16:26 - Driving Red Meat Yield & the Future of U.S. Beef
19:11 - Consistency, Finish Weights & the Power of Char-Cross Calves
20:29 - Upcoming Research, Life Cycle Assessment & How to Connect with AICA
21:34 - Closing Thoughts & Where to Find Brett
